The bill amends various sections of the Government Code and Health and Safety Code to enhance dispute resolution processes and protect long-term care facilities from retaliatory actions by the commission. A significant addition is the establishment of a binding informal dispute resolution process, which ensures that decisions made by the adjudicating person cannot be overturned by the commission. Furthermore, the bill defines "retaliate" to encompass adverse actions taken by the commission in response to a nursing facility's good faith actions related to commission decisions.

Additionally, the bill modifies the application of penalties, stating that the commission cannot impose multiple monetary penalties for the same violation and must choose the greater penalty between the Health and Safety Code and the Human Resources Code. It also introduces a new section prohibiting retaliation against nursing facilities that appeal commission decisions or take actions to counter commission actions. The changes will apply only to violations occurring on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 242.002, Health and Safety Code 242.070 (Health and Safety Code 242)
House Committee Report: Government Code 526.0202, Health and Safety Code 242.002, Health and Safety Code 242.070 (Government Code 526, Health and Safety Code 242)