Legislature(1993 - 1994)
1994-01-14 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1994-01-14 Senate Journal Page 2505 SB 249 SENATE BILL NO. 249 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to assisted living homes; repealing references to residential facilities for dependent adults; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health, Education and Social Services, State Affairs and Finance Committees. Fiscal note from Department of Health and Social Services and zero fiscal note from Department of Administration published today. Governor's transmittal letter dated January 14: Dear Mr. President: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill related to assisted living homes. An assisted living home is a residential facility that serves adults, provides housing and food service, and provides or obtains for the residents assistance with activities of daily living, personal assistance or health-related services. Medical facilities licensed under AS18.20, such as nursing homes and hospitals, and certain other types of residential facilities (including correctional facilities and emergency shelters) are not classified as assisted living homes under this bill. Although assisted living homes are not health care or medical facilities, they may provide or obtain various health-related services for residents, such as intermittent nursing care, supervision of the resident's self-administration of medications, and needed care and comfort to terminally ill patients who are under the care of a doctor 1994-01-14 Senate Journal Page 2506 SB 249 who verifies that the needs of the resident are being met in the assisted living home. The bill is intended to promote the establishment of assisted living homes that will provide a home-like setting as well as certain health- related services or assistance with certain personal activities. Such services will allow the elderly to age in place, rather than having to be transferred to a more institutionalized nursing-home setting, and will allow adults with a physical or mental disability to become integrated into their community. Currently, the Department of Health and Social Services, under AS47.35, licenses and regulates certain facilities that care for dependent adults. Under this bill, that licensing structure will be deleted and replaced by a new chapter (AS47.33) that provides for assisted living homes. Responsibility for licensing and regulating the homes will be split between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Administration. The Department of Administration will be responsible for licensure of assisted living homes that will be providing care primarily to individuals who are elderly, who have a physical disability, or who suffer from dementia, but who are not diagnosed as chronically mentally ill. Licensure of assisted living homes that will be providing care primarily to individuals with a mental or developmental disability will be the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services. Provision is made for joint agency determination of the appropriate licensing agency in cases in which that designation cannot easily be made. The Department of Health and Social Services, division of family and youth services, will continue to license residential homes and facilities for children under AS47.35. The respective licensing agencies will be responsible for investigating complaints filed regarding assisted living homes and for taking necessary action to protect residents through administrative actions. The main body of the bill is contained in sec. 1 of the bill, which defines "assisted living home," describes certain services, sets certain operating standards, and provides for licensing and regulations. For example, sec. 1 specifically provides for the safeguarding of money that a resident of an assisted living home deposited with the home 1994-01-14 Senate Journal Page 2507 SB 249 for safekeeping and management. Section 1 also requires assisted living homes to keep records regarding residents' care, as well as provide their residents with information regarding residents' rights at the home, including timely notice regarding closure or relocation, notice of any change in rates, and protections in case of an action for involuntary discharge from the home. Furthermore, the bill states that an individual may not be admitted to an assisted living home without that person's consent, or, if the individual is not competent, the consent of the individual's representative. In addition, an individual may not be admitted as a resident of an assisted living home unless an admission contract has been signed by the individual (or the individual's representative, if appropriate) and the home. The bill also requires that an assisted living plan for a resident be developed, and approved by the resident (or the resident's representative, if appropriate), within 30 days after that resident was admitted to the home. The plan is designed to identify the reasonable wants and needs of the resident and the ways in which those wants and needs will be met. Section 1 of the bill also contains a lengthy list of residents' rights. These rights are designed to protect the residents' privacy and independence and to allow residents to be able to participate in grievance procedures or other remedial actions relating to resident complaints regarding how an assisted living home is providing care. Under the bill, certain complaints may be filed with the appropriate licensing agency; the licensing agencies have investigatory and sanction authority. Sections 2 through 12 of the bill amend existing statutory provisions to acknowledge the provisions in sec. 1 of the bill. Section 13 of the bill contains transition provisions regarding regulations and pending proceedings. Sections 14 and 15 allow the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Administration to prepare and adopt, before the effective date of the bill, regulations necessary to implement the bill. The new regulations cannot take effect before the effective date of the bill (January1, 1995). 1994-01-14 Senate Journal Page 2508 SB 249 I urge your support of this important legislation. Sincerely, /s/ Walter J. Hickel Governor