BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          SB 345 (Wolk)
          
          Hearing Date: 01/17/2012        Amended: 01/12/2012
          Consultant: Brendan McCarthy    Policy Vote: Human Services 4-2
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          BILL SUMMARY: SB 345 makes several changes to the statutes 
          governing the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 
          including requiring an annual advocacy plan.
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          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2012-13      2013-14       2014-15     Fund
           
          Developing annual plansUp to $50 per year               General

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          STAFF COMMENTS: 
          
          Under current law, the Office of the State Long-Term Care 
          Ombudsman is located within the Department of Aging, and the 
          Director of the Office is appointed by the Director of the 
          Department. Pursuant to state and federal law, the state 
          Ombudsman is charged with investigating and seeking to resolve 
          complaints against long-term care facility operators and 
          generally advocating for residents of long-term care facilities.

          SB 345 makes several changes to the statutes governing the 
          Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The bill requires 
          the Office to solicit funds to support the operations of the 
          office (currently the Office is authorized to solicit such 
          funds). The bill requires the Office to submit an annual 
          advocacy plan to the Legislature. The plan must be developed in 
          consultation with local ombudsman programs and must include 
          information on outcomes of previous advocacy efforts by the 
          Office. The bill clarifies that, pursuant to federal law, the 
          Office shall represent the interests of long-term care facility 
          residents without interference by the Department or other state 
          agencies. The bill requires the Office to maintain an internet 
          web site with information for consumers on long-term care 








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          issues. The bill requires the Office to reestablish an inactive 
          advisory council by June 30, 2013 and requires that the council 
          include two representatives of local ombudsman programs.

          Most of the provisions of the bill clarify existing state and/or 
          federal law. However, because the bill requires the Office to 
          develop an annual advocacy plan including information on 
          outcomes of prior advocacy efforts, staff believes that the bill 
          will impose new costs on the Office. Staff estimates that the 
          costs to prepare reports, consult with local ombudsman programs, 
          and review past activities may be up to $50,000 per year.