Senate Bill 417 aims to establish visitation rights for residents of assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and hospital patients during outbreaks of communicable diseases. The bill mandates that these facilities must allow at least one member of the clergy and, in compassionate care situations, one essential visitor to visit residents or patients when visitation is limited due to an outbreak. An essential visitor is defined as a guardian or an individual designated by the resident or patient to provide support. The bill also outlines specific circumstances under which visitation must be allowed, such as when a resident is grieving or nearing the end of life, and it provides conditions under which visitation can be denied, including non-compliance with health policies or if the resident does not wish to receive visitors.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for compliance with more restrictive federal guidelines if issued, allows individuals to file complaints against facilities that fail to comply, and grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to healthcare professionals and facilities for actions taken in accordance with the bill's requirements. The new sections created by the bill are 50.083 and 50.373, which specifically address visitation policies for assisted living facilities and hospitals, respectively.