Health care facilities: notification of next of kin.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Passed
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill changes how hospitals and skilled nursing facilities must notify next of kin when a person dies. Instead of simply notifying the public administrator, facilities must now make a reasonable attempt to contact known relatives. If they fail to do so, they could face significant civil penalties. The bill also clarifies that notifying a resident representative or receiving a written request not to be notified satisfies the notification requirement, and establishes a process for assessing penalties and providing information to the public administrator.
Key provisions
- Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities must make a ‘reasonable attempt’ to notify known next of kin of a death.
- Notification can be satisfied by notifying a resident representative or receiving a written request not to be notified.
- Facilities that fail to notify next of kin face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day.
- The State Department of Public Health can assess these penalties after a review and hearing.
- Failure to notify the public administrator results in penalties of up to $50,000 per day.
- The bill defines ‘reasonable attempt’ and ‘known next of kin’ for clarity.
- It clarifies that this bill applies to general acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
Who is affected
- Hospitals (general acute care and skilled nursing)
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Next of Kin
- County Public Administrators
Bill text
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Sponsors
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4 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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