This bill establishes new regulations for the use of electronic monitoring devices in Iowa health care facilities, defining such devices as those capable of capturing audio, visual, or audio-visual information. It mandates that residents or their legal representatives can install and operate these devices in their rooms, contingent upon obtaining written consent from roommates. If consent is denied, the facility must relocate the resident to a room where installation is feasible. The bill also prohibits retaliation against residents who utilize these devices and requires facilities to accommodate their placement reasonably.

In addition to the electronic monitoring provisions, the bill amends existing laws concerning health care facility violations and penalties. It grants the department the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for repeated non-compliance, with specific penalties for class I violations increasing to a minimum of $10,000 per day. The bill also introduces a resident protection fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, funded by penalties from violations and other sources, aimed at remedying harm caused by violations and enhancing care quality for residents. The fund is designed to remain available for use in designated areas without reverting to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135C.1, 135C.10, 135C.19, 135C.36, 135C.14, 135C.44