TX SB1472

Requires assisted living facilities to allow residents to designate an advocate who must be granted meaningful in-person access to the resident, especially during the resident's final days of life, regardless of any public health disaster or emergency restricting visitation

Defines "advocate" to include a resident's spouse, family member, companion, guardian, parent or legal custodian of minor residents, agents designated under a durable power of attorney for health care, or court-appointed guardians

Adds the right to designate an advocate to the residents' bill of rights that assisted living facilities must provide to each resident

Prohibits facilities from requiring residents to waive their advocate designation rights, mandating virtual-only visits with advocates, or allowing individuals found by a court to have abused the resident to serve as advocates

Requires facilities to explain advocate designation policies during admission and before implementing any policy changes, with the Health and Human Services Commission directed to adopt implementing rules