Does anyone know the process to make a law?

I'm a FL nurse, and currently there are no laws in florida stating the nurse to patient ratio, I would like florida to see a law pass like in California, anyone know where I can start?
Current 1 to 7 or 1 to 8 ratios are unaccepable and highly unsafe for any of those aware of deaths occuring because of medical errors.

The two direct routes are through your district's representative to the Florida House of Representatives or throught the Florida House Committee that oversees hospital/nursing home regulation. Do a Yahoo search for "Florida State Legislature," & search around untill you get the name, address, e-mail of the above.

An indirect route is through whatever professional nurses' associations or unions may be active in your state.

Collect as many sympathetic nurses or other people you can and start with a letter writing campaign to your congressional representatives. You can also do a petition but if you can get some congress people on your side the whole process will be far easier.

If you do go with a petition I would look for an organization to help you, are nurses unionized, a union rep would be perfect for it, otherwise you need an activist organization that would have the same concerns you do.

it can be done 2 ways.

a court can make laws and lower courts have to follow the rulings of higher courts but this is normally in the interpretation of laws. so in this way the high court can make laws.

the other way is politicians make laws and they go through the appropriate channels. i dont know how it works in america but you should probably go and see your state level goverment or whichever goverment funds hospitals.

Your best bet would be to get a petition together signed by a lot of people in your district. Send it, along with a letter to a local state rep. Follow up with phone calls asking to speak with your rep on the matter. They may not give you him directly but if you push the matter, and get others supporting as well (try and have others call in to the rep's office as well) then it will put a flame under it, and may drive the rep to take some action on it.

Best of luck!

P.S. If you can, research the bills and laws your reps have supported, and if you find anyone with specific interests in the health care industry, go with that rep. If they have personal interests there, they will be much more likely to pick up the cause.

A member of either house needs to introduce a bill to be considered. That house will debate it, and if passed will send it to the other house which will vote on it as it is or make changes at which time it will be sent back. Once both houses agree on the bill it is sent to the Governor to sign or veto.

Remember the hospitals most likely will be fighting this and will be able to throw a lot of money into their fight,