A bill for an act relating to oversight for long-term care facilities.

SF 539 creates a Long-Term Care Facility Safety Council to improve oversight of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Iowa. The council, composed of state health officials, the ombudsman, aging agency directors, AARP representatives, consumer advocates, and health professionals, sets safety standards, reviews facility violations, and recommends actions to the state department. It must approve ownership changes for nursing facilities and provide annual reports to the legislature. This bill directly affects long-term care facilities, their residents and tenants, and state agencies responsible for licensing and enforcement. The law amends existing statutes to require the council's involvement in license decisions and facility inspections.