House Bill No. 6985 establishes that nursing homes and residential care homes (RCHs) are prohibited from abandoning their residents, defining abandonment as either deserting or willfully forsaking a resident, or neglecting duties owed to them. Violations of this prohibition will be classified as a class A violation, which carries significant civil penalties—up to $20,000 for nursing homes and up to $5,000 for RCHs. The bill empowers the Commissioner of Public Health to issue immediate citations for such violations following reviews, inspections, or investigations.

Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces Section 19a-524 of the general statutes to include the new abandonment provision among the violations that can lead to citations. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025. The bill is expected to generate minimal revenue for the General Fund from civil penalties starting in fiscal year 2026, 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: