HB 397 Summary

• Creates the Florida Assisted Living Quality Improvement Initiative Pilot Project limited to 150 facilities in agency areas 4, 5, 6, 8, and 11, expanding statewide on December 31, 2017, unless repealed by the Legislature.

• Requires assisted living facilities to employ a certified administrator as a condition for continued licensure, with administrators limited to supervising no more than three facilities and must pass competency exams every 4 years.

• Establishes electronic data collection system for quality assurance tracking facility improvement, occupancy rates, and caregiver training, with specialized training requirements for staff caring for adults with mental illness.

• Creates quality improvement teams in each pilot project area to evaluate and assist participating facilities, with authority to terminate facilities that fail to meet quality improvement plan goals after reasonable improvement efforts.

• Implements administrator certification program through Department of Elderly Affairs requiring minimum 40 hours of core training, 5 years' administrative experience, or a 4-year baccalaureate degree, plus 8 hours annual continuing education.