Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1126
       
       
        
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       
       16-00687-15                                           20151126__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to continuing care communities;
    3         amending s. 651.055, F.S.; revising requirements for
    4         continuing care contracts; amending s. 651.028, F.S.;
    5         revising authority of the Office of Insurance
    6         Regulation to waive requirements for accredited
    7         facilities; amending s. 651.071, F.S.; providing that
    8         continuing care and continuing care at-home contracts
    9         are preferred claims in the event of bankruptcy
   10         proceedings against a provider; revising subordination
   11         of claims; amending s. 651.105, F.S.; revising notice
   12         requirements; revising duties of the office; requiring
   13         an agent of a provider to provide a copy of an
   14         examination report and corrective action plan under
   15         certain conditions; amending s. 651.081, F.S.;
   16         requiring a residents’ council to provide a forum for
   17         certain purposes; requiring a residents’ council to
   18         adopt its own bylaws and governance documents;
   19         amending s. 651.085, F.S.; revising provisions
   20         relating to quarterly meetings between residents and
   21         the governing body of the provider; revising powers of
   22         the residents’ council; amending s. 651.091, F.S.;
   23         revising continuing care facility reporting
   24         requirements; providing an effective date.
   25          
   26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   27  
   28         Section 1. Paragraphs (g) through (k) of subsection (1) of
   29  section 651.055, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   30         651.055 Continuing care contracts; right to rescind.—
   31         (1) Each continuing care contract and each addendum to such
   32  contract shall be submitted to and approved by the office before
   33  its use in this state. Thereafter, no other form of contract
   34  shall be used by the provider until it has been submitted to and
   35  approved by the office. Each contract must:
   36         (g) Provide that the contract may be canceled by giving at
   37  least 30 days’ written notice of cancellation by the provider,
   38  the resident, or the person who provided the transfer of
   39  property or funds for the care of such resident. However, if a
   40  contract is canceled because there has been a good faith
   41  determination that a resident is a danger to himself or herself
   42  or others, only such notice as is reasonable under the
   43  circumstances is required.
   44         (h)1.Describe The contract must also provide in clear and
   45  understandable language, in print no smaller than the largest
   46  type used in the body of the contract, the terms governing the
   47  refund of any portion of the entrance fee.
   48         1.2. For a resident whose contract with the facility
   49  provides that the resident does not receive a transferable
   50  membership or ownership right in the facility, and who has
   51  occupied his or her unit, the refund shall be calculated on a
   52  pro rata basis with the facility retaining up to 2 percent per
   53  month of occupancy by the resident and up to a 5 percent
   54  processing fee. Such refund must be paid within 120 days after
   55  giving the notice of intention to cancel. For contracts entered
   56  into on or after January 1, 2016, refunds must be made within 90
   57  days after the contract is terminated and the unit is vacated. A
   58  resident who enters into a contract before January 1, 2016, may
   59  voluntarily sign a contract addendum approved by the office that
   60  provides for a revised refund requirement.
   61         2.3. In addition to a processing fee not to exceed 5
   62  percent, if the contract provides for the facility to retain no
   63  more than up to 1 percent per month of occupancy by the resident
   64  and the resident does not receive a transferable membership or
   65  ownership right in the facility, the contract shall, it may
   66  provide that such refund will be paid from:
   67         a. The proceeds of the next entrance fees received by the
   68  provider for units for which there are no prior claims by any
   69  resident until paid in full;
   70         b. The proceeds of the next entrance fee received by the
   71  provider for a like or similar unit as specified in the
   72  residency or reservation contract signed by the resident for
   73  which there are no prior claims by any resident until paid in
   74  full; or
   75         c. Effective October 1, 2016, the proceeds of the next
   76  entrance fee received by the provider for the unit that is
   77  vacated if the contract is approved by the office before October
   78  1, 2015. In order to use the refund option in this sub
   79  subparagraph, the provider must submit a new or amended contract
   80  with an alternative refund provision to the office for approval
   81  by August 2, 2016, if the provider has discontinued marketing
   82  continuing care contracts, within 200 days after the date of
   83  notice.
   84         3. For contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2016,
   85  that provide for a refund in accordance with sub-subparagraph
   86  2.b., the following provisions apply:
   87         a. Any refund that is due upon the resident’s death or
   88  relocation of the resident to another level of care that results
   89  in the termination of the contract must be paid by the earlier
   90  of:
   91         (I) Thirty days after receipt by the provider of the next
   92  entrance fee received for a like or similar unit for which there
   93  is no prior claim by any resident until paid in full; or
   94         (II) Within a specified maximum number of months or years,
   95  determined by the provider and specified in the contract, after
   96  the contract is terminated and the unit is vacated.
