(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that rules published and enforced pursuant to this section shall include criteria by which a reasonable and consistent quality of resident care and quality of life may be ensured and the results of such resident care may be demonstrated. Such rules shall also ensure a safe and sanitary environment that is residential and noninstitutional in design or nature. It is further intended that reasonable efforts be made to accommodate the needs and preferences of residents to enhance the quality of life in a facility. Uniform firesafety standards for assisted living facilities shall be established by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to s. 633.206. The agency may adopt rules to administer part II of chapter 408. In order to provide safe and sanitary facilities and the highest quality of resident care accommodating the needs and preferences of residents, the agency, in consultation with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Health, shall adopt rules, policies, and procedures to administer this part, which must include reasonable and fair minimum standards in relation to:

(a) The requirements for and maintenance of facilities, not in conflict with chapter 553, relating to plumbing, heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, living space, and other housing conditions, which will ensure the health, safety, and comfort of residents suitable to the size of the structure.

1. Firesafety evacuation capability determination.—An evacuation capability evaluation for initial licensure shall be conducted within 6 months after the date of licensure.

2. Firesafety requirements.—

a. The National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code, NFPA 101 and 101A, current editions, shall be used in determining the uniform firesafety code adopted by the State Fire Marshal for assisted living facilities, pursuant to s. 633.206.

b. A local government or a utility may charge fees only in an amount not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by the local government or the utility relating to the installation and maintenance of an automatic fire sprinkler system in a licensed assisted living facility structure.

c. All licensed facilities must have an annual fire inspection conducted by the local fire marshal or authority having jurisdiction.

d. An assisted living facility that is issued a building permit or certificate of occupancy before July 1, 2016, may at its option and after notifying the authority having jurisdiction, remain under the provisions of the 1994 and 1995 editions of the National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, and NFPA 101A. The facility opting to remain under such provisions may make repairs, modernizations, renovations, or additions to, or rehabilitate, the facility in compliance with NFPA 101, 1994 edition, and may utilize the alternative approaches to life safety in compliance with NFPA 101A, 1995 edition. However, a facility for which a building permit or certificate of occupancy is issued before July 1, 2016, that undergoes Level III building alteration or rehabilitation, as defined in the Florida Building Code, or seeks to utilize features not authorized under the 1994 or 1995 editions of the Life Safety Code must thereafter comply with all aspects of the uniform firesafety standards established under s. 633.206, and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, in effect for assisted living facilities as adopted by the State Fire Marshal.

3. Resident elopement requirements.—Facilities are required to conduct a minimum of two resident elopement prevention and response drills per year. All administrators and direct care staff must participate in the drills, which shall include a review of procedures to address resident elopement. Facilities must document the implementation of the drills and ensure that the drills are conducted in a manner consistent with the facility’s resident elopement policies and procedures.

(b) The preparation and annual update of a comprehensive emergency management plan. Such standards must be included in the rules adopted by the agency after consultation with the Division of Emergency Management. At a minimum, the rules must provide for plan components that address emergency evacuation transportation; adequate sheltering arrangements; postdisaster activities, including provision of emergency power, food, and water; postdisaster transportation; supplies; staffing; emergency equipment; individual identification of residents and transfer of records; communication with families; and responses to family inquiries. The comprehensive emergency management plan is subject to review and approval by the local emergency management agency. During its review, the local emergency management agency shall ensure that the following agencies, at a minimum, are given the opportunity to review the plan: the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the Division of Emergency Management. Also, appropriate volunteer organizations must be given the opportunity to review the plan. The local emergency management agency shall complete its review within 60 days and either approve the plan or advise the facility of necessary revisions.

(c) The number, training, and qualifications of all personnel having responsibility for the care of residents. The rules must require adequate staff to provide for the safety of all residents. Facilities licensed for 17 or more residents are required to maintain an alert staff for 24 hours per day.

(d) All sanitary conditions within the facility and its surroundings which will ensure the health and comfort of residents. The rules must clearly delineate the responsibilities of the agency’s licensure and survey staff, the county health departments, and the local authority having jurisdiction over firesafety and ensure that inspections are not duplicative. The agency may collect fees for food service inspections conducted by the county health departments and transfer such fees to the Department of Health.

(e) License application and license renewal, transfer of ownership, proper management of resident funds and personal property, surety bonds, resident contracts, refund policies, financial ability to operate, and facility and staff records.

(f) Inspections, complaint investigations, moratoriums, classification of deficiencies, levying and enforcement of penalties, and use of income from fees and fines.

(g) The enforcement of the resident bill of rights specified in s. 429.28.

(h) The care and maintenance of residents, which must include, but is not limited to:

1. The supervision of residents;

2. The provision of personal services;

3. The provision of, or arrangement for, social and leisure activities;

4. The arrangement for appointments and transportation to appropriate medical, dental, nursing, or mental health services, as needed by residents;

5. The management of medication;

6. The nutritional needs of residents;

7. Resident records; and

8. Internal risk management and quality assurance.

(i) Facilities holding a limited nursing, extended congregate care, or limited mental health license.

