81R9224 YDB-D

By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2260

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the licensing and regulation of post-acute care traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facilities; providing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 257 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 257. POST-ACUTE CARE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

REHABILITATION FACILITIES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 257.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Post-Acute Care Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Facility Licensing Act.

Sec. 257.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state health services.

(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.

(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(4) "Facility" means an institution or establishment that provides a continuum of nursing or medical care or rehabilitation services primarily to persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

(5) "Medical care" means care that is:

(A) required for improving life span and quality of life, for comfort, for prevention and treatment of illness, and for maintenance of bodily and mental function;

(B) under the continued supervision of a physician; and

(C) provided by a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse available to carry out a physician's plan of care for a patient.

(6) "Nursing care" means services provided by nursing personnel as prescribed by a physician, including services to:

(A) promote and maintain health;

(B) prevent illness and disability;

(C) manage health care during acute and chronic phases of illness;

(D) provide guidance and counseling of individuals and families; and

(E) provide referrals to physicians, other health care providers, and community resources when appropriate.

(7) "Patient" means an individual accepted for inpatient or outpatient care in a post-acute care traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facility.

(8) "Services" means the provision of medical or nursing care, assistance, or treatment by facility personnel, volunteers, or other qualified individuals, agencies, or staff of an organization or other entity to meet a patient's medical, nursing, social, spiritual, and emotional needs.

Sec. 257.003. EXEMPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to:

(1) a home and community support services agency required to be licensed under Chapter 142;

(2) a person required to be licensed under Chapter 241;

(3) an institution required to be licensed under Chapter 242;

(4) an ambulatory surgical center required to be licensed under Chapter 243;

(5) a birthing center required to be licensed under Chapter 244;

(6) a facility required to be licensed under Chapter 245 or Chapter 247;

(7) a child-care institution, foster group home, foster family home, or child-placing agency, for children in foster care or other patiential care who are under the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services; or

(8) a person providing medical or nursing care or services under a license or permit issued under other state law.

[Sections 257.004-257.050 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER B. LICENSING, FEES, AND INSPECTIONS

Sec. 257.051. LICENSE REQUIRED; QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A person may not establish or operate a post-acute care traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facility unless the person holds a license issued under this chapter.

(b) To protect the public health and safety, the executive commissioner shall establish qualifications for holding a license under this chapter. The qualifications must require the facility to hold an accreditation for post-acute providers from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or another nationally recognized accreditation organization approved by the executive commissioner.

Sec. 257.052. APPLICATION. (a) An applicant for a license must submit an application to the department on a form prescribed by the department and in accordance with executive commissioner rules.

(b) Each application must be accompanied by a nonrefundable license fee in an amount set by the executive commissioner.

(c) The department may require that an application be approved by the local health authority or other local official for compliance with municipal ordinances on building construction, fire prevention, and sanitation.

Sec. 257.053. ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL OF LICENSE. (a) The department shall issue a license to an applicant if on inspection and investigation it finds that the applicant meets the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted by the executive commissioner.

(b) A license shall be renewed at the times and in accordance with the rules established by the executive commissioner.

Sec. 257.054. FEES. (a) The executive commissioner shall establish a license application fee in the amount reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of administering this chapter.

(b) The executive commissioner may establish other reasonable and necessary fees in amounts that are adequate, with the license application and license renewal fees, to collect sufficient revenue to meet the expenses necessary to administer this chapter. The fees may include construction plan review and inspection fees.

(c) All fees collected under this chapter are nonrefundable.

(d) All fees received by the department shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund and may be appropriated only to the department to administer this chapter.

Sec. 257.055. NONTRANSFERABILITY; POSTING. (a) A license issued under this chapter is not transferable or assignable.

(b) A facility shall post in plain sight the license issued under this chapter.

