SB 286 Summary

• Reduces mandatory elder abuse reporting deadline from 72 hours to 24 hours, with first-time violators required to retake training instead of facing fines; intentional failures are Class C misdemeanors for first offense and Class A misdemeanors for subsequent offenses.

• Requires Department of Social Services to promptly conduct temporary family assistance application interviews and schedule employment services assessments within 10 business days, with benefits not delayed if deadlines are missed.

• Changes temporary family assistance noncompliance penalties from tiered reductions (25-35%) to excluding the noncompliant family member from household benefit calculations until compliance is achieved.

• Authorizes Department of Social Services to assess civil penalties up to 50% of wage enhancement rate increases on nursing home facilities that fail to use funds for employee wage enhancements, determined through Medicaid provider audits.

• Expands certificate of need requirements for long-term care facilities, requiring notice to patients and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for service terminations and bed relocations, with 30-day closure review periods and criteria for approving facility relocation proposals.