   97         b. Any refund that is due to a resident who vacates the
   98  unit and voluntarily terminates a contract after the 7-day
   99  rescission period required in subsection (2) must be paid within
  100  30 days after receipt by the provider of the next entrance fee
  101  for a like or similar unit for which there are no prior claims
  102  by any resident until paid in full and is not subject to the
  103  provisions in sub-subparagraph a. A contract is voluntarily
  104  terminated when a resident provides written notice of intent to
  105  leave and moves out of the continuing care facility after the 7
  106  day rescission period.
  107         4. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “like or
  108  similar unit” means a residential dwelling categorized into a
  109  group of units which have similar characteristics, including
  110  comparable square footage, number of bedrooms, location, age of
  111  construction, or a combination of one or more of these features
  112  as specified in the residency or reservation contract. Each
  113  category must consist of at least 5 percent of the total number
  114  of residential units designed for independent living or 10
  115  residential units designated for independent living, whichever
  116  is less. However, a group of units consisting of single family
  117  homes may contain fewer than 10 units.
  118         5. If the provider has discontinued marketing continuing
  119  care contracts, any refund due a resident must be paid within
  120  200 days after the contract is terminated and the unit is
  121  vacated.
  122         6.4. Unless subsection (5) applies, for any prospective
  123  resident, regardless of whether or not such a resident receives
  124  a transferable membership or ownership right in the facility,
  125  who cancels the contract before occupancy of the unit, the
  126  entire amount paid toward the entrance fee shall be refunded,
  127  less a processing fee of up to 5 percent of the entire entrance
  128  fee; however, the processing fee may not exceed the amount paid
  129  by the prospective resident. Such refund must be paid within 60
  130  days after the resident gives giving notice of intention to
  131  cancel. For a resident who has occupied his or her unit and who
  132  has received a transferable membership or ownership right in the
  133  facility, the foregoing refund provisions do not apply but are
  134  deemed satisfied by the acquisition or receipt of a transferable
  135  membership or an ownership right in the facility. The provider
  136  may not charge any fee for the transfer of membership or sale of
  137  an ownership right.
  138         (i)(h) State the terms under which a contract is canceled
  139  by the death of the resident. These terms may contain a
  140  provision that, upon the death of a resident, the entrance fee
  141  of such resident is considered earned and becomes the property
  142  of the provider. If the unit is shared, the conditions with
  143  respect to the effect of the death or removal of one of the
  144  residents must be included in the contract.
  145         (j)(i) Describe the policies that may lead to changes in
  146  monthly recurring and nonrecurring charges or fees for goods and
  147  services received. The contract must provide for advance notice
  148  to the resident, of at least 60 days, before any change in fees
  149  or charges or the scope of care or services is effective, except
  150  for changes required by state or federal assistance programs.
  151         (k)(j) Provide that charges for care paid in one lump sum
  152  may not be increased or changed during the duration of the
  153  agreed upon care, except for changes required by state or
  154  federal assistance programs.
  155         (l)(k) Specify whether the facility is, or is affiliated
  156  with, a religious, nonprofit, or proprietary organization or
  157  management entity; the extent to which the affiliate
  158  organization will be responsible for the financial and
  159  contractual obligations of the provider; and the provisions of
  160  the federal Internal Revenue Code, if any, under which the
  161  provider or affiliate is exempt from the payment of federal
  162  income tax.
  163         Section 2. Section 651.028, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  164  read:
  165         651.028 Accredited facilities.—If a provider is accredited
  166  without stipulations or conditions by a process found by the
  167  office to be acceptable and substantially equivalent to the
  168  provisions of this chapter, the office may, pursuant to rule of
  169  the commission, waive any requirements of this chapter with
  170  respect to the provider if the office finds that such waivers
  171  are not inconsistent with the security protections intended by
  172  this chapter.
  173         Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 651.071, Florida
  174  Statutes, is amended to read:
  175         651.071 Contracts as preferred claims on liquidation or
  176  receivership.—
  177         (1) In the event of bankruptcy, receivership, or
  178  liquidation proceedings against a provider, all continuing care
  179  and continuing care at-home contracts executed by a provider
  180  shall be deemed preferred claims against all assets owned by the
  181  provider; however, such claims are subordinate to those priority
  182  claims set forth in s. 631.271 and any secured claim.