Sec. 257.056. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. (a) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter. The rules must establish minimum standards for facilities relating to:

(1) the issuance, renewal, denial, suspension, and revocation of the license required by this chapter;

(2) the qualifications, duties, and supervision of professional and nonprofessional personnel and volunteers, which must require a manager of a facility to be a certified brain injury specialist;

(3) staff-to-patient ratios, which must require one staff person for every six patients during the day and one staff person for every eight patients overnight;

(4) medical and nursing care and services provided by a license holder, which must require that at least 20 hours of therapy a week be made available for each patient;

(5) the organizational structure, lines of authority, delegation of responsibility, and operation of a facility;

(6) records of care and services kept by the license holder, including the disposal or destruction of those records;

(7) safety, fire prevention, and sanitation provisions;

(8) transfer of patients in a medically appropriate manner from or to a facility;

(9) construction plan approval and inspection;

(10) training for employees who do not hold a license as a health care practitioner and who will be delivering care to patients, which must include at least 16 hours of orientation training and 24 hours of observation training;

(11) annual continuing education of at least 12 hours for employees;

(12) treatment of minors; and

(13) any aspects of a facility as necessary to protect the public health and safety or patients of the facility.

(b) Subsection (a) does not authorize the executive commissioner to establish the qualifications of licensed health care providers or permit the executive commissioner to authorize persons to provide health care services who are not authorized to provide those services under other state law.

Sec. 257.057. CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS. (a) If there are no local regulations in effect or enforced in the area in which a facility is located, the facility's construction must conform to the minimum standards established by the executive commissioner.

(b) Construction of a facility is subject to construction plan approval by the department.

Sec. 257.058. INSPECTIONS; INVESTIGATIONS. (a) The department may inspect a facility and its records at reasonable times as necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(b) The department shall investigate each complaint received regarding a facility.

[Sections 257.059-257.100 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER C. GENERAL ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 257.101. LICENSE DENIAL, SUSPENSION, PROBATION, OR REVOCATION. (a) The department may deny, revoke, or suspend a license issued under this chapter for a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.

(b) Except as provided by Section 257.102, the procedures by which the department denies, revokes, or suspends a license and by which those actions are appealed are governed by the department's rules for a contested case hearing and by Chapter 2001, Government Code.

(c) If the department finds that a facility is in repeated noncompliance with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter but that the noncompliance does not endanger the public health and safety, the department may schedule the facility for probation rather than suspending or revoking the facility's license. The department shall provide notice to the facility of the probation and of the items of noncompliance not later than the 10th day before the date the probation period begins. The department shall designate a period of not less than 30 days during which the facility will remain under probation. During the probation period, the facility must correct the items that were in noncompliance and report the corrections to the department for approval.

(d) The department may suspend or revoke the license of a facility that does not correct items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter within the applicable probation period.

Sec. 257.102. EMERGENCY SUSPENSION. (a) The department may issue an emergency order to suspend any license issued under this chapter if the department has reasonable cause to believe that the conduct of a license holder creates an immediate danger to the public health and safety.

(b) An emergency suspension is effective immediately without a hearing on notice to the license holder.

(c) On written request of the license holder, the department shall conduct a hearing not earlier than the 10th day or later than the 30th day after the date the hearing request is received to determine if the emergency suspension is to be continued, modified, or rescinded.

(d) The hearing and any appeal are governed by department rules for a contested case hearing and by Chapter 2001, Government Code.

Sec. 257.103. INJUNCTION. (a) The department may request that the attorney general petition a district court to restrain a license holder or other person from continuing to violate this chapter or any rule adopted by the executive commissioner under this chapter. Venue for a suit for injunctive relief is in Travis County.

(b) On application for injunctive relief and a finding that a license holder or other person has violated this chapter or executive commissioner rules, the district court shall grant the injunctive relief that the facts warrant.

Sec. 257.104. CIVIL PENALTY. A license holder or person who violates this chapter or a rule adopted by the executive commissioner under this chapter is liable for a civil penalty, to be imposed by a district court, of not more than $1,000 for each day of violation. All penalties collected under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.

Sec. 257.105. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person who knowingly establishes or operates a facility without a license issued under this chapter commits an offense.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

(c) Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.

[Sections 257.106-257.150 reserved for expansion]

SUBCHAPTER D. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY

Sec. 257.151. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY. (a) The commissioner may impose an administrative penalty on a person licensed under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.

(b) A penalty collected under this subchapter shall be deposited in the state treasury in the general revenue fund.

Sec. 257.152. AMOUNT OF PENALTY. (a) The amount of the penalty may not exceed $1,000 for each violation, and each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty. The total amount of the penalty assessed for a violation continuing or occurring on separate days under this subsection may not exceed $5,000.

