HBA-CMT H.B. 482 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 482 By: Naishtat Human Services 2/11/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, employees, volunteers, and residents of nursing homes and intermediate care facilities are protected from discrimination or retaliation for reporting a violation of law, or initiating or cooperating in an investigation of the institution. Protection from discrimination or retaliation is not extended to family members or guardians of residents. House Bill 482 extends the current protections from discrimination or retaliation to family members and guardians of residents in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 482 amends the Health and Safety Code to add family members and guardians of residents of nursing homes or intermediate care facilities (institutions) to the parties who are protected from retaliation by an institution for filing a complaint or grievance, reporting a violation of law, or initiating or cooperating in an investigation. The bill authorizes family members or guardians who are retaliated or discriminated against to sue. The bill also requires institutions to include family members and guardians in the prominently displayed notice of protection from discrimination or retaliation. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.