(j) The establishment of specific criteria to define appropriateness of resident admission and continued residency in a facility holding a standard, limited nursing, extended congregate care, and limited mental health license.

(k) The use of physical or chemical restraints. The use of physical restraints is limited to half-bed rails as prescribed and documented by the resident’s physician with the consent of the resident or, if applicable, the resident’s representative or designee or the resident’s surrogate, guardian, or attorney in fact. The use of chemical restraints is limited to prescribed dosages of medications authorized by the resident’s physician and must be consistent with the resident’s diagnosis. Residents who are receiving medications that can serve as chemical restraints must be evaluated by their physician at least annually to assess:

1. The continued need for the medication.

2. The level of the medication in the resident’s blood.

3. The need for adjustments in the prescription.

(l) The establishment of specific policies and procedures on resident elopement. Facilities shall conduct a minimum of two resident elopement drills each year. All administrators and direct care staff shall participate in the drills. Facilities shall document the drills.

(2) In adopting any rules pursuant to this part, the agency shall make distinct standards for facilities based upon facility size; the types of care provided; the physical and mental capabilities and needs of residents; the type, frequency, and amount of services and care offered; and the staffing characteristics of the facility. Rules developed pursuant to this section may not restrict the use of shared staffing and shared programming in facilities that are part of retirement communities that provide multiple levels of care and otherwise meet the requirements of law and rule. If a continuing care facility licensed under chapter 651 or a retirement community offering multiple levels of care licenses a building or part of a building designated for independent living for assisted living, staffing requirements established in rule apply only to residents who receive personal, limited nursing, or extended congregate care services under this part. Such facilities shall retain a log listing the names and unit number for residents receiving these services. The log must be available to surveyors upon request. Except for uniform firesafety standards, the agency shall adopt by rule separate and distinct standards for facilities with 16 or fewer beds and for facilities with 17 or more beds. The standards for facilities with 16 or fewer beds must be appropriate for a noninstitutional residential environment; however, the structure may not be more than two stories in height and all persons who cannot exit the facility unassisted in an emergency must reside on the first floor. The agency may make other distinctions among types of facilities as necessary to enforce this part. Where appropriate, the agency shall offer alternate solutions for complying with established standards, based on distinctions made by the agency relative to the physical characteristics of facilities and the types of care offered.

(3) Rules adopted by the agency shall encourage the development of homelike facilities that promote the dignity, individuality, personal strengths, and decisionmaking ability of residents.

(4) The agency may waive rules adopted under this part to demonstrate and evaluate innovative or cost-effective congregate care alternatives that enable individuals to age in place. Such waivers may be granted only in instances where there is reasonable assurance that the health, safety, or welfare of residents will not be endangered. To apply for a waiver, the licensee shall submit to the agency a written description of the concept to be demonstrated, including goals, objectives, and anticipated benefits; the number and types of residents who will be affected, if applicable; a brief description of how the demonstration will be evaluated; and any other information deemed appropriate by the agency. Any facility granted a waiver shall submit a report of findings to the agency within 12 months. At such time, the agency may renew or revoke the waiver or pursue any regulatory or statutory changes necessary to allow other facilities to adopt the same practices. The agency may by rule clarify terms and establish waiver application procedures, criteria for reviewing waiver proposals, and procedures for reporting findings, as necessary to implement this subsection.

(5) The agency may use an abbreviated biennial standard licensure inspection that consists of a review of key quality-of-care standards in lieu of a full inspection in a facility that has a good record of past performance. However, a full inspection must be conducted in a facility that has a history of class I or class II violations, uncorrected class III violations, confirmed ombudsman council complaints, or confirmed licensure complaints within the previous licensure period immediately preceding the inspection or if a potentially serious problem is identified during the abbreviated inspection. The agency shall develop the key quality-of-care standards with input from the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council and representatives of provider groups for incorporation into its rules.

History.—s. 16, ch. 75-233; ss. 12, 29, ch. 80-198; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 59, 79, 83, ch. 83-181; s. 7, ch. 85-145; s. 1, ch. 86-87; s. 13, ch. 87-371; s. 20, ch. 89-294; s. 22, ch. 91-263; s. 25, ch. 93-177; s. 26, ch. 93-211; ss. 28, 38, 39, ch. 93-216; ss. 12, 20, 52, ch. 95-418; s. 27, ch. 97-100; s. 99, ch. 97-101; s. 5, ch. 98-148; s. 15, ch. 99-332; s. 47, ch. 2001-45; s. 7, ch. 2004-298; s. 2, ch. 2004-386; ss. 2, 55, ch. 2006-197; s. 157, ch. 2007-230; s. 142, ch. 2010-102; s. 343, ch. 2011-142; s. 137, ch. 2013-183; s. 251, ch. 2014-19; s. 15, ch. 2015-126; s. 1, ch. 2016-92; s. 18, ch. 2019-11.

Note.—Former s. 400.441.