PRINTER'S NO. 1783
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1611
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY DAY, BOBACK, CIRESI, HELM, LEWIS DELROSSO AND
RADER, JUNE 11, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
JUNE 11, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
providing the powers and duties of the State Health
Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
providing for certification of need of health care providers
and prescribing penalties," in licensing of health care
facilities, providing for nursing care hours during disaster
emergency.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
as the Health Care Facilities Act, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 822. Nursing care hours during disaster emergency.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
during a declaration by the Governor of disaster emergency under
35 Pa.C.S. ยง 7301(c) (relating to general authority of
Governor), the total number of hours of general nursing care
provided in each 24-hour period at a health care facility shall,
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when totaled for the entire health care facility, be a minimum
of two and seven tenths hours of direct resident care for each
resident. If a health care facility cannot meet the requirements
of this section:
(1) The health care facility shall report its inability
to meet the requirements to the department.
(2) The Governor shall deploy the Pennsylvania National
Guard to aid the health care facility, implement infectious
disease protocols and educate and train staff on appropriate
protocols.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
20210HB1611PN1783 - 2 -
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