Legislative Session number- 81

Bill Name: SF2896

E Authorizing nursing homes to train and employ resident assistants to assist
residents with eating and drinking upon federal approval, specifying certain
assistant qualification requirements, requiring volunteerism, evaluations and
criminal background checks, prohibiting retaliation against employees choosing
not to volunteer for the program and subjecting resident attendants to
requirements for volunteer feeding assistants; prohibiting the assignment of
resident attendants to feed residents at risk of choking or presenting
significant behavior management challenges or other risk factors; requiring the
commissioner of health to examine state and federal rules and regulations
governing the provision of care in nursing facilities and to develop and
implement alternative procedures for the nursing home survey process, specifying
certain consultation requirements; requiring the commissioner to pursue changes
to federal law necessary to accomplish the requirement and to apply for federal
waivers or approval; prescribing the process to be used in the examination and
certain factors to be considered by the commissioner in developing alternative
procedures for the survey process; modifying the requirement for physician
approval of certain intervals for checking incontinent nursing home residents;
requiring the commissioner to develop and report to the legislature by a certain
date a proposal to resolve the issue of defensive documentation in nursing
homes, specifying certain consultation requirements; requiring the commissioner
to seek a federal waiver to decrease the amount of paperwork involved in certain
shorter nursing home stays; requiring the commissioners of health and human
services to develop and report to the legislature by a certain date a proposal
to decrease regulations impeding direct care of nursing home residents,
consultation requirements; repealing the penalty for death due to abuse or
neglect and a certain rule (mk, ja)