NY S08958

Establishes a new category of "personal care visitors" (designated family members or legal guardians) permitted to visit nursing home and residential health care facility residents to provide care important to mental, physical, or social well-being.

Requires the Department of Health to develop regulations governing personal care visitation, including procedures for designation, frequency, duration, and total number of visitors allowed at facilities at any one time.

Limits personal care visitors to no more than one per resident and requires them to waive liability for COVID-19 exposure, follow staff safety protocols (testing, temperature checks, health screenings, PPE use, social distancing), and comply with visitation restrictions based on local infection rates and health care capacity.

Establishes a second category of "compassionate care visitors" for short-term visitation during critical situations such as end-of-life care or significant mental or social decline, restricted to one room and required to follow the same safety protocols as staff.

Takes effect 120 days after enactment, with authority for the Department of Health to immediately develop necessary rules and regulations for implementation.