This bill amends the licensing requirements for residential care and health facilities, introducing several key changes aimed at enhancing the quality of care and transparency. Notably, it mandates that licensed residential care facilities must maintain a quality assurance program, replacing the previous voluntary requirement. Additionally, the results of investigations and inspections conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services will now be posted on their website, providing greater public access to information regarding facility compliance. The bill also removes redundant references to administrative fines and updates terminology, changing "hospital" to "facility" and replacing "ongoing training" with "continuing education" in training requirements.

Further amendments include the stipulation that investigation results will be documented in written reports identifying any noncompliance and will not be subject to confidentiality under RSA 151:13. The bill also clarifies that facilities are not required to post notices to correct issued under certain conditions and establishes that civil monetary penalties collected will be kept in a separate account for the protection of residents' health and property. The effective date for various sections of the bill is staggered, with some provisions taking effect 60 days after passage and others on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151:5-c, 151:6, 151:6-a, 151:16-b, 151:21, 151:50
As Amended by the Senate: 151:5-c, 151:6, 151:6-a, 151:16-b, 151:21, 151:50