H.B. No. 1423
AN ACT
relating to the regulation and inspection procedures of certain
long-term care facilities, including a survey of certain
facilities' emergency power sources.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 242.043(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission [department] or the commission's
[department's] representative may make any inspection, including
an unannounced inspection or follow-up inspection, survey, or
investigation that it considers necessary and may enter the
premises of an institution at reasonable times to make an
inspection, survey, or investigation in accordance with department
rules.
SECTION 2. Sections 242.044(a) and (b), Health and Safety
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission [Each licensing period, the department]
shall annually conduct at least one [two] unannounced inspection
[inspections] of each institution.
(b) For at least one [two] unannounced annual inspection
[inspections each licensing period] of an institution, the
commission [department] shall invite at least one person as a
citizen advocate from:
(1) the AARP;
(2) the Texas Senior Citizen Association;
(3) the department's Certified Long-term Care
Ombudsman; or
(4) another statewide organization for the elderly.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 242, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Sections 242.0441 and 242.0442 to read as
follows:
Sec. 242.0441. FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS. (a) The commission
or the commission's representative may conduct a follow-up
inspection of an institution after conducting an inspection,
survey, or investigation of the institution under Section 242.043
or 242.044 to:
(1) evaluate and monitor the findings of the initial
inspection, survey, or investigation; and
(2) ensure the commission is citing and punishing
institutional deficiencies consistently across the state.
(b) If an institution corrects a deficiency cited during a
follow-up inspection within the time specified by executive
commissioner rule, the commission may not impose additional
punitive actions for the deficiency.
Sec. 242.0442. COMMISSION EVALUATION OF REGULATORY
CAPACITY. (a) Not later than January 31 of each year, the
commission shall evaluate the commission's capacity to regulate
institutions under this chapter and formulate a strategy to
effectively perform licensing duties, enforcement activities, and
complaint investigations for that year.
(b) The commission shall continue to regularly evaluate the
commission's capacity to regulate institutions under this chapter
and implement corrective measures as necessary.
(c) The commission shall monitor the commission's staffing
of employees who perform inspections, surveys, or investigations of
institutions under this chapter and fill any vacant positions as
soon as possible.
(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the commission
shall evaluate the commission's compliance during the previous year
with Sections 242.043, 242.044, and 242.0441.
SECTION 4. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission
shall conduct a survey on the number of facilities licensed under
Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, and the number of assisted
living facilities licensed under Chapter 247, Health and Safety
Code, that are equipped with an operational emergency generator or
comparable emergency power source that is capable of providing
continuous electric utility services to the facility during severe
weather events or other emergencies.
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall break
down the results of the survey conducted under Subsection (a) based
on:
(1) the type of facility;
(2) the size of the facility; and
(3) the geographic location of the facility.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2022, the Health and Human
Services Commission shall submit the results of the survey
conducted under Subsection (a) of this section to the members of the
House Human Services Committee and the Senate Health and Human
Services Committee, or the successor of those committees.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1423 was passed by the House on May 7,
2021, by the following vote: Yeas 101, Nays 39, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1423 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 84, Nays 57,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1423 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor