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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 973 (File 192, as amended by Senate "A")*
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF RESIDENTS AND
FAMILY COUNCILS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires state agencies to inform the (1) state long-term care
ombudsman and (2) Commission on Women, Children, Seniors,
Equity and Opportunity executive director about legislative proposals
or new or revised regulations on long-term care facility living and care
conditions. They must do this within three days after submitting a
proposal to the legislature or publishing a notice of intent on the
eRegulations System proposing a regulation.
For proposed regulations, other than those that are emergency or
technical, the bill requires the ombudsman and executive director to
immediately inform the Statewide Coalition of Presidents of Residents
Councils and family councils that the agency is required to hold a
public hearing upon the request of at least 15 people within 14 days
after the notice of intent is posted on the eRegulations System.
It requires state agencies and legislative committees of cognizance to
accept this testimony in a manner and format that provides for the
greatest input from resident and family council members, when it is
practicable and permissible under the agency’s or committee’s rules.
Under the bill, this includes remote testimony via audio or audio-video
technology.
The bill also requires any state task force on long-term care facility
care or living conditions that is appointed by the legislature or a state
agency to include as members representatives of (1) resident councils;
(2) family councils; and (3) the chairpersons and ranking members of
the Aging Committee, or their designees. The task force chairperson
must schedule meetings in a way that provides for the greatest input 2021SB-00973-R01-BA.DOCX
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from resident and family council members, in a similar manner as
described above.
Under the bill, long-term care facilities include nursing homes and
assisted living facilities. The bill defines “resident councils” as those
elected and run by long-term care facility residents that bring to
facility management concerns about resident living and care
conditions. “Family councils” are those comprised of family members
of long-term care facility residents that bring concerns to facility
management on resident living and care conditions.
*Senate Amendment “A” (1) eliminates the requirement in the
underlying bill that state agencies inform the ombudsman and
executive director about statewide policies, in addition to legislative
proposals and regulations; (2) shortens, from seven to three days, the
deadline by which state agencies must provide notification of
legislative proposals and regulations; (3) adds the notification
requirement regarding public hearings; (4) specifies that a state agency
must accept testimony in certain formats only when practicable and
permissible under its rules; and (5) adds as task force members, the
Aging Committee chairpersons and ranking members, or their
designees.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Aging Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 16 Nay 0 (03/11/2021)