Bill in the Spotlight: HB 493

HB 493: Agency for Health Care Administration is one of the bills of interest to Assisted Living Facilities moving through the 2025 Legislative Session.  Filed on 2/10 by Rep. Redondo (R-118), the bill follows last year’s focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders by proposing modifications to s. 429.177 – .178, F.S.  The bill would not affect all Assisted Living Facilities; rather, only those that advertise or claim to provide memory care services.

If passed, HB493 would edit and combine s. 429.177, F.S. and s. 429.178, F.S. and move language from s. 429.26, F.S.

As proposed, HB 493 would:

1. Create the first definition of memory care services for ALFs, line 83
2. Introduce a log which must be kept current and accurate of residents receiving memory care services, line 100
3. Duplicate language from s. 429.24, F.S. related to services specified in resident contracts, line 106, and
4. Require that affected ALFs have at least one staff member present to provide care and services at all times, line 127. There must be staff present in the memory care unit that are certified in First Aid and CPR. Further, Nurses and Medication Technicians will not be able to be counted as staff “present to provide care and services” while they are performing their medication duties.

The bill is currently in the Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee within the Health & Human Services Committee. The companion bill is SB 1588, filed by Senator Simon (R-3).

HB 493: Agency for Health Care Administration

SB 1588: Agency for Health Care Administration