Bill > H1319

This bill aims to improve the oversight and regulation of assisted living facilities (ALFs) by clarifying responsibilities for mental health residents, enhancing resident rights, and strengthening licensing and enforcement procedures. Specifically, it assigns responsibility for mental health residents to Medicaid prepaid behavioral health plans if they are enrolled, and to managing entities under contract with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) if they are not enrolled in such plans. The bill also mandates that residents or their representatives be informed of their rights upon admission to a long-term care facility, introduces provisional licenses for extended congregate care (ECC) facilities, and revises the frequency and conditions for monitoring visits to certain facilities. Furthermore, it grants the agency the authority to deny or revoke an ECC license, requires ALFs to obtain a limited mental health license under certain circumstances, and revises the criteria for denying or revoking an ALF's license, while also removing a requirement to provide a list of facilities with denied, suspended, or revoked licenses to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The bill mandates the creation of a database for collecting specific information, establishes sanctions for non-compliance with reporting requirements, and requires the development of electronic communication systems among all agencies involved in ALF regulation. Finally, it mandates that the agency submit a report to the Governor and Legislature and propose a rating system for ALFs to help consumers make informed decisions, with appropriations provided for these purposes.