The State Department of Health shall:

1. Establish a Residents and Family State Council which shall be composed of fifteen (15) members who are, or who have been within the last twelve (12) months, residents, family members, resident volunteer representatives or guardians of residents of nursing facilities licensed pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, but shall not include persons representing residents in facilities for the developmentally disabled. The Council shall annually elect a chair and vice-chair, and shall meet at least quarterly. Meetings shall be conducted in the various areas of the state with at least one meeting in each of the four quadrants of the state to allow for participation by family members and residents where possible. The members of the Council shall be reimbursed pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act. The Council may present recommendations to the Long-Term Care Facility Advisory Board created in Section 1-1923 of this title and shall have the power and duty to advise the State Department of Health concerning the development and improvement of services to and care and treatment of residents of facilities subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and make recommendations to the Department as necessary and appropriate. The members shall serve at the pleasure of the State Commissioner of Health; and

2. Establish a toll free, twenty-four-hour hotline for filing of complaints against facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 230, § 18, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 2013, c. 229, § 52, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.