Amends GS 131E-101 by deleting the definition for community advisory committee and adding a new definition for volunteer nursing home ombudsman representative (a volunteer designated by the Office of the State Long-Term Ombudsman in accordance with GS 131E-128 to work toward maintaining the intent of the Nursing Home Patients' Bill of Rights within the nursing homes in North Carolina, including nursing homes operated by hospitals licensed under Article 5 of Chapter 131E).
Amends GS 131E-102(e), GS 131E-117(12), GS 131D-2.4(e) to replace references to “community advisory committee” with references to “volunteer nursing home ombudsman representative.”
Amends GS 131E-128 by changing the title to “Volunteer nursing home ombudsman representatives” (was, “Nursing home advisory committees”) and makes other changes to the statute to remove references to nursing home advisory committees and replace them with requirements regarding volunteer nursing home ombudsman representatives.

Encourages each board of county commissioners with at least one nursing home operating in the county to nominate volunteer ombudsman representatives. Provides that designation as a volunteer ombudsman representative is contingent upon designation of the nominee by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (the “State Office”) in accordance with GS 143B-181.18.
Provides that a volunteer ombudsman representative serves for as long as he or she remains in compliance with training, certification, and other applicable requirements of the State Office, unless the representative’s designation is removed by the State Office. Requires a list of names of all designated volunteer ombudsman representatives and expiration dates of their terms to be filed with the State Office, which must provide the Division of Health Service Regulation with a copy of such names.
Establishes minimum qualifications that a nominee must meet to be designated as a volunteer ombudsman representative by the State Office.
Provides that any county commissioner serving as a volunteer ombudsman representative shall be deemed to be serving in an ex officio capacity.
Requires that volunteer ombudsman representatives serve without compensation, but allows them to be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Requires the State Office to develop training requirements for certification and designation of volunteer ombudsman representatives in accordance with 45 C.F.R. 1324.13(c)(2). Requires each volunteer ombudsman representative to complete such training prior to exercising statutory powers and duties.
Establishes powers, duties, and responsibilities for volunteer ombudsman representatives (reflecting the powers, duties, and responsibilities previously assigned to community advisory committees and their members under this subsection, except removes the responsibility to quarterly visit nursing homes).
Revises subsections regarding privilege for written communications and waiver of qualified immunity that previously applied to nursing home advisory committee members to now apply to volunteer ombudsman representatives.

Amends GS 131D-31 by changing the title to “Volunteer adult care home ombudsman representatives” (was, “Adult care home community advisory committees”) and makes other changes to the statute to remove references to adult care home community advisory committees and replace them with requirements regarding volunteer adult care home ombudsman representatives.

Encourages each board of county commissioners with at least one licensed adult care home operating in the county to nominate volunteer ombudsman representatives. Provides that designation as a volunteer ombudsman representative is contingent upon designation of the nominee by the State Office in accordance with GS 143B-181.18.
Prohibits dual designation of an individual as a volunteer ombudsman representative under GS 131E-128 (nursing homes) and a volunteer ombudsman representative under this section (adult care homes) unless the State Office provides written approval to combine these functions.
Provides that a volunteer ombudsman representative serves for as long as he or she remains in compliance with training, certification, and other applicable requirements of the State Office, unless the representative’s designation is removed by the State Office.
Requires a list of names of all designated volunteer ombudsman representatives and joint nursing and adult care home volunteer ombudsman representatives, along with expiration dates of their terms, to be filed with the State Office, which must provide the Division of Health Service Regulation with a copy of such names.
Establishes minimum qualifications that a nominee must meet to be designated as a volunteer ombudsman representative by the State Office.
Provides that any county commissioner serving as a volunteer ombudsman representative shall be deemed to be serving in an ex officio capacity.
Requires that volunteer ombudsman representatives serve without compensation, but allows them to be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Requires the State Office to develop training requirements for certification and designation of volunteer ombudsman representatives in accordance with 45 C.F.R. 1324.13(c)(2). Requires each volunteer ombudsman representative to complete such training prior to exercising statutory powers and duties.
Revises subsections regarding privilege for written communications and waiver of qualified immunity that previously applied to adult care home advisory committee members to now apply to volunteer ombudsman representatives.

Amends GS 131D-32 to establish the powers and duties of volunteer adult care home ombudsman representatives. Reflects the same powers and duties previously assigned to adult care home advisory committees and their members under GS 131D-32, but removes the responsibility to quarterly visit certain adult care homes and to develop and recruit volunteer resources. Requires that volunteer adult care home ombudsman representatives must give notice to the administrator of an adult care home prior to entering the home. Clarifies that when a volunteer ombudsman representative visits a group home for developmentally disabled adults, rules concerning confidentiality as adopted by the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services apply.
Makes conforming changes to GS 131D-2.4, concerning licensure, GS 143B-181.18, regarding the duties of the State Ombudsman, to include designation, suspension, and removal of volunteer ombudsman representatives. Makes conforming changes to GS 143-157.1(d) by repealing (2) and (21), which refer to adult care home community advisory committees.
Effective October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 131E-101, 131E-102, 131E-117, 131E-128, 131D-2.4, 131D-31, 131D-32, 143B-181.18