Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 362

Short Title: Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Alexander (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 24, 2025
*S362-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
SERVICES, DIVISION O F AGING, TO STRENGTH EN THE LONG -TERM CAR E 3
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM BY FUNDING ADDITIONAL REGIONAL OMBUDSMAN 4
POSITIONS AND DIRECT ING A STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON 5
STATUTORY CHANGES NE CESSARY TO IMPROVE T HE PROGRAM AND THE 6
SYSTEM OF VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 9
Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in 10
recurring funds for each year of the 2025 -2027 fiscal biennium to be allocated and used as 11
follows: 12
(1) The sum of one hundred forty -five thousand dollars ($145,000) for the 13
2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred six thousand seven hundred 14
fifty dollars ($106,750) for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to support the 15
operational expenses of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, including 16
costs associated with equipment, supplies, and transportation. 17
(2) The sum of eight hundred fifty -five thousand dollars ($855,000) for the 18
2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of eight hundred ninety-three thousand two 19
hundred fifty dollars ($893,250) for the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to fund nine 20
additional full-time Regional Ombudsman positions to move North Carolina 21
toward national standards for long -term care ombudsman programs. These 22
nine positions shall be dedicated to the Regional Ombudsman Programs 23
within the Area Agencies on Aging most in need of additional ombudsman 24
support, as determined by the Office of the State Long -Term Care 25
Ombudsman. 26
SECTION 2. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, in 27
collaboration with the Office of the Long -Term Care Ombudsman, Regional Offices of 28
Long-Term Care Ombudsman within the Area Agencies on Aging, and other interested 29
stakeholders, shall study and make recommendations to the Joint Legislative Oversight 30
Committee on Health and Human Services and the Fiscal Research Division on statutory changes 31
necessary to improve and strengthen the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and the system 32
of Community Advisory Committee volunteers supporting the Program. 33
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 34