The bill, HB 1565-FN, proposes significant amendments to laws concerning the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, school building aid, and long-term care eligibility. It allows reports of suspected abuse to include the reporter's name and contact information, while establishing penalties for individuals who knowingly make false reports with malicious intent, classifying such actions as a misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill creates a private right of action for civil damages against those who submit false reports. It also mandates that school districts or chartered public schools must engage an owner's project manager (OPM) when applying for school building aid, a change from the previous requirement that only necessitated OPM retention upon receiving an award.

Moreover, the bill introduces provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services, enabling individuals to receive care while their applications are processed, lasting for 18 months unless a final determination is made sooner. It appropriates $1 to the Department of Health and Human Services for managing these provisional eligibility expenses and creates two positions within the department for this purpose. The bill clarifies that counties will not be liable for payments related to provisional eligibility. The effective date for the school building aid provisions is set for 60 days after passage, while the remainder of the act will take effect on July 1, 2026. Overall, the fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, with potential costs estimated at $20.4 million for the revolving fund and additional costs for the new positions and IT system development.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169-C:30
As Amended by the Senate: 169-C:30, 198:15-c, 167:8, 167:18-a
HB1565 text: 169-C:30