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2024 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Watts
Funding to Increase State Hospital Nursing Staffing Standards

Item 302 #1h

Item 302 #1h

First Year - FY2025 Second Year - FY2026
Health and Human Resources
Mental Health Treatment Centers FY2025 $40,000,000 FY2026 $80,000,000 GF
FY2025 394.00 FY2026 787.00 FTE

Language
Page 373, line 38, strike "$202,691,678" and insert "$242,691,678".
Page 373, line 38, strike "$199,640,188" and insert "$279,640,188".

Page 374, after line 29, insert:

"I. Out of this appropriation, $40,000,000 the first year and $80,000,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to increase nursing staff at the state's psychiatric hospitals in order to improve hospitals' total "nursing hours per patient day" (HPPD) relative to the level determined to be adequate by DBHDS in 2022. As part of its existing required annual agency reports, DBHDS shall report annually on (i) each state hospital's total nursing HPPD during the prior fiscal year and how this compares to the agency's HPPD goal for each hospital, (ii) how DBHDS and the state psychiatric hospitals have used this funding to improve HPPD relative to the agency's goal, (iii) any substantial barriers faced by each state psychiatric hospital to improving its HPPD, (iv) actions taken by DBHDS and state psychiatric hospitals to address identified barriers, and (v) recommendations for the General Assembly to consider to help state hospitals achieve the agency's HPPD goals."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $40.0 million the first year and $80 million the second year from the general fund to increase nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals to improve nursing hours per patient day. This amendment is a recommendation from the 2023 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission Report, Virginia's State Psychiatric Hospitals.)