House Bill No. 6985 establishes a prohibition against nursing homes and residential care homes from abandoning their residents, defining abandonment as either deserting or willfully forsaking a resident, or neglecting the duties owed to them. This act classifies such abandonment as a class A violation, which carries significant penalties: up to $20,000 for nursing homes and up to $5,000 for residential care homes. The bill empowers the Commissioner of Public Health to issue immediate citations for violations identified during reviews, inspections, or investigations.

Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces Section 19a-524 of the general statutes to include the new violation of abandonment alongside existing provisions related to nursing home and residential care home regulations. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025. The bill is expected to generate minimal revenue for the General Fund through civil penalties, depending on the frequency of violations and the discretion of the Department of Public Health in imposing penalties.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
AGE Joint Favorable:
File No. 159: