Nursing Facility Patients’ Bill of Rights summary language rejected by Ohio AG Dave Yost

By Jeremy Pelzer

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Thursday announced he has rejected summary language for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would create a Nursing Facility Patients’ Bill of Rights.

In a letter to backers of the proposal, Yost wrote that the language -- a succinct explanation of the proposal provided to voters asked to sign a petition supporting the measure – “fails altogether to inform potential signers and voters of the factual findings they are being asked to make.”

He concluded: “As written, the summary fails to inform signers what factual findings they are elevating to a constitutional standard.”

The amendment seeks to set minimum staffing levels for nurses and certified nurses’ aides at every nursing facility, nursing home and rehab facility in the state.

It was put forward by Jesse Ruffin Jr., a real-estate agent from Maple Heights whose wife was almost killed from a fall while she was in a nursing home. Ruffin placed part of the blame on the workload of her nurses, whom he said each were responsible for taking care of 20-25 patients at a time during 12-hour shifts.

When asked Thursday whether he intended to revise his summary language and resubmit it to Yost’s office, Ruffin said, “Nothing’s going to stop this initiative from moving forward.”

There’s no deadline for supporters of the proposal to resubmit revised summary language. However, they will have to gather a new batch of 1,000 signatures to turn in to Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office.

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Nursing Facility Patients’ Bill of Rights summary language rejected by Ohio AG Dave Yost