CS/CS/HB 293 Summary: State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

• Restructures the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program by transferring responsibilities from ombudsman councils to representatives of the Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, designating geographic districts with local councils operating under state ombudsman direction.

• Establishes mandatory quarterly public meetings in each district and requires the state ombudsman to submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and specified agencies detailing complaints, conditions, and recommendations.

• Expands ombudsman access to long-term care facilities and resident records for complaint investigations and annual administrative assessments without advance notice, while prohibiting retaliation against residents and employees who cooperate with ombudsmen.

• Requires 20 hours of initial training and 10 hours of continuing education annually for all ombudsman representatives, with prohibitions on certain individuals (facility owners, providers, agency employees) serving as ombudsmen.

• Effective July 1, 2015; makes conforming changes across multiple Florida statutes to reference the restructured ombudsman program and update contact information requirements for residents.