Final answer:
Legislated minimum staffing ratios are aimed at improving client care by setting minimum nurse-to-patient numbers in healthcare facilities. Federal involvement ensures uniformity in state services, tackles collective action problems, and supports state programs with positive externalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding legislated minimum staffing ratios is C. They are proposed to improve client care. Minimum staffing ratios are mandates that aim to establish a minimum number of nurses to patients in healthcare settings to ensure adequate patient care and safety.
Federal involvement in state activities such as education, health, and social welfare is crucial for maintaining a level of uniformity in public services delivery and overcoming collective action problems. It is essential for balancing the higher local costs of generating positive externalities, such as cleaner air from one state that benefits neighboring states. While federally mandated standards address these issues, the notion of new federalism recognizes that the diversity among states sometimes necessitates a more decentralized approach and that local authorities can be more attuned to the specific needs of their populations.