SF 536 (LSB 1524XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 536

BY  CELSI

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the office of long-term care ombudsman and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  OFFICE OF LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN —— APPROPRIATION.
   1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the office of long-term care ombudsman for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   To increase the number of local long-term care ombudsmen, including for salaries, support, administration, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
   ...................................................................... $    300,000

   2.  a.  The funding appropriated in this section is in addition to any other funds appropriated from the general fund of the state and any other full-time equivalent positions authorized for local long-term care ombudsmen during the same fiscal year. The funding shall be used to support local ombudsmen in fulfilling their duties pursuant to section 231.42 including to provide the resources necessary to complete site visits and to carry out other duties to protect and improve the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents and tenants.
   b.  To the extent possible, the office of long-term care ombudsman shall use the additional funding to prioritize site visits to nursing facilities that have changed ownership in the immediately preceding consecutive twelve months, especially nursing facilities that have transitioned to private equity ownership.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates the office of long-term care ombudsman and makes an appropriation.
   The bill appropriates funds from the general fund of the state to the office of long-term care ombudsman for FY 2025-2026 to be used to increase the number of local long-term care ombudsmen. The funding appropriated is in addition to any other funds appropriated from the general fund of the state and any other full-time equivalent positions authorized for local long-term care ombudsmen during the same fiscal year. The funding shall be used to support local ombudsmen in fulfilling their duties including to provide the resources necessary to complete site visits and to carry out other duties to protect and improve the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents and tenants. The office of long-term care ombudsman shall use the funding to prioritize site visits of nursing facilities that have changed ownership, especially site visits of those that have transitioned to private equity ownership.