This bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to define "adult residential facility" and establish payment rates for these facilities. The definition now specifies that an adult residential facility is a licensed basic care facility that caters to individuals with chronic moderate to severe memory loss or significant emotional, behavioral, or cognitive impairments, and provides therapeutic, social, and recreational programming along with assistance in daily living activities. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section requiring adult residential facilities to submit cost reports by specified deadlines, which will be used to determine payment rates starting January 1, 2026, and recalculated on July 1, 2027.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a basic care study and submit reports to the legislative management regarding the adult residential facility payment systems and asset limits for home and community-based services. It also requires the department to develop a payment model continuum for basic care, assisted living, and adult residential facilities, with recommendations due by August 30, 2026. To support these initiatives, the bill appropriates $1,709,302 from the general fund and other sources for the administration of adult residential facility rates for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 50-24.5-01
Adopted by the Senate Human Services Committee: 50-24.5-01
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 50-24.5-01
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Cleary: 50-24.5-01
SECOND ENGROSSMENT: 50-24.5-01
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Committee: 50-24.5-01
Adopted by the Conference Committee: 50-24.5-01
Enrollment: 50-24.5-01