Report Title:

Assisted Living Facilities; Safety

 

Description:

Allows assisted living facilities with twenty-four hour staff, individualized evacuation plans, and sprinkler and fire door systems to accept individuals with an impairment that prevents the resident from safely evacuating with minimal assistance.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

224

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that our elderly population is growing to unprecedented heights as the baby boomers enter retirement.  It is inevitable that some of these seniors will need assistance with their day-to-day activities, while maintaining their much deserved independence.  However, many of our seniors do not require the level of care that is provided by skilled nursing facilities.  Instead, safe assisted living arrangements are the most desired options for these individuals.

     The purpose of this Act is to promote choice and autonomy by providing seniors with safe assisted living options. SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321‑    Assisted living facilities; safety.  No later than July 1, 2008, any assisted living facility that accepts or retains any individual with a physical, cognitive, or other impairment that prevents the individual from safely evacuating the facility with minimal assistance shall:

     (1)  Maintain sufficient staff on the premises twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week who are able to assist in evacuations;

     (2)  Include an individualized evacuation plan in the service plan of each resident;

     (3)  Be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association Code 13 or National Fire Protection Code 13R, and an automated fire door system and smoke alarms in compliance with 13-3.4 of the 1997 Life Safety Codes for Existing Health Care Occupancy, or for multilevel facilities, be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in compliance with National Fire Protection Association Code 13 and each floor shall be divided into at least two smoke sections with fire alarms in compliance with 13-3.4 of the 1997 Life Safety Codes for Existing Health Care Occupancy;

     (4)  Establish procedures to provide residents with the opportunity to explore the facility, and if appropriate, its grounds; and

     (5)  Use a personal electronic monitoring device for any resident whose physician recommends the use of such a device."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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