Senate Bill 262 establishes regulations for referral agencies that connect prospective residents to assisted living facilities in Wisconsin. The bill defines an "assisted living facility" to include community-based residential facilities, residential care apartment complexes, and adult family homes. It mandates that referral agencies disclose their relationships with the facilities, the fees they receive, and the fact that they only list facilities with which they have contracts. Additionally, it allows prospective residents to terminate services from the referral agency at any time, including the use of their personal information. Fees charged by referral agencies must be predetermined, fair market value, and can only be collected after written confirmation from the resident that they used the agency's services.
The bill also stipulates that referral agencies can only charge one fee per resident and prohibits fees if a resident moves into a facility more than a year after the referral agreement was made. Violations of these provisions may result in penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. The attorney general or district attorneys are empowered to take legal action against referral agencies that violate these regulations. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and protect the interests of prospective residents seeking assisted living options.