SB 500 – This act modifies provisions relating to certain health care professionals. STATE LEGAL EXPENSE FUND This act provides coverage under the state legal expense fund for any licensed doctor, therapist, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, pharmacist, psychologist, or nurse who is hired on a contract basis to serve as a consultant for the MO HealthNet division or family support division of the Department of Social Services, or to serve as a consultant to the Department of Mental Health. The coverage is limited to a maximum of 500,000 dollars for all claims based upon the same act. If the professionals covered by the state legal expense fund under this act have other liability or malpractice insurance, the state legal expense fund is required to pay before the liability or malpractice insurance is available for paying the claim. The Department of Social Services is required to issue rules regarding the contract procedures and documentation of services for such consultants. These provisions are identical to SB 40 (2011). PATIENT SAFETY This act modifies laws regarding hospital patient safety. Under the act, each hospital is required to establish a patient safety committee by January 1, 2013, to design and recommend the process for implementing a safe patient handling program, which shall be implemented by July 1, 2013. The program shall establish a safe handling policy for all shifts and units, conduct a patient handling hazard assessment and consider incorporating patient handling equipment in future hospital models. By January 1, 2016, each hospital shall acquire its choice of a specified minimum of patient lifting equipment and shall train staff on policies, equipment and devices at least annually. Each hospital shall also develop procedures for employees to refuse to perform or be involved in patient handling or movement that will expose the patient or employee to an unacceptable risk of injury. The Division of Workers' Compensation shall develop rules by January 1, 2014, to provide a reduced workers' compensation premium for hospitals that implement a safe patient handling program and submit a report of the result of the reduced premiums to the General Assembly by December 1, 2017 and December 1, 2019. These provisions are identical to SB 39 (2011). ADRIANE CROUSE