SB 230

This bill allows a nursing home or assisted living facility resident and a patient

in a hospital, or his or her guardian or health care agent, to designate an essential

visitor to visit and provide support for the resident or patient. The patient's or

resident's guardian or health care agent under a power of attorney is also considered

an essential visitor. A nursing home, assisted living facility, or hospital must allow

at least one essential visitor, who agrees to comply with the public health policies of

the nursing home, assisted living facility or hospital, to enter to visit the resident or

patient in compassionate care situations. The bill requires a nursing home, assisted

living facility, or hospital to also allow a member of the clergy to visit a resident or

patient. The nursing home, assisted living facility, or hospital may refuse access to

an essential visitor or member of the clergy who refuses to comply with those public

health policies. If the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

issues guidance that restricts visitation more than this bill does, a nursing home,

assisted living facility, or hospital is allowed to comply with that guidance instead

of the bill. The requirement to allow visitation of an essential visitor in this bill

applies when the nursing home, assisted living facility, or hospital limits visitors due

to an outbreak or epidemic of communicable disease in the community.