NC H979

Replaces county-appointed community advisory committees for nursing homes and adult care homes with volunteer ombudsman representatives designated directly by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

County commissioners may nominate volunteers, but the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman has sole authority to designate, certify, train, and remove volunteer ombudsman representatives

Volunteers must complete certification training per federal regulations (45 C.F.R. § 1324.13(c)(2)) and remain accountable to the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program rather than county government

Eliminates fixed committee membership requirements and term limits; volunteers may serve indefinitely as long as they comply with training and certification requirements

Effective date: October 1, 2025