43.190.060 - Duties of ombudsman.

Duties of ombudsman.

A long-term care ombudsman shall:

     (1) Identify, investigate, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities relating to administrative action, inaction, or decisions which may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of these individuals;

     (2) Monitor the development and implementation of federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies with respect to long-term care facilities in this state;

     (3) Provide information as appropriate to residents, resident representatives, and others regarding the rights of residents, and to public agencies regarding the problems of individuals residing in long-term care facilities; and

     (4) Provide for training volunteers and promoting the development of citizen organizations to participate in the ombudsman program. A trained volunteer long-term care ombudsman, in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the state long-term care ombudsman program, shall inform residents, their representatives, and others about the rights of residents, and may identify, investigate, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities relating to action, inaction, or decisions, that may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of these individuals.

     Nothing in chapter 133, Laws of 1999 shall be construed to empower the state long-term care ombudsman or any local long-term care ombudsman with statutory or regulatory licensing or sanctioning authority.

[1999 c 133 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 33; 1987 c 158 § 3; 1983 c 290 § 6.]

Notes: Severability -- 1999 c 133: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1999 c 133 § 3.]

Effective date -- 1999 c 133: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 28, 1999]." [1999 c 133 § 4.]

Conflict with federal requirements -- Severability -- Effective date -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 74.39A.030.

Definitions: See RCW 74.39.007.