Sec. 242.037. RULES; MINIMUM STANDARDS

(a) The department shall make and enforce rules and minimum standards to implement this chapter, including rules and minimum standards relating to quality of life, quality of care, and residents' rights.

(b) The rules and standards adopted under this chapter may be more stringent than the standards imposed by federal law for certification for participation in the state Medicaid program.

(c) The rules and standards adopted by the department may not be less stringent than the Medicaid certification standards and regulations imposed under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA), Pub.L. No. 100-203.

(d) To implement Sections 242.032(d) and (e), the department by rule shall adopt minimum standards for the background and qualifications of any person described by Section 242.032(d). The department may not issue or renew a license if a person described by Section 242.032 does not meet the minimum standards adopted under this section.

(e) In addition to standards or rules required by other provisions of this chapter, the board shall adopt, publish, and enforce minimum standards relating to:

(1) the construction of an institution, including plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation, and other housing conditions, to ensure the residents' health, safety, comfort, and protection from fire hazard;

(2) the regulation of the number and qualification of all personnel, including management and nursing personnel, responsible for any part of the care given to the residents;

(3) requirements for in-service education of all employees who have any contact with the residents;

(4) training on the care of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders for employees who work with those persons;

(5) sanitary and related conditions in an institution and its surroundings, including water supply, sewage disposal, food handling, and general hygiene in order to ensure the residents' health, safety, and comfort;

(6) the nutritional needs of each resident according to good nutritional practice or the recommendations of the physician attending the resident;

(7) equipment essential to the residents' health and welfare;

(8) the use and administration of medication in conformity with applicable law and rules;

(9) care and treatment of residents and any other matter related to resident health, safety, and welfare;

(10) licensure of institutions; and

(11) implementation of this chapter.

(f) The board shall adopt, publish, and enforce minimum standards requiring appropriate training in geriatric care for each individual who provides services to geriatric residents in an institution and who holds a license or certificate issued by an agency of this state that authorizes the person to provide the services. The minimum standards may require that each licensed or certified individual complete an appropriate program of continuing education or in-service training, as determined by board rule, on a schedule determined by board rule.

(g) To administer the surveys for provider certification provided for by federal law and regulation, the department must identify each area of care that is subject to both state licensing requirements and federal certification requirements. For each area of care that is subject to the same standard under both federal certification and state licensing requirements, an institution that is in compliance with the federal certification standard is considered to be in compliance with the same state licensing requirement.

(h) The board shall adopt each rule adopted by the Texas Board of Health under Section 161.0051 as part of the rules and standards adopted under this chapter that apply to institutions serving residents who are elderly persons.

(i) The minimum standards adopted by the board under this section must require that each institution, as part of an existing training program, provide each registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, nurse aide, and nursing assistant who provides nursing services in the institution at least one hour of training each year in caring for people with dementia.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 583, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1049, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 31.01(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1159, Sec. 1.09, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 259, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1031, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1239, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.