SB 1081 - This act modifies various laws relating to care for the elderly.

A new Section 198.166 is created and requires every skilled nursing facility (SNF) to retain a registered nurse (RN) as Director of Nursing. SNFs with more than 100 licensed beds must also retain a RN as an Assistant Director of Nursing and must have a director of In-Service Education. All SNFs must maintain a specific ratio of staff to residents, including RNs and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). Every SNF must also maintain a specified staff to resident ratio of direct care providers, including RNs and LPNs. Members of the nursing staff may not provide food, housekeeping, laundry, or maintenance services to residents. Employees hired to provide such services may not provide nursing care and may not be counted in the staff to resident ratios. The Division of Aging is allowed to develop rules to impose penalties on facilities that fail to meet the staffing requirements. This portion is similar to SB 972 and HB 2080 (2000).

This act also creates a new Section 660.083. Section 660.083.1 states that before hiring an employee every employer must check the Division of Aging's and the Department of Mental Health's employee disqualification list and the Department of Health's central registry of child abuse and neglect. If the potential employee is found on any of the lists, then that employee may not be hired. Section 660.083.2 states that skilled nursing facilities must pay all penalties for reported violations before the Division of Aging reinspects them. The Division may establish such penalties by rule. This portion of the act is similar to SB 1071, HB 1615 and SBs 959 & 598 (2000).
ERIN MOTLEY