Bill Sponsors
Shanley, Craven, Caldwell, Bennett, Casimiro, Corvese, Morales, Paplauskas, and Hopkins
Committee
House Health & Human Services
Summary
Select
This legislation establishes the "Healthcare Worker Platform Act," which creates a specific legal definition and licensing requirement for digital platforms that connect healthcare workers with shifts at facilities. It explicitly distinguishes these technology platforms from traditional "nursing service agencies," provided they do not mandate specific shifts or restrict workers from other employment. The bill requires the Department of Health to develop regulations and issue licenses for these platforms by June 2027. It also sets an annual licensure fee of $1,000 for companies operating these platforms within the state.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Codifies the right of healthcare workers to maintain autonomy over their schedules by prohibiting platforms from mandating specific shifts or restricting outside employment.
- Bringing these platforms under the specific jurisdiction of the Department of Health ensures there will be government oversight and regulation rather than an unregulated "wild west" tech environment.
- May increase access to diverse employment opportunities for healthcare workers, allowing them to bypass traditional staffing agencies that might take larger cuts of their compensation.
Cons for Progressives
- Formalizes the "gig economy" model in healthcare, which often strips workers of the benefits, healthcare, and protections provided by traditional employment or regulated nursing agencies.
- By exempting these platforms from "nursing service agency" definitions, it may bypass established labor standards and patient care quality controls associated with traditional agencies.
- The $1,000 annual fee is negligible for large tech corporations, potentially failing to generate enough revenue to fund the robust oversight needed to protect workers and patients.
Pros for Conservatives
- Encourages free-market innovation by creating a distinct regulatory lane for technology platforms, ensuring they are not stifled by outdated laws designed for brick-and-mortar staffing agencies.
- Protects the economic freedom of workers by legally preventing platforms from imposing non-compete clauses or restrictive scheduling, supporting the independent contractor model.
- Increases competition in the healthcare labor market, which could potentially drive down costs for healthcare facilities and reduce reliance on expensive traditional staffing firms.
Cons for Conservatives
- Expands government bureaucracy by granting the Department of Health new authority to create regulations and interfere with the operations of private technology businesses.
- Imposes a new financial burden on businesses in the form of a mandatory $1,000 annual licensure fee, effectively acting as a tax on innovation.
- Requires successful businesses to wait until 2027 for the government to create rules, potentially slowing down business expansion due to regulatory uncertainty.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Healthcare workers
- Healthcare worker platforms (App developers)
- Healthcare facilities
- Nursing service agencies
- Department of Health
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
$1,000/yr per licensee
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER 106 HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT
23-106-1. Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthcare Worker Platform Act."
23-106-2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(a) "Healthcare worker platform" means any person, company, corporation, partnership, or association that operates or offers a platform. A "healthcare worker platform" is not considered a "nursing service agency", as defined in § 23-17.7.1-2.
(b) "Platform" means an electronic platform, system, or application through which healthcare workers can accept one or more shifts to perform healthcare related services at a healthcare facility. To meet the definition of a platform, a healthcare worker platform shall not:
(1) Require a healthcare worker to work any specific shifts or specific number of shifts at a healthcare facility; or
(2) Restrict a healthcare worker from engaging in any other occupation or business or from working at a healthcare facility, with any nursing service agency, or through any other healthcare worker platform.
23-106-3. Licensure of healthcare worker platforms.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a healthcare worker platform shall be excluded from the definition of a "nursing service agency", as defined by §§ 23-17.7.1-3, 23- 17.7.1-10, and 23-17.7.1-19.
(b) On or before June 1, 2027, the department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations that shall require the licensure of each healthcare worker platform that operates or offers a platform within the state.
(c) The department of health may assess an annual licensure fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per licensee.
(d) After September 1, 2027, or by the date the department of health has set for licensure of healthcare worker platforms pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, whichever is later, no healthcare worker platform shall operate a platform in the state, unless it is licensed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
23-106-1. Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthcare Worker Platform Act."
23-106-2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(a) "Healthcare worker platform" means any person, company, corporation, partnership, or association that operates or offers a platform. A "healthcare worker platform" is not considered a "nursing service agency", as defined in § 23-17.7.1-2.
(b) "Platform" means an electronic platform, system, or application through which healthcare workers can accept one or more shifts to perform healthcare related services at a healthcare facility. To meet the definition of a platform, a healthcare worker platform shall not:
(1) Require a healthcare worker to work any specific shifts or specific number of shifts at a healthcare facility; or
(2) Restrict a healthcare worker from engaging in any other occupation or business or from working at a healthcare facility, with any nursing service agency, or through any other healthcare worker platform.
23-106-3. Licensure of healthcare worker platforms.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a healthcare worker platform shall be excluded from the definition of a "nursing service agency", as defined by §§ 23-17.7.1-3, 23- 17.7.1-10, and 23-17.7.1-19.
(b) On or before June 1, 2027, the department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations that shall require the licensure of each healthcare worker platform that operates or offers a platform within the state.
(c) The department of health may assess an annual licensure fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per licensee.
(d) After September 1, 2027, or by the date the department of health has set for licensure of healthcare worker platforms pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, whichever is later, no healthcare worker platform shall operate a platform in the state, unless it is licensed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.