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Senate Bill 131 |
Senate Author: West, Royce et al. |
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Effective: See below |
House Sponsor: Naishtat |
Senate Bill 131 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the creation of "nursing home family councils," which means a group of family members, friends, or legal guardians of residents, who organize and meet privately or openly. The bill authorizes a family council to make recommendations to the nursing home that affect resident care and quality of life and promote the health and happiness of residents. It authorizes one council member to authorize another council member to visit and observe a resident unless the resident objects. The bill requires a nursing home to respond in writing within five days to a written request by a council and to make a reasonable effort to resolve a council's grievances. The institution must permit a representative of the council to discuss concerns with a person inspecting the facility and must provide a copy of a statement of violations of the Health and Safety Code to the council within five days of receiving the statement. In addition, the bill requires a nursing home to provide certain information to all family members regarding a family council, provide a meeting place and bulletin board for the council, and provide a staff person to act as liaison to the council. The bill prohibits a nursing home from taking certain actions that would wilfully interfere with the formation, maintenance, or operation of a family council. It requires the Department of Aging and Disability Services to administer these provisions, and it requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt necessary rules by December 1, 2007. Otherwise, the bill takes effect September 1, 2008.