FALA 2021 Legislative and Regulatory Policy Positions

The following list of topics represent general policy statements of the Florida Assisted Living Association as approved by the Legislative Committee. Each week during the Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature considers bills that affect Floridians. FALA strives to ensure that we keep members apprised of legislation that affects Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), Adult Family Care Homes (AFCHs), and the residents who call them home. Each week during the Legislative Session, we update our Legislative Reports and host a call with our members.

final_2021_fala_end_of_session_legislative_report.pdf
File Size:	269 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---

FUNDING:

• Support increased reimbursement rates for Assistive Care Services and Long-Term Care Services under the Home and Community Based Services waiver.
• Support increased funding for Personal Needs Allowances.
• Support increased funding for reducing the backlog of residents on the Long-Term Care wait list.
• Support creation of a funding methodology workgroup for Medicaid reimbursement.
• Support operational costs relief initiatives. 
• Legislation that improves the parity of the Personal Needs Allowance so that money follows the recipient.
• Equality in the requirements of providers and Managed Care Organization.

REGULATION/LICENSING:

• Support the equitable application of Chapters 408, 409, 429, and 435, F.S. and related administrative rules.
• Support the streamlining of Florida’s regulations. 
• Oppose regulation that increases cost but has no substantial impact on resident health and safety.
• Oppose unfunded regulatory mandates.
• Study the potential of creating alternative accreditation options for facilities.
• Study the applicability of the current specialty license structure (Limited Nursing Services, Extended Congregate Care, and Limited Mental Health).
• Support adequate training of agency personnel to ensure appropriate application of inspection standards.
• Support a consultative versus punitive survey process that increases compliance through the establishment of best practices.

SAFETY / EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

• Support the creation of a strategy to address current workforce needs and implement plan to meet future challenges.
• Support ways to create cooperative working relationships with state and local emergency management agencies to ensure resident safety during a declared state of emergency.
• Support appropriate staffing requirements to fulfill residents’ needs and ensure their safety.
• Support and recognize assisted living facilities who are meeting or exceeding mandated safety standards.
• Support training that improves quality of services received without negatively increasing cost but has no substantial impact on resident health and safety.

LIABILITY INSURANCE / LAWSUIT ABUSE:

• Continue to support tort reform efforts to address assisted living facility liability and insurance issues, including COVID-19 related claims, workers' compensation rates. 
• Support the creation of a workgroup to study assisted living facility insurance rates.

EMPLOYEE / STAFFING ISSUES:

• Support appropriate staffing requirements to fulfill residents needs and ensure their safety.

2021 Session Dates

INTERIM COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE
Week of the 11th October 2021
Week of the 20th October 2021
Week of the 18th November 2021
Week of the 1st November 2021
Week of the 15th November 2021
Week of the 29th November 2021

2022 Session Dates

• August 1, 2021 Deadline for filing claim bills (Rule 4.81(2))
  
• December 3, 2021 5:00 p.m., deadline for submitting requests for drafts of general bills and joint resolutions, including requests for companion bills
  
• January 7, 2022 5:00 p.m., deadline for approving final drafts of general bills and joint resolutions, including companion bills
  
• January 11, 2022 Regular Session convenes (Article III, section 3(b), State Constitution) 12:00 noon, deadline for filing bills for introduction (Rule 3.7(1))
  
• February 26, 2022 Motion to reconsider made and considered the same day (Rule 6.4(4)) All bills are immediately certified (Rule 6.8)
  
• March 1, 2022 50th day – last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings (Rule 2.9(2))
  
• ​March 11, 2022 60th day – last day of Regular Session (Article III, section 3(d), State Constitution)

View and download some tips for effectively communicating with a Legislator!

View and Download