The bill establishes a new section, 296.415, in the Florida Statutes, which allows licensed skilled nursing facilities located on the campus of nonprofit retirement communities that cater exclusively to veterans and their spouses to request the designation or alteration of certain beds as veteran and spouse nursing home beds. The requests must meet specific criteria, including compliance with existing statutes and operation in accordance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Nursing Home Program. The executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is authorized to approve these requests, and the department is empowered to adopt rules for implementation.

Additionally, the bill amends section 408.036 of the Florida Statutes to specify conditions under which certain state veterans' nursing homes or licensed skilled nursing facilities are exempt from needing a certificate of need from the Agency for Health Care Administration. Notably, it removes the requirement that at least 50 percent of the construction cost be state or federally funded for state veterans' nursing homes and introduces a new exemption for the consolidation or transfer of beds between licensed skilled nursing facilities dedicated to veterans and their spouses, provided certain conditions are met. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 797 Filed: 408.036
H 797 c1: 408.036
H 797 er: 408.036