O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 21-194—SB 973
Aging Committee
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF RESIDEN TS AND
FAMILY COUNCILS
SUMMARY: This act 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 posting a
notice of intent on the eRegulations System proposing a regulation.
For proposed regulations, other than those that are emergency or technical, the
act 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
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 act, this includes remote testimony
via audio or audio-video technology.
The act 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 from resident and family council members, in a similar manner as
described above.
Under the act, long-term care facilities include nursing homes and assisted
living facilities. The act defines “resident councils” as those elected and run by
long-term care facility residents that bring concerns about resident living and care
conditions to facility management. “Family councils” are those comprised of
family members of long-term care facility residents that bring concerns on
resident living and care conditions to facility management.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage