(1) For the administration of this part, facilities to be licensed by the agency shall include all assisted living facilities as defined in this part.

(2) The following are exempt from licensure under this part:

(a) Any facility, institution, or other place operated by the Federal Government or any agency of the Federal Government.

(b) Any facility or part of a facility licensed by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities under chapter 393, a mental health facility licensed under chapter 394, a hospital licensed under chapter 395, a nursing home licensed under part II of chapter 400, an inpatient hospice licensed under part IV of chapter 400, a home for special services licensed under part V of chapter 400, an intermediate care facility licensed under part VIII of chapter 400, or a transitional living facility licensed under part XI of chapter 400.

(c) Any facility licensed as an adult family-care home under part II.

(d) Any person who provides housing, meals, and one or more personal services on a 24-hour basis in the person’s own home to not more than two adults who do not receive optional state supplementation. The person who provides the housing, meals, and personal services must own or rent the home and must have established the home as his or her permanent residence. For purposes of this paragraph, any person holding a homestead exemption at an address other than that at which the person asserts this exemption is presumed to not have established permanent residence. This exemption does not apply to a person or entity that previously held a license issued by the agency which was revoked or for which renewal was denied by final order of the agency, or when the person or entity voluntarily relinquished the license during agency enforcement proceedings.

(e) Any home or facility approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a residential care home wherein care is provided exclusively to three or fewer veterans.

(f) Any facility that has been incorporated in this state for 50 years or more on or before July 1, 1983, and the board of directors of which is nominated or elected by the residents, until the facility is sold or its ownership is transferred; or any facility, with improvements or additions thereto, which has existed and operated continuously in this state for 60 years or more on or before July 1, 1989, is directly or indirectly owned and operated by a nationally recognized fraternal organization, is not open to the public, and accepts only its own members and their spouses as residents.

(g) Any facility certified under chapter 651, or a retirement community, may provide services authorized under this part or part III of chapter 400 to its residents who live in single-family homes, duplexes, quadruplexes, or apartments located on the campus without obtaining a license to operate an assisted living facility if residential units within such buildings are used by residents who do not require staff supervision for that portion of the day when personal services are not being delivered and the owner obtains a home health license to provide such services. However, any building or distinct part of a building on the campus that is designated for persons who receive personal services and require supervision beyond that which is available while such services are being rendered must be licensed in accordance with this part. If a facility provides personal services to residents who do not otherwise require supervision and the owner is not licensed as a home health agency, the buildings or distinct parts of buildings where such services are rendered must be licensed under this part. A resident of a facility that obtains a home health license may contract with a home health agency of his or her choice, provided that the home health agency provides liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage for its employees. Facilities covered by this exemption may establish policies that give residents the option of contracting for services and care beyond that which is provided by the facility to enable them to age in place. For purposes of this section, a retirement community consists of a facility licensed under this part or under part II of chapter 400, and apartments designed for independent living located on the same campus.

(h) Any residential unit for independent living which is located within a facility certified under chapter 651, or any residential unit which is colocated with a nursing home licensed under part II of chapter 400 or colocated with a facility licensed under this part in which services are provided through an outpatient clinic or a nursing home on an outpatient basis.

(3) Upon agency investigation of unlicensed activity, any person or entity that claims that it is exempt under this section must provide documentation substantiating entitlement to the exemption.

History.—ss. 4, 5, ch. 75-233; ss. 12, 15, ch. 80-198; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 42, 79, 83, ch. 83-181; s. 4, ch. 87-371; s. 4, ch. 91-263; ss. 3, 38, 39, ch. 93-216; s. 19, ch. 93-268; s. 2, ch. 94-206; s. 1055, ch. 95-148; s. 8, ch. 95-210; s. 2, ch. 98-80; s. 1, ch. 98-148; ss. 2, 30, ch. 2006-197; s. 80, ch. 2018-24.

Note.—Former s. 400.404.