Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to visitation restrictions applicable to nursing facilities during a national public health emergency or public health disaster
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 25, 2021
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary During a national or state public health emergency, the state must listen to the long-term care ombudsman before making rules that limit indoor visits at nursing homes. The ombudsman will work to help residents keep their in-person visits while still keeping everyone safe. Additionally, the ombudsman's office will investigate complaints about visitation rules and receive important inspection reports from state officials.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to visitation restrictions applicable to nursing facilities during a national public health emergency or public health disaster. The bill provides definitions for “national public health emergency”, “public health disaster”, and “state agency” for purposes of the bill. The bill requires, subject to all applicable laws and regulations, that if a national public health emergency or a public health disaster is declared resulting in restrictions on the in-person, indoor visitation with residents of nursing facilities, the department of inspections and appeals (DIA) shall take under advisement the opinion and insight of the state long-term care ombudsman (SLTCO) or the STLCO’s designee, prior to issuing any guidance restricting visitation relating to the national public health emergency or public health disaster. The SLTCO or SLTCO’s designee shall advocate on behalf of nursing facility residents to continue in-person, indoor visitation during the national public health emergency or public health disaster, subject to the health and safety considerations of all residents of the nursing facility. The bill requires the office of long-term care ombudsman (OLTCO) to accept, investigate, verify, and work to resolve complaints relating to any action or inaction by a nursing facility relating to nursing facility resident visitation restrictions during a national public health emergency or public health disaster; and DIA shall share with the OLTCO copies of all related inspection reports, plans of correction, and notices of any citations or sanctions levied against a nursing facility if DIA responds to a complaint against a nursing facility or an employee of a nursing facility which relates to nursing facility resident visitation restrictions during a national public health emergency or public health disaster, and the complaint was referred to the department by the OLTCO. The bill is not to be construed to instruct or require DIA or any other state agency to violate state or federal law or any rules or regulations adopted or promulgated under such law.
House subcommittee
Named January 25, 2021. On January 28, 2021 it recommended amendment and passage. Vote Total: 3-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part