1. (a)

   1. (1) Each facility must have a full-time (minimum forty (40) hours per week) administrator on the premises during normal business hours.
   2. (2) The administrator must have responsibility for daily operation of the facility.
   3. (3) Correspondence between the Office of Long-Term Care and the facility must be through the administrator.
2. (b) The administrator must not leave the residential care facility premises during the day tour of duty without first delegating authority to a qualified individual who will manage the facility temporarily during the administrator's absence.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The facility administrator must notify the office in writing if the administrator's absence from the facility will exceed seven (7) consecutive days.
   2. (2) The name of the individual who will be in charge of the facility must be listed in the letter.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Each administrator will provide to the office on an annual basis a copy of his or her current administrator certification certificate.
   2. (2) All certifications must be current within the limits of the certification agency.
   3. (3) This submission shall be made at the same time the facility seeks licensure or renewal of licensure or upon a change of administrators.

5. (e) The administrator must have the following minimum qualifications:

   1. (1) Must:

      1. (A) Be currently certified as a residential care facility through a certification program approved by the office or be in an approved certification program with an expected completion date of no more than eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this part;
      2. (B)

6. (i) Have satisfactorily completed a course of instruction and training prescribed by the office.

   1. (ii) The course shall be designed as to content and administered so as to present sufficient knowledge of the needs properly to be served by long-term care facilities, laws governing the operation of long-term care facilities, and the protection of the interests of residents therein, and the elements of good long-term care facility administration;

      1. (C) Present evidence of satisfactorily completing an approved training program to administer, supervise, and manage a long-term care facility; or
      2. (D) Have participated for one (1) year in an administrator-in-training program approved by the office;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Must be:

         1. (i) At least twenty-one (21) years of age;
         2. (ii) Of good moral character; and
         3. (iii) Of sound physical and mental health.
      2. (B) "Character" and "health" may be determined by an investigation conducted by the office that may include such information as criminal records, doctor statements, and any other information as requested by the office;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
      2. (B) Individuals serving as an administrator on the effective date of this part shall be deemed to have satisfied this criterion;
   4. (4) Must have the ability to comply with this part;
   5. (5) Must have no prior conviction pursuant to Arkansas Code § 20-10-401 or relating to the operation of a long-term care facility (check references); and
   6. (6) Must not have been convicted of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating individuals (check adult abuse register maintained by the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services).

Codification Notes: "GED" means General Educational Development test.