California 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB1855 Compare Versions

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1-Assembly Bill No. 1855 CHAPTER 583An act to add Section 9718.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors. [ Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1855, Nazarian. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: facility access.Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.(b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.(c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties. SEC. 2. Section 9718.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
1+Enrolled August 26, 2022 Passed IN Senate August 23, 2022 Passed IN Assembly August 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 16, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 01, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1855Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianFebruary 08, 2022An act to add Section 9718.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1855, Nazarian. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: facility access.Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.(b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.(c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties. SEC. 2. Section 9718.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
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3- Assembly Bill No. 1855 CHAPTER 583An act to add Section 9718.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors. [ Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1855, Nazarian. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: facility access.Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
3+ Enrolled August 26, 2022 Passed IN Senate August 23, 2022 Passed IN Assembly August 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 16, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 01, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1855Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianFebruary 08, 2022An act to add Section 9718.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1855, Nazarian. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: facility access.Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
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5- Assembly Bill No. 1855 CHAPTER 583
5+ Enrolled August 26, 2022 Passed IN Senate August 23, 2022 Passed IN Assembly August 24, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 16, 2022 Amended IN Senate August 01, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate June 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly April 06, 2022 Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022
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7- Assembly Bill No. 1855
7+Enrolled August 26, 2022
8+Passed IN Senate August 23, 2022
9+Passed IN Assembly August 24, 2022
10+Amended IN Senate August 16, 2022
11+Amended IN Senate August 01, 2022
12+Amended IN Senate June 15, 2022
13+Amended IN Senate June 06, 2022
14+Amended IN Assembly April 06, 2022
15+Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2022
816
9- CHAPTER 583
17+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
18+
19+ Assembly Bill
20+
21+No. 1855
22+
23+Introduced by Assembly Member NazarianFebruary 08, 2022
24+
25+Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian
26+February 08, 2022
1027
1128 An act to add Section 9718.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to seniors.
12-
13- [ Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022. ]
1429
1530 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1631
1732 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1833
1934 AB 1855, Nazarian. Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: facility access.
2035
2136 Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
2237
2338 Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities and residential care facilities by, among other things, investigating and seeking to resolve complaints against these facilities, and providing services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Under existing law, if an individual is a patient in a skilled nursing facility when a written advance health care directive is executed, the advance health care directive is not effective unless a patient advocate or ombudsman signs the advance directive as a witness, as specified.
2439
2540 This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility from denying entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity, except as specified. The bill would authorize a facility, during a state of emergency, health emergency, or local health emergency to require a representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
2641
2742 ## Digest Key
2843
2944 ## Bill Text
3045
3146 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.(b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.(c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties. SEC. 2. Section 9718.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
3247
3348 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
3449
3550 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
3651
3752 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.(b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.(c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties.
3853
3954 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.(b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.(c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties.
4055
4156 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
4257
4358 ### SECTION 1.
4459
4560 (a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman were denied entry to long-term care facilities, despite explicit authorization to do so, as provided in Section 9722 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In some instances, it was an owner-operator denying entry into a facility where quality of care was substandard, and complaints from residents required entry into the facility for investigative purposes.
4661
4762 (b) An advance health care directive is a legal document that specifies how an individual wants their medical decisions to be made if they are unable to make those decisions. An advance health care directive informs an individuals health care team and loved ones regarding the kind of health care the individual wants, or who they wish to make health care decisions on their behalf if they cannot. Section 4675 of the Probate Code requires a written advance health care directive for a patient in a skilled nursing facility to be witnessed by a patient advocate or ombudsman in order to be effective; however, ombudsman representatives were not permitted to enter these facilities during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This created a significant problem for facility residents during a time when they had a critical need for the ombudsmans assistance, especially when residents contracted COVID-19 and experienced complications.
4863
4964 (c) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to reaffirm the unabridged right of representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to enter long-term care facilities in the performance of their official duties.
5065
5166 SEC. 2. Section 9718.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
5267
5368 SEC. 2. Section 9718.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
5469
5570 ### SEC. 2.
5671
5772 9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
5873
5974 9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
6075
6176 9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.(b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.
6277
6378
6479
6580 9718.5. (a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility shall not, under any circumstances, deny entry to a representative of the office acting in their official capacity.
6681
6782 (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this section is intended to affect the ability of the State Public Health Officer or a local health officer to limit contact with patients or staff at a skilled nursing facility or residents or staff at a residential care facility in order to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.
6883
6984 (b) During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer, a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility may require the representative of the office entering the facility to adhere to infection control protocols for the duration of their visit that are no more stringent than those required for facility staff.