Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-151

Date: 04/23/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-151

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-151 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

02:28 PM -- SB14-151

Representative Young came to the table to introduce Senate Bill 14-151. He explained that fines levied on nursing facilities are used to provide nursing home innovation grants, and that this bill modifies how this fine revenue may be used and makes numerous changes to the Nursing Home Innovation Grant Program, by:

requiring a minimum annual grant amount of up to $250,000, based on whether the fund balance is greater than $2 million on July 1 of that fiscal year;

renaming the current Nursing Facility Culture Change Accountability Board to the Nursing Home Innovations Grant Board (board) and establishing the new composition of the ten member board by September 1, 2014;

awarding grants for measures intended to foster innovation and directly improve the quality of life and care provided at nursing home facilities;

specifying that no state agency or any governmental entity, with the exception of a facility that is owned or operated by a governmental agency and licensed as a nursing facility, may apply for grants;

clarifying that all grant-funded work products are the intellectual property of the state and must be made available to all nursing homes in the state;

supporting initiatives in line with the measures promoted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services;

limiting administrative costs paid to the board to $10,000 per year; and

extending the sunset date of the board to September 1, 2021.

02:30 PM -- Paul Phillips, representing the Cultural Change Board, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that it has become nearly impossible for the board to complete projects in time and that the bill will simplify the process of awarding grants. He responded to questions on how funds can be distributed and how the bill will alleviate issues with the distribution of grants.


BILL:	SB14-151
TIME:	02:39:18 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-151 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0, with 2 members absent and 2 members excused.
SECONDED:	Kagan
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Foote	Absent
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Absent
	Priola	Excused
	Saine	Excused
	Swalm	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 2 FINAL ACTION: PASS