SLS 20RS-340 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 93
BY SENATOR SMITH
NURSING HOMES. Provides relative to the use of bed rails in nursing home facilities.
(8/1/20)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 40:2009.24, relative to the use of bed rails in nursing home facilities; to
3 provide certain criteria that must be met prior to installation of bed rails; to provide
4 definitions; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 40:2009.24 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง2009.24. Nursing home; bed rail use
8 A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 40:2010.8(A)(3) or (10), a
9 nursing home may install bed rails on a resident's bed if, prior to installing the
10 bed rails the nursing home:
11 (1) Identifies and uses appropriate alternatives. Appropriate alternatives
12 include but are not limited to roll guards, foam bumpers, lowering the bed, and
13 using concave mattresses to minimize the risk of rolling off the bed.
14 (2) Assesses the resident for risk of entrapment.
15 (3) Assesses the risk versus the benefit of using a bed rail and reviews the
16 risks and benefits with the resident or his guardian.
17 (4) Obtains informed consent and a waiver of liability from the resident
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 93
SLS 20RS-340 ORIGINAL
1 or his guardian.
2 (5) Checks the bed's dimensions to ensure that they are appropriate for
3 resident's size and weight.
4 (6) Follows the manufacturer's recommendations and specifications for
5 installation and scheduled maintenance.
6 (7) Ensures correct use of the bed rail.
7 B. For purposes of this Section, "bed rail" means adjustable metal or
8 rigid plastic bars that are attached to the bed. They are available in a variety of
9 types, shapes, and sizes ranging from full to one-half, one-quarter, or one-eighth
10 lengths. Examples of bed rails include but are not limited to side rails, bed side
11 rails, safety rails, grab bars, and assist bars.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 93 Original 2020 Regular Session Smith
Proposed law provides that a nursing home facility may install bed rails on a resident's bed
if other alternatives have been tried, the resident has been assessed for risk of entrapment,
the risk versus the benefit of using a bed rail has been assessed and reviewed with the
resident or his guardian, informed consent and a waiver of liability has been obtained, the
bed's dimensions have been checked to ensure that they are appropriate for resident size and
weight; the manufacturer's recommendations and specifications for installation and
scheduled maintenance are followed, and the bed rail is used correctly.
Proposed law defines "bed rail" as adjustable metal or rigid plastic bars that are attached to
the bed.
Effective August 1, 2020.
(Adds R.S. 40:2009.24)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.