SS SCS HCS HB 952 & 674 -- LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

This bill allows any intermediate care facility licensed prior to
August 28, 2006, that provides the services of an assisted living
facility to advertise itself as an assisted living facility
without obtaining a license to operate as an assisted living
facility from the Department of Health and Senior Services.

All new long-term care facilities; assisted living facilities
that accept or retain individuals with a physical, cognitive, or
other impairment that prevents the individual from safely
evacuating the facility with minimal assistance; and facilities
completing a major renovation that are licensed by the department
are required to install and maintain an approved sprinkler system
in accordance with the standards of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) by August 28, 2007.  All existing residential
care and assisted living facilities with more than 20 residents
must install and maintain an approved sprinkler system by
December 31, 2012.  Long-term care, skilled nursing, and
intermediate care facilities must install and maintain an
approved sprinkler system by December 31, 2012, unless they
receive an exemption from the department or meet the safety
requirements of Chapter 33 of NFPA 101.

Facilities that make a substantial effort to install an approved
sprinkler system prior to December 31, 2012, may apply to the
department for a loan for the costs to install the system.  The
Fire Safety Standards Loan Fund is created as the funding
mechanism for these loans.  All long-term care facilities must be
equipped with a complete fire alarm system by December 31, 2008;
and each floor accessed by residents must be divided into at
least two sections by one-hour rated smoke partitions.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am