Panel approves cameras in common areas of intermediate care facilities; bedrooms and bathrooms excluded

Representative Heffner presented House Bill 1832, saying the bill "expands the electronic monitoring provisions to include intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities" and that the cameras would be placed in common areas, not in bedrooms or bathrooms.

Heffner said the measure aims to "improve transparency, prevent abuse, [and] give families some peace of mind," while balancing privacy concerns. She said intermediate care facilities (ICFs) differ from small residential daily living support homes and that typical ICFs are larger, "minimum on ICFs are 8 beds," with monitoring restricted to shared spaces.

Representative Roe asked why monitoring would not be allowed in residents' rooms, saying a perpetrator might act in a private space rather than in a common area. Heffner answered that privacy considerations and federal guidance limit cameras in private rooms and bathrooms, but that common-area monitoring can help investigators by recording who entered shared spaces.

Members discussed federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules that affect camera placement. Heffner said CMS rules constrain what states can require and that the bill is not mandatory but is intended as a step toward greater transparency and investigative tools for alleged abuse.

Representative Stark asked whether families can request cameras in residents' rooms; Heffner said CMS rules generally do not allow private-room cameras in ICFs and that the bill would not change that.

The committee voted to report House Bill 1832 out with a do-pass recommendation, 12 yeas and 0 nays.