  183         Section 4. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 651.105,
  184  Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to
  185  that section, to read:
  186         651.105 Examination and inspections.—
  187         (4) The office shall notify the provider and the executive
  188  officer of the governing body of the provider in writing of all
  189  deficiencies in its compliance with the provisions of this
  190  chapter and the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter and shall
  191  set a reasonable length of time for compliance by the provider.
  192  In addition, the office shall require corrective action or
  193  request a corrective action plan from the provider which plan
  194  demonstrates a good faith attempt to remedy the deficiencies by
  195  a specified date. If the provider fails to comply within the
  196  established length of time, the office may initiate action
  197  against the provider in accordance with the provisions of this
  198  chapter.
  199         (5) At the time of the routine examination, the office
  200  shall determine if all disclosures required under this chapter
  201  have been made to the president or chair of the residents’
  202  council and the executive officer of the governing body of the
  203  provider.
  204         (6) A representative of the provider must give a copy of
  205  the final examination report and corrective action plan, if one
  206  is required by the office, to the lead officer of the governing
  207  body of the provider within 60 days after issuance of the
  208  report.
  209         Section 5. Section 651.081, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  210  read:
  211         651.081 Residents’ council.—
  212         (1) Residents living in a facility holding a valid
  213  certificate of authority under this chapter have the right of
  214  self-organization, the right to be represented by an individual
  215  of their own choosing, and the right to engage in concerted
  216  activities for the purpose of keeping informed on the operation
  217  of the facility that is caring for them or for the purpose of
  218  other mutual aid or protection.
  219         (2)(a) Each facility shall establish a residents’ council
  220  created for the purpose of representing residents on matters set
  221  forth in s. 651.085. The residents’ council shall may be
  222  established through an election in which the residents, as
  223  defined in s. 651.011, vote by ballot, physically or by proxy.
  224  If the election is to be held during a meeting, a notice of the
  225  organizational meeting must be provided to all residents of the
  226  community at least 10 business days before the meeting. Notice
  227  may be given through internal mailboxes, communitywide
  228  newsletters, bulletin boards, in-house television stations, and
  229  other similar means of communication. An election creating a
  230  residents’ council is valid if at least 40 percent of the total
  231  resident population participates in the election and a majority
  232  of the participants vote affirmatively for the council. The
  233  initial residents’ council created under this section is valid
  234  for at least 12 months. A residents’ organization formalized by
  235  bylaws and elected officials must be recognized as the
  236  residents’ council under this section and s. 651.085. Within 30
  237  days after the election of a newly elected president or chair of
  238  the residents’ council, the provider shall give the president or
  239  chair a copy of this chapter and rules adopted thereunder, or
  240  direct him or her to the appropriate public website to obtain
  241  this information. Only one residents’ council may represent
  242  residents before the governing body of the provider as described
  243  in s. 651.085(2).
  244         (b) In addition to those matters provided in s. 651.085, a
  245  residents’ council shall provide a forum in which a resident may
  246  submit issues or make inquiries related to, but not limited to,
  247  subjects that impact the general residential quality of life and
  248  cultural environment. The residents’ council shall serve as a
  249  formal liaison to provide input related to such matters to the
  250  appropriate representative of the provider.
  251         (c) The activities of a residents’ council are independent
  252  of the provider. The provider is not responsible for ensuring,
  253  or for the associated costs of, compliance of the residents’
  254  council with the provisions of this section with respect to the
  255  operation of a residents' council.
  256         (d) A residents’ council shall adopt its own bylaws and
  257  governance documents. The residents’ council shall provide for
  258  open meetings when appropriate. The governing documents shall
  259  define the manner in which residents may submit an issue to the
  260  council and define a reasonable timeframe in which the
  261  residents’ council shall respond to a resident submission or
  262  inquiry. A residents’ council may include term limits in its
  263  governing documents to ensure consistent integration of new
  264  leaders. If a licensed facility files for bankruptcy under
  265  chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C.
  266  chapter 11, the facility, in its required filing with the United
  267  States Trustee, shall include the 20 largest unsecured
  268  creditors, the name and contact information of a designated
  269  resident selected by the residents’ council, and a statement
  270  explaining why the designated resident was chosen by the
  271  residents’ council to serve as a representative of the
  272  residents’ interest on the creditors’ committee, if appropriate.
