1. (1) The legislature finds that:

   1. (a) Idaho families have a constitutionally protected liberty interest in companionship and society with one another;
   2. (b) The access of patients and residents in certain facilities to their family, friends, advocates, clergy, and advisers has been at times severely curtailed;
   3. (c) Involuntary isolation has deleterious effects on a person’s health and well-being, and such effects can be severe and even deadly for persons already in a frail state of health; and
   4. (d) No person should be required to surrender the ability to associate simply because the person needs care.
2. (2) In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of the legislature to guarantee and protect the right of Idahoans to be visited by essential caregivers of their choosing when staying in a health care or assistance facility. The provisions of this chapter should be broadly construed in the light most favorable to serving this intent.

[(39-9802) 39-9702, added 2022, ch. 134, sec. 1, p. 500; am. and redesig. 2023, ch. 218, sec. 12, p. 615; am. and redesig. 2023, ch. 300, sec. 1, p. 910; am. 2024, ch. 241, sec. 2, p. 861.]