CS/CS/HB 1015 - State Ombudsman Program

• Reorganizes the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by replacing volunteer ombudsman councils with designated districts and salaried representatives of the office under the direct control of the state ombudsman.

• Establishes the state ombudsman as the chief administrator with authority to designate districts, appoint and train certified ombudsmen, and enforce standards for investigating complaints in long-term care facilities.

• Requires long-term care facilities to provide ombudsman representatives with unannounced access to facilities, residents, and records for conducting investigations and administrative assessments without warrants.

• Mandates the state ombudsman to submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and specified agencies detailing complaints, facility conditions, program successes, and policy recommendations.

• Takes effect July 1, 2013, and amends numerous related statutes to align terminology and procedures with the new organizational structure of the ombudsman program.