Skilled nursing facilities: backup power system.

The Long-Term Care, Health, Safety, and Security Act of 1973 generally requires the State Department of Public Health to license, inspect, and regulate long-term health care facilities, defined to include a skilled nursing facility. Existing regulations require a skilled nursing facility to have emergency planning, including an emergency lighting and power system. Under existing law, the department is required to enforce the requirements of the act and regulations promulgated under the act through citations and civil penalties. This bill would require a skilled nursing facility to have an alternative source of power to protect resident health and safety for no less than 96 hours during any type of power outage that complies with specified federal requirements, as provided.