State agencies; amdnt. of regulations pertaining to maximum temp. at which certain rooms may be kept.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as 'Enacted' does not align with its last action date, which indicates it is still in committee. This discrepancy needs clarification from an authoritative source.

Regulations on Room Temperature for State Facilities

This bill directs several state agencies to amend their regulations to lower the maximum temperature allowed in certain rooms of their facilities.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Social Services to reduce room temperatures in licensed assisted living facilities and family day homes from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to decrease room temperatures in juvenile correctional centers, group homes, and halfway houses from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Instructs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to lower room temperatures in children's residential facilities from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Asks the Department of Health to reduce the maximum temperature maintained by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in hospice patient areas from 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Requires the Department of Corrections to lower room temperatures in local correctional facilities from 85 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Who It Names or Affects

• Residents of licensed assisted living facilities and family day homes regulated by the Department of Social Services.
• Residents of juvenile correctional centers, group homes, and halfway houses managed by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
• Patients in hospice facilities overseen by the Department of Health.
• Inmates in local correctional facilities run by the Department of Corrections.

Terms To Know

Licensed assisted living facility

A place where people who need help with daily activities but do not require hospital care can live and receive support services.

Hospice facilities

Places that provide comfort and supportive care for patients with terminal illnesses.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact timeline for these changes to be implemented.
• It is unclear how much it will cost to make these temperature adjustments in state facilities.

Official Summary Text

State agencies; amendment of regulations pertaining to the maximum temperature at which certain rooms may be kept.
Directs the Department of Social Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Health, and the Department of Corrections to amend their regulations to provide that the maximum temperature at which certain rooms in facilities regulated by such agencies may be kept shall be no more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct certain state agencies to amend their regulations regarding the maximum temperature at which certain rooms may be kept.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Department of Social Services shall amend its regulations to (i) reduce the maximum temperature permitted in all areas used by residents of licensed assisted living facilities from 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
;
(ii) reduce the temperature at which air conditioning or mechanical ventilating systems, such as electric fans, are required to be provided in all rooms occupied by residents of licensed children's residential facilities from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
;
and (iii) reduce the temperature at which fans or other cooling systems are required to be used in inside areas of licensed family day homes occupied by children from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

§
2
. That the Department of Juvenile Justice shall amend its regulations to reduce the temperature at which air conditioning or mechanical ventilating systems, such as electric fans, are required to be provided in all rooms occupied by residents of juvenile correctional centers, juvenile group homes, and juvenile halfway houses from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

§
3
. That the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall amend its regulations to reduce the temperature at which air conditioning or mechanical ventilating systems, such as electric fans, are required to be provided in all rooms occupied by residents of children's residential facilities from above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

§
4
. That the Department of Health shall amend its regulations to reduce the maximum temperature
maintained by a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in hospice facilities in patient areas from 80 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

§
5
. That the Department of Corrections shall amend its regulations to reduce the maximum temperature that may be maintained in all rooms in local correctional facilities from 85 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.