AL HB134

Creates the Alabama Assisted Living Board of Mitigation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism between licensed assisted living facilities and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Board comprises 8 members: a physician with long-term care experience (4-year term), an elder law attorney (3-year term), two licensed assisted living administrators (2-year terms), and three public members age 65+ (staggered 1, 3, and 4-year terms), with all subsequent terms being 4 years and members limited to one reappointment.

Board authority includes hearing complaints about department orders and penalties, holding hearings, compelling testimony and documents, and issuing nonbinding recommendations that the Department of Public Health must take into consideration in making its own determination.

Department must provide notice to assisted living facilities of their right to file complaints with the board and must pause enforcement actions for 10 days after notice; if a complaint is filed, the department cannot take further action until the board issues final written recommendations.

Board shall annually report to legislative health committees on complaint numbers, nature, and resolutions, and may recommend legislative changes; act becomes effective the first day of the third month after passage.