DNHRQAC/Updates

This Act makes several changes to the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission ("Commission"): - Modernizes the Commission name to the "Delaware Residents’ Protection Commission." The Joint Legislative Oversight and Sunset Committee, during its review of the Commission from 2020-2022, recommended the Commission change its name to something shorter that is easier to remember. - Better delineates the Commission's duties. - Clarifies the Executive Director's and supporting staffs' hiring process. - Shifts the appointment of 4 Commission members from the Governor to the Commission members who represent governmental entities, to allow for faster appointment of members. - Adds provisions to streamline the Commission's operations, including removal of a member who consistently misses meetings and approving Commission action on the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a meeting. - Gives the Commission the authority to seek grants to support the Commission's operations. - Adds to the Commission's duties proposing legislation, regulations, and policies relating to long-term care facilities. - Allows for the establishment of subcommittees to more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the Commission - Clarifies the Commission’s responsibility to: advocate for residents of long-term care facilities; work with other agencies and groups to promote systemic reform; recommend changes in statute, regulations, and policies to improve the quality of care, quality of life, and safety of residents unable to protect themselves; and act as an informational resource for the public. - Authorizes the Commission to hold a virtual meeting with a physical location open to the public if a Commission staff member is present at the anchor location. This Act has an effective date of 90 days after the date of enactment into law, to provide the Commission with time to transition from the existing membership to the membership that this Act establishes. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.