First hearing held of a bill that would change minimum staffing standards for nurses in Ohio.

Nurses and lawmakers gathered Tuesday for the first hearing of a bill that would change minimum staffing standards for nurses in Ohio. House Bill 285, sponsored by state Reps. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) and Elgin Rogers Jr. (D-Toledo), would have committees of nurses create standard nurse-to-patient ratios.The bill would also create a $20 million loan-to-grant program to help encourage nurses to stay in the state. Ghanbari said nurses would receive up to $3,000 per year of schooling, and if they stay in Ohio for work for at least five years, they would not have to repay the loans.