  273         Section 6. Section 651.085, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  274  read:
  275         651.085 Quarterly meetings between residents and the
  276  governing body of the provider; resident representation before
  277  the governing body of the provider.—
  278         (1) The governing body of a provider, or the designated
  279  representative of the provider, shall hold quarterly meetings
  280  with the residents of the continuing care facility for the
  281  purpose of free discussion of subjects including, but not
  282  limited to, income, expenditures, and financial trends and
  283  problems as they apply to the facility, as well as a discussion
  284  on proposed changes in policies, programs, and services. At
  285  quarterly meetings where monthly maintenance fee increases are
  286  discussed, a summary of the reasons for raising the fee as
  287  specified in subsection (4) must be provided in writing to the
  288  president or chair of the residents’ council. Upon request of
  289  the residents’ council, a member of the governing body of the
  290  provider, such as a board member, general partner, principal
  291  owner, or designated representative shall attend such meetings.
  292  Residents are entitled to at least 7 days’ advance notice of
  293  each quarterly meeting. An agenda and any materials that will be
  294  distributed by the governing body or representative of the
  295  provider shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the facility
  296  and shall be available upon request to residents of the
  297  facility. The office shall request verification from a facility
  298  that quarterly meetings are held and open to all residents if it
  299  receives a complaint from the residents’ council that a facility
  300  is not in compliance with this subsection. In addition, a
  301  facility shall report to the office in the annual report
  302  required under s. 651.026 the dates on which quarterly meetings
  303  were held during the reporting period.
  304         (2) A residents’ council formed pursuant to s. 651.081,
  305  members of which are elected by the residents, shall may
  306  designate a resident to represent them before the governing body
  307  of the provider or organize a meeting or ballot election of the
  308  residents to determine whether to elect a resident to represent
  309  them before the governing body of the provider. If a residents’
  310  council does not exist, any resident may organize a meeting or
  311  ballot election of the residents of the facility to determine
  312  whether to elect a resident to represent them before the
  313  governing body and, if applicable, elect the representative. The
  314  residents’ council, or the resident that organizes a meeting or
  315  ballot election to elect a representative, shall give all
  316  residents notice at least 10 business days before the meeting or
  317  election. Notice may be given through internal mailboxes,
  318  communitywide newsletters, bulletin boards, in-house television
  319  stations, and other similar means of communication. An election
  320  of the representative is valid if at least 40 percent of the
  321  total resident population participates in the election and a
  322  majority of the participants vote affirmatively for the
  323  representative. The initial designated representative elected
  324  under this section shall be elected to serve at least 12 months.
  325         (3) The designated representative shall be notified at
  326  least 14 days in advance of any meeting of the full governing
  327  body at which proposed changes in resident fees or services will
  328  be discussed. The representative shall be invited to attend and
  329  participate in that portion of the meeting designated for the
  330  discussion of such changes.
  331         (4) At a quarterly meeting prior to the implementation of
  332  any increase in the monthly maintenance fee, the designated
  333  representative of the provider must provide the reasons, by
  334  department cost centers, for any increase in the fee that
  335  exceeds the most recently published Consumer Price Index for All
  336  Urban Consumers, all items, Class A Areas of the Southern
  337  Region. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as placing
  338  a cap or limitation on the amount of any increase in the monthly
  339  maintenance fee, establishing a presumption of the
  340  appropriateness of the Consumer Price Index as the basis for any
  341  increase in the monthly maintenance fee, or limiting or
  342  restricting the right of a provider to establish or set monthly
  343  maintenance fee increases.
  344         (5) The board of directors or governing board of a licensed
  345  provider may at its sole discretion allow a resident of the
  346  facility to be a voting member of the board or governing body of
  347  the facility. The board of directors or governing board of a
  348  licensed provider may establish specific criteria for the
  349  nomination, selection, and term of a resident as a member of the
  350  board or governing body. If the board or governing body of a
  351  licensed provider operates more than one licensed facility,
  352  regardless of whether the facility is in-state or out-of-state,
  353  the board or governing body may select at its sole discretion
  354  one resident from among its facilities to serve on the board of
  355  directors or governing body on a rotating basis.
  356         Section 7. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
  357  651.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  358         651.091 Availability, distribution, and posting of reports
  359  and records; requirement of full disclosure.—
  360         (2) Every continuing care facility shall:
  361         (d) Distribute a copy of the full annual statement and a
  362  copy of the most recent third-party financial audit filed with
  363  the annual report to the president or chair of the residents’
  364  council within 30 days after filing the annual report with the
  365  office, and designate a staff person to provide explanation
  366  thereof.
  367         Section 8. This act shall take effect October 1, 2015.