HOUSE FILE 2149

BY  MASCHER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to advocacy for long-term care residents and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  231.45  Certified volunteer long-term care resident’s advocate program.
   1.  The department shall establish a certified volunteer long-term care resident’s advocate program in accordance with the federal Act to provide assistance to the state and local long-term care resident’s advocates.
   2.  The department shall develop and implement a certification process for volunteer long-term care resident’s advocates including but not limited to an application process, provision for background checks, classroom or on-site training, orientation, and continuing education.
   3.  The provisions of section 231.42 relating to local long-term care resident’s advocates shall apply to certified volunteer long-term care resident’s advocates.
   4.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 2.  LOCAL LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT’S ADVOCATES —— APPROPRIATION.  It is the intent of the general assembly that the number of local long-term care resident’s advocates as provided in section 231.42 be increased each year until 15 local long-term care resident’s advocates are available in the state. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013, the following amount, or so much thereof, is appropriated to the department on aging for the purpose designated:
   To provide an additional local long-term care resident’s advocate:
.................................................. $    100,000
    Sec. 3.  SUFFICIENT STAFFING OF NURSING FACILITIES —— WORKGROUP REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS.  The department on aging shall convene a workgroup to review staffing in nursing homes to make recommendations regarding what constitutes sufficient staffing in meeting resident satisfaction and in providing quality care. The workgroup shall consist of interested consumers and providers, and shall include representatives of the office of the state long-term care resident’s advocate, the department of inspections and appeals, the department of human services, and other appropriate state agencies or departments. The workgroup shall, at a minimum, review national research and current practices in developing its recommendations. The workgroup shall make recommendations to the general assembly no later than December 15, 2012. 
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to advocacy for long-term care residents. The bill directs the department on aging (IDA) to establish a certified volunteer long-term care resident’s advocate program to provide assistance to the state and local long-term care resident’s advocates. The department is to develop and implement a certification process for volunteer long-term care resident’s advocates. The bill provides that the provisions relating to local long-term care resident’s advocates shall apply to certified volunteer long-term care resident’s advocates, and directs IDA to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to administer the provisions.
   The bill also provides that it is the intent of the general assembly that the number of local long-term care resident’s advocates be increased each year until 15 local long-term care resident’s advocates are available in the state; and appropriates $100,000 to IDA for FY 2012-2013 to provide an additional local long-term care resident’s advocate.
   The bill directs IDA to convene a workgroup to review staffing in nursing homes to make recommendations regarding what constitutes sufficient staffing in meeting resident satisfaction and in providing quality care. The workgroup is to consist of interested consumers, providers, and representatives of the office of the state long-term care resident’s advocate, the department of inspections and appeals, the department of human services, and other appropriate state agencies or departments. The workgroup is directed to review national research and current practices in developing its recommendations, and to make recommendations to the general assembly no later than December 15, 2012.