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Senate approves voluntary monitoring measure for assisted-living centers despite privacy questions
Summary
Second substitute House Bill 124 allows residents and an authorized family member to install non-live monitoring equipment in assisted-living rooms with consent; sponsors said the bill is voluntary, limited to assisted living centers, and designed to deter theft, abuse and neglect while protecting privacy. The Senate reported the floor vote and moved the bill to third reading.
Senators debated second substitute House Bill 124, which permits voluntary use of certain recording devices in assisted-living residences with the consent of the resident and an authorized family member.
Sponsor Senator Vickers said the measure is voluntary, not live-streaming, and applies only to assisted-living centers. He said facilities would be allowed to require a waiver and clear notice in the room and that the bill had been developed in consultation with industry stakeholders. The sponsor emphasized steps to limit liability and preserve resident privacy: facilities would have no control over data or liability for third-party permissions, and monitoring would be a recording for later review, not continuous live surveillance.
Senators queried whether the measure would trigger HIPAA concerns, whether it creates a ‘‘granny-cam’’ environment, and whether a voluntary permission today could become standard practice. The sponsor said industry and family concerns were considered and that the House approved the measure with near-unanimous support. A floor amendment was adopted before the bill proceeded.
The Senate reported a roll-call tally for the second substitute as 21 yay, 3 nay, 5 absent and ordered the bill for third reading.