(b) The amount shall be based on:

(1) the seriousness of the violation, including the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;

(2) the threat to health or safety caused by the violation;

(3) the history of previous violations;

(4) the amount necessary to deter a future violation;

(5) whether the violator demonstrated good faith, including when applicable whether the violator made good faith efforts to correct the violation; and

(6) any other matter that justice may require.

Sec. 257.153. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND PENALTY. (a) If the department initially determines that a violation occurred, the department shall give written notice of the report by certified mail to the person.

(b) The notice must:

(1) include a brief summary of the alleged violation;

(2) state the amount of the recommended penalty; and

(3) inform the person of the person's right to a hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.

Sec. 257.154. PENALTY TO BE PAID OR HEARING REQUESTED. (a) Not later than the 20th day after the date the person receives the notice sent under Section 257.153, the person in writing may:

(1) accept the determination and recommended penalty of the department; or

(2) make a request for a hearing on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.

(b) If the person accepts the determination and recommended penalty or if the person fails to respond to the notice, the commissioner by order shall approve the determination and impose the recommended penalty.

Sec. 257.155. HEARING. (a) If the person requests a hearing, the commissioner shall refer the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which shall promptly set a hearing date and give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the person. An administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct the hearing.

(b) The administrative law judge shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law and promptly issue to the commissioner a proposal for a decision about the occurrence of the violation and the amount of a proposed penalty.

Sec. 257.156. DECISION BY COMMISSIONER. (a) Based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and proposal for a decision, the commissioner by order may:

(1) find that a violation occurred and impose a penalty; or

(2) find that a violation did not occur.

(b) The notice of the commissioner's order under Subsection (a) that is sent to the person in accordance with Chapter 2001, Government Code, must include a statement of the right of the person to judicial review of the order.

Sec. 257.157. OPTIONS FOLLOWING DECISION: PAY OR APPEAL. Not later than the 30th day after the date the order of the commissioner under Section 257.156 that imposes an administrative penalty becomes final, the person shall:

(1) pay the penalty; or

(2) file a petition for judicial review of the commissioner's order contesting the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.

Sec. 257.158. STAY OF ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTY. (a) Within the 30-day period prescribed by Section 257.157, a person who files a petition for judicial review may:

(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by:

(A) paying the penalty to the court for placement in an escrow account; or

(B) giving the court a supersedeas bond approved by the court that:

(i) is for the amount of the penalty; and

(ii) is effective until all judicial review of the commissioner's order is final; or

(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the penalty by:

(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit of the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and

(B) sending a copy of the affidavit to the commissioner by certified mail.

(b) If the commissioner receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (a)(2), the commissioner may file with the court, within five days after the date the copy is received, a contest to the affidavit. The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay the enforcement of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty or to give a supersedeas bond.

Sec. 257.159. COLLECTION OF PENALTY. (a) If the person does not pay the penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not stayed, the penalty may be collected.

(b) The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.

Sec. 257.160. DECISION BY COURT. (a) If the court sustains the finding that a violation occurred, the court may uphold or reduce the amount of the penalty and order the person to pay the full or reduced amount of the penalty.

(b) If the court does not sustain the finding that a violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not owed.

Sec. 257.161. REMITTANCE OF PENALTY AND INTEREST. (a) If the person paid the penalty and if the amount of the penalty is reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, that the appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted to the person not later than the 30th day after the date that the judgment of the court becomes final.

(b) The interest accrues at the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

(c) The interest shall be paid for the period beginning on the date the penalty is paid and ending on the date the penalty is remitted.

Sec. 257.162. RELEASE OF BOND. (a) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the penalty is not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, the release of the bond.

(b) If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the amount of the penalty is reduced, the court shall order the release of the bond after the person pays the reduced amount.

Sec. 257.163. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE. A proceeding to impose the penalty is considered to be a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government Code.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than March 1, 2010, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt the rules and standards required by Chapter 257, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 257.051, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, a post-acute care traumatic brain injury rehabilitation facility is not required to hold a license under Chapter 257 until May 1, 2010.

SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

(b) Subchapters C and D, Chapter 257, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, take effect May 1, 2010.