Bill > H1109

This bill establishes new regulations for transitional living facilities, which provide specialized healthcare and rehabilitative services to individuals with brain or spinal cord injuries, aiming to help them regain independence and reintegrate into the community. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) will be responsible for licensing these facilities, which will require applications detailing facility location, proof of liability insurance, satisfactory fire and sanitation inspections, and accreditation from a specialized rehabilitation facility organization. The bill outlines strict criteria for client admission, transfer, and discharge, emphasizing that clients must have a diagnosed brain or spinal cord injury and not primarily suffer from mental illness or intellectual/developmental disabilities, and that clients should not be bedridden or require 24-hour nursing care. Comprehensive treatment plans, developed by an interdisciplinary team and including client or representative input, will be mandatory, focusing on achieving specific, measurable goals for community reintegration. The bill also details licensee responsibilities, including ensuring client safety, privacy, and the right to communicate, as well as proper medication practices, protection from abuse and neglect, and strict guidelines on the use of physical and chemical restraints and seclusion, which are only permitted under specific physician orders and emergency circumstances. Background screening for personnel is required, and facilities must maintain detailed records, including emergency management plans. The bill addresses the management of clients' personal property and finances, with provisions for safekeeping and penalties for misuse, and establishes a system for classifying violations and imposing fines. Finally, it repeals existing provisions related to transitional living facilities and mandates the development of electronic systems for interagency communication regarding client information.