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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: HHS DP 6-0-1-0 | Third Read 26-4-0-0 |
SB 1561: assisted living; notice; study committee
Sponsor: Senator Dunn, LD 25
Committee on Health & Human Services
Overview
Directs assisted living facility discharge or eviction notices to provide a statement of the resident's rights. Reestablishes the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee and prescribes membership, duties and reporting requirements.
History
Administrative rules under the Department of Health Services (DHS) outlines requirements for terminating residency in assisted living facilities. Immediate termination without notice is permitted if a resident poses a direct threat to the health or safety of the resident or others. Facility managers may also terminate residency with 14 days’ written notice for nonpayment of fees or if the facility cannot meet the resident’s needs. Termination for other reasons requires 30 days’ notice. The notice must include the termination date and reason, information on refunds and fee disposition, contact information for the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and a copy of the resident’s current service plan (A.A.C. R9-10-807).
Laws 2024, Chapter 100 created the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee (Study Committee) to review Arizona’s vulnerable adult system and recommend improvements to coordination and oversight. The Study committee consisted of 25 members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President and was tasked with researching best practices for coordination, abuse or neglect investigations, case management and data collection. In 2025, the Study Committee issued its final recommendations, including extending the Study Committee until December 31, 2026. The Study Committee was repealed on December 31, 2025 (Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee Final Report).
Provisions
1. Specifies that an assisted living facility must include a statement of the resident’s rights in any notice of discharge or eviction provided to a resident. (Sec. 1)
2. Reestablishes the 25-member Study Committee, consisting of:
a. two members of the House of Representatives from different political parties and one designated as Co-Chair, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
b. two members of the Senate from different political parties and one designated as Co-Chair, appointed by the President of the Senate;
c. the Director of DHS or the Director's designee;
d. the Director of Department of Economic Security (DES) or the Director's designee;
e. the Director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System or the Director's designee;
f. one member representing the Governor's Office, appointed by the Governor;
g. one member representing the Attorney General's office, appointed by the Attorney General;
h. the current DES Long-Term Care Ombudsman or the Ombudsman's designee;
i. a current public fiduciary, appointed by the Governor;
j. two employees of a local law enforcement agency or statewide organization representing law enforcement, appointed by the Governor;
k. the Executive Director of the Navajo Area Agency on Aging or the Executive Director's designee;
l. the Executive Director of the Intertribal Council of Arizona or the Executive Director's designee;
m. two members representing assisted living facilities, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
n. two members representing nursing care institutions, appointed by the Governor;
o. one member representing a statewide organization that advocates for elderly vulnerable adults, appointed by the Senate President;
p. one member representing a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of persons affected by Alzheimer's disease, appointed by the Senate President;
q. one member representing a statewide association that advocates on behalf of persons who provide services to persons with developmental disabilities, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
r. a licensed health care professional that provides health care services to elderly vulnerable adults, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
s. one member who serves on the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging, appointed by the Governor; and
t. one member who represents a statewide association representing Arizona firefighters, appointed by the Senate President. (Sec. 2)
3. Tasks the Study Committee to:
a. develop and implement a coordinated vulnerable adults delivery system that ensures the health and safety of vulnerable adults;
b. recommend best practices relating to responding and investigating complaints;
c. research best practices related to APS at the state, municipal and community levels;
d. research and make recommendations on how the vulnerable adult system can ensure that vulnerable adults receive required services, including assigning a specific agency the responsibility to provide or coordinate case management;
e. research and identify common statewide outcomes;
f. identify best practices for data collection and data sharing by various entities involved in providing vulnerable adult services; and
g. review and recommend changes to the statutes and rules governing vulnerable adult services. (Sec. 2)
4. Permits the Co-chairs to designate work groups to research, study and make recommendations to the Study Committee. (Sec. 2)
5. Requires at least two work groups to be established to separately address the needs of persons with developmental disabilities and persons who are elderly or who have a physical disability, including the training requirements for persons who are caring for these populations. (Sec. 2)
6. Directs DES to develop an action plan for implementation once a strategic direction is established in conjunction with the work groups. (Sec. 2)
7. Stipulates that public members are eligible for travel, lodging, meal and incidental expense reimbursement. (Sec. 2)
8. Directs, by October 1, 2026, and each October 1 thereafter, the Study Committee to submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House and to provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 2)
9. Repeals the Study Committee on January 1, 2029. (Sec. 2)
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13. Initials AG SB 1561
14. 3/11/2026 Page 0 Health & Human Services
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