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Senate Bill 25 |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-21 |
House Sponsor: Frank et al. |
Senate Bill 25 amends the Health and Safety Code to grant a resident of a nursing facility, assisted living facility, intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability, home and community‑based services (HCS) program, or state supported living center, or the resident's guardian or legally authorized representative the right to designate an essential caregiver with whom the facility, center, or program provider may not prohibit in‑person visitation. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must develop guidelines to assist the facilities, centers, and program providers in establishing essential caregiver visitation policies and procedures. A facility, center, or program provider may revoke an individual's designation as an essential caregiver if the caregiver violates the facility's, center's, or provider's safety protocols or applicable visitation rules and may petition HHSC to suspend in‑person essential caregiver visits for up to seven days if in‑person visitation poses a serious community health risk.