Committee advances bill allowing family-installed room cameras in residential care; providers raise privacy and staffing concerns

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on March 11 voted to send House Bill 337 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after extended testimony and questions about privacy, staffing and legal risks.

House Bill 337 would allow a resident, the resident’s guardian or a health care agent to authorize the installation and use of an electronic monitoring device in a resident’s private room at a residential care facility. Representative Dory Healy (R-District 15), who presented the bill, said it is intended to help families check on vulnerable adults and to document suspected abuse.

“Who are we protecting? Are we protecting staff or are we protecting our most at risk adults?” Representative Dory Healy said during her closing remarks, arguing families should be permitted to use cameras when they choose.

Supporters and family advocates told the committee they brought the measure after constituent reports of suspected abuse. Healy cited national statistics during her presentation, including figures she attributed to the World Health Organization and the Office of Inspector General to underline instances of abuse in long-term care settings and to argue for options that help families monitor care.

Providers, trade groups and…