Sec. 252.071. AMELIORATION OF VIOLATION

(a) In lieu of demanding payment of an administrative penalty authorized by this subchapter, the department may allow a person subject to the penalty to use, under the supervision of the department, all or part of the amount of the penalty to ameliorate the violation or to improve services, other than administrative services, in the facility affected by the violation.

(b) The department shall offer amelioration to a person for a charged violation if the department determines that the violation does not constitute immediate jeopardy to the health and safety of a facility resident.

(c) The department may not offer amelioration to a person if the department determines that the charged violation constitutes immediate jeopardy to the health and safety of a facility resident.

(d) The department shall offer amelioration to a person under this section not later than the 10th day after the date the person receives from the department a final notification of assessment of administrative penalty that is sent to the person after an informal dispute resolution process but before an administrative hearing under Section 252.067.

(e) A person to whom amelioration has been offered must file a plan for amelioration not later than the 45th day after the date the person receives the offer of amelioration from the department. In submitting the plan, the person must agree to waive the person's right to an administrative hearing under Section 252.067 if the department approves the plan.

(f) At a minimum, a plan for amelioration must:

(1) propose changes to the management or operation of the facility that will improve services to or quality of care of residents of the facility;

(2) identify, through measurable outcomes, the ways in which and the extent to which the proposed changes will improve services to or quality of care of residents of the facility;

(3) establish clear goals to be achieved through the proposed changes;

(4) establish a timeline for implementing the proposed changes; and

(5) identify specific actions necessary to implement the proposed changes.

(g) A plan for amelioration may include proposed changes to:

(1) improve staff recruitment and retention;

(2) offer or improve dental services for residents; and

(3) improve the overall quality of life for residents.

(h) The department may require that an amelioration plan propose changes that would result in conditions that exceed the requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.

(i) The department shall approve or deny an amelioration plan not later than the 45th day after the date the department receives the plan. On approval of a person's plan, the department shall deny a pending request for a hearing submitted by the person under Section 252.066(b).

(j) The department may not offer amelioration to a person:

(1) more than three times in a two-year period; or

(2) more than one time in a two-year period for the same or similar violation.

(k) In this section, "immediate jeopardy to health and safety" means a situation in which there is a high probability that serious harm or injury to a resident could occur at any time or already has occurred and may occur again if the resident is not protected from the harm or if the threat is not removed.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 534, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 619, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.