26:2H-149 DOH responsible for licensure, inspections, standards relative to dementia homes.

18. a. (1) Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, commencing on or after the effective date of P.L.2015, c.125 (C.55:13B-5.1 et al.) and subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the Department of Health shall be responsible for licensure, inspections, and the establishment and enforcement of standards with respect to each community residential facility in the State that provides services to residents with special needs, including, but not limited to, persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia, which shall be thereafter known as a dementia care home.

(2) The department shall be empowered to exercise such authority with respect to a dementia care home as the department is granted with respect to any other health care facility licensed by the department, pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2015, c.125 (C.55:13B-5.1 et al.).

b. The department shall establish and enter into an inter-agency agreement with the Department of Community Affairs as necessary for the purposes of subsection a. of this section.

c. (1) Whenever any reference is made in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, or judicial or administrative proceeding to rooming and boarding houses for residents with special needs, including, but not limited to, persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia, the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to "dementia care homes."

(2) Whenever the term "Department of Community Affairs" appears or any reference is made thereto in any law, rule, regulation, order, contract, document, or judicial or administrative proceeding pertaining to rooming and boarding houses for residents with special needs, including, but not limited to, persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia, the same shall be deemed to mean or refer to the "Department of Health."

d. A dementia care home that is operating as a rooming or boarding house that provides services to residents with special needs, including, but not limited to, persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia, on the effective date of P.L.2015, c.125 (C.55:13B-5.1 et al.) shall be granted provisional licensure by the department for a period of one year following the effective date. At the end of that period, the department shall issue a license to the facility pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) or make continued licensure subject to such actions by the facility as the commissioner determines necessary to effectuate the purposes of P.L.1971, c.136 and P.L.2015, c.125 (C.55:13B-5.1 et al.).

L.2015, c.125, s.18.