Assisted Living Amendments

HB 506 amends Utah's assisted living facility regulations to protect residents by limiting when facilities can discharge or transfer them and creating a formal appeals process. It requires facilities to provide written notice of discharge/transfers, allows residents or their representatives to appeal to the state department within 30 days, and prohibits discharge during an appeal unless health/safety is at immediate risk. The bill specifies five allowable reasons for discharge (e.g., facility closure, resident safety threat, or failure to pay) and mandates a hearing within 30 days (or 7 days for expedited requests) before a decision is made. These changes directly affect assisted living residents and their representatives, ensuring greater transparency and due process in facility decisions.