The State Department of Health shall prescribe minimum standards for facilities. These standards shall regulate:

1. Location and construction of the facility, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation, and other physical conditions which shall ensure the health, safety and comfort of residents and protection from fire hazards;

2. Number and qualifications of all personnel, including management and nursing personnel, having responsibility for any part of the care given to residents; specifically, the Department shall establish staffing ratios for facilities which shall specify the number of staff hours per resident of care that are needed for professional nursing care for various types of facilities or areas within facilities;

3. All sanitary conditions within the facility and its surroundings, including water supply, sewage disposal, food handling, and general hygiene, which shall ensure the health and comfort of residents;

4. Diet related to the needs of each resident based on sound nutritional practice and on recommendations which may be made by the physicians attending the resident;

5. Equipment essential to the health and welfare of the residents;

6. Minimum levels of supplies including, but not limited to, food and other perishables;

7. Minimum financial solvency standards to ensure the operation of facilities; and

8. A program of rehabilitation for those residents who would benefit from such programs.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 241, § 25, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 230, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.