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Committee delays long-term care regulatory overhaul; amendments to include family notifications and merged provisions
Summary
Lawmakers said they will carry over Senate Bill 739 until April 8 to allow final amendments; sponsors and stakeholders reported the bill will include provisions for direct notification to residents and designated contacts after substantiated violations and will merge provisions from a related bill.
The Senate Committee on Human Services carried over Senate Bill 739 to the committee’s April 8 meeting after lengthy discussion about regulation and oversight of assisted living and memory-care facilities.
Committee staff described the bill as replacing and consolidating earlier provisions: the sponsor and staff said language from Senate Bill 811 will be merged into SB 739 to avoid conflicting statutes. The planned amendment package — still being finalized and circulated to stakeholders — would add several operational changes intended to increase consumer transparency and strengthen enforcement.
A principal negotiated element described to the committee is a requirement that the Department of Human Services notify a resident and the resident’s designated contact when there is a substantiated finding of a violation that resulted in death, serious injury, serious harm or serious impairment and that is either widespread or part of a pattern creating risk to others. Similar direct notifications would be required when a substantiated violation presents significant risk and is widespread or part of a pattern that resulted in suspension or other admission restrictions.
Committee staff also said the department would prepare a facility summary that shows current licensing status, historic violations and ownership changes and that facilities must provide this summary to residents at admission and on request. Staff noted the department’s public licensing information now includes color coding and historical entries.
Other issues to be finalized in the forthcoming amendment include a definition of ‘‘substantial compliance’’ and technical corrections negotiated with the Oregon Health Care Association and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s office. The committee said it will circulate the revised amendment once received and will reconvene consideration on April 8.
The committee closed the work session on SB 739 and carried the item over for further amendment and review.
