Commissioner Oversight and Authority over Assisted Living Facilities
2019 c 60 art 1 s 34,41,47
Subd. 1. Regulations.
The commissioner shall regulate assisted living facilities pursuant to this chapter. The regulations shall include the following:
- (1) provisions to assure, to the extent possible, the health, safety, well-being, and appropriate treatment of residents while respecting individual autonomy and choice;
- (2) requirements that facilities furnish the commissioner with specified information necessary to implement this chapter;
- (3) standards of training of facility personnel;
- (4) standards for the provision of assisted living services;
- (5) standards for medication management;
- (6) standards for supervision of assisted living services;
- (7) standards for resident evaluation or assessment;
- (8) standards for treatments and therapies;
- (9) requirements for the involvement of a resident's health care provider, the documentation of the health care provider's orders, if required, and the resident's service plan;
- (10) standards for the maintenance of accurate, current resident records;
- (11) the establishment of levels of licenses based on services provided; and
- (12) provisions to enforce these regulations and the assisted living bill of rights.
Subd. 2. Regulatory functions.
(a) The commissioner shall:
- (1) license, survey, and monitor without advance notice assisted living facilities in accordance with this chapter and rules;
- (2) survey every provisional licensee within one year of the provisional license issuance date subject to the provisional licensee providing assisted living services to residents;
- (3) survey assisted living facility licensees at least once every two years;
- (4) investigate complaints of assisted living facilities;
- (5) issue correction orders and assess civil penalties under sections 144G.30 and 144G.31;
- (6) take action as authorized in section 144G.20; and
- (7) take other action reasonably required to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
- (b) The commissioner shall review blueprints for all new facility construction and must approve the plans before construction may be commenced.
- (c) The commissioner shall provide on-site review of the construction to ensure that all physical environment standards are met before the facility license is complete.
Subd. 3. Rulemaking authorized.
- (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules for all assisted living facilities that promote person-centered planning and service delivery and optimal quality of life, and that ensure resident rights are protected, resident choice is allowed, and public health and safety is ensured.
- (b) On July 1, 2019, the commissioner shall begin rulemaking.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules that include but are not limited to the following:
- (1) staffing appropriate for each licensure category to best protect the health and safety of residents no matter their vulnerability;
- (2) training prerequisites and ongoing training, including dementia care training and standards for demonstrating competency;
- (3) procedures for discharge planning and ensuring resident appeal rights;
- (4) initial assessments, continuing assessments, and a uniform assessment tool;
- (5) emergency disaster and preparedness plans;
- (6) uniform checklist disclosure of services;
- (7) a definition of serious injury that results from maltreatment;
- (8) conditions and fine amounts for planned closures;
- (9) procedures and timelines for the commissioner regarding termination appeals between facilities and the Office of Administrative Hearings;
- (10) establishing base fees and per-resident fees for each category of licensure;
- (11) considering the establishment of a maximum amount for any one fee;
- (12) procedures for relinquishing an assisted living facility with dementia care license and fine amounts for noncompliance; and
- (13) procedures to efficiently transfer existing housing with services registrants and home care licensees to the new assisted living facility licensure structure.
- (d) The commissioner shall publish the proposed rules by December 31, 2019, and shall publish final rules by December 31, 2020.