Requires, by September 1, 2008, each hospital to establish a nurse staffing committee, either by creating a new committee or assigning the functions of a nurse staffing committee to an existing committee.

Requires the nurse staffing committee to develop and oversee an annual patient care unit and shift-based nurse staffing plan, based on the needs of patients, to be used as the primary component of the staffing budget; semiannually review the staffing plan against patient need and known evidence-based staffing information; and review, assess, and respond to staffing concerns presented to the committee.