Proposed Florida Nurse Registry Bill Amended to Include Companions and Homemakers

Florida S.B. 976
Status: Committee Substitute Read First Time, March 10, 2014

An amendment to a proposed Florida bill adds companions and homemakers referred by nurse registry to the list of workers considered independent contractors and not employees of the nurse registries that referred them, regardless the obligations imposed on a nurse registry under the nurse registry law.  Under the amendment, nurse registries are also not responsible for monitoring, supervising, managing, or training any companions and homemakers it refers.

An additional amendment provides that when a deficiency in credentials of any referred worker comes to the attention of a nurse registry, the nurse registry shall not only advise the patient to terminate the referred person’s contract, but shall also provide the reason for the suggested termination, cease referring the individual to other patients or facilities, and notify the licensing board if practice violations are involved.

If passed, this bill would take effect July 1, 2014.

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