Cold showers for grandma.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as inactive means it did not move forward and is no longer under consideration for this session.

Cold Showers for Grandma

This act modifies regulations for facilities caring for elderly and disabled individuals, setting staffing requirements for assisted living facilities and water temperature limits in nursing care facilities.

What This Bill Does

• Modifies the regulation of facilities that provide care for elderly or disabled individuals by defining staffing requirements for certain types of assisted living facilities.
• Sets a maximum temperature limit for shower and bath water at nursing care facilities to prevent burns, with a cap of 120°F (49°C).
• Requires hand wash sink water temperatures in nursing care facilities not to exceed 110°F (43°C) to ensure safety while still being warm enough for hygiene.
• Directs the Department of Health to create rules implementing these requirements by July 1, 2020.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who live in assisted living facilities and nursing care facilities.
• Facilities that provide care for elderly or disabled individuals.
• Nursing staff working at these facilities.

Terms To Know

Assisted Living Facility

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

Nursing Care Facility

A facility that provides 24-hour nursing care for individuals who cannot be cared for at home due to serious health conditions or disabilities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the new rules will affect staffing costs or quality of care.
• It is unclear if there are any exceptions to the water temperature requirements in extreme cases where higher temperatures might be necessary for safety reasons.
• This bill was marked as inactive, meaning it did not move forward after being introduced.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0240
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0240
Introduced
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0096

Cold showers for grandma.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Scott, Baldwin, Bouchard, Pappas and Schuler and Representative(s) Henderson

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; modifying the regulation of facilities for the care of elderly and disabled individuals as specified; defining staffing requirements for assisted living facilities as specified; setting water temperature requirements for nursing care facilities as specified; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
907 by creating new subsections (d) and (e) is amended to read:

35
‑
2
‑
907.

Inspection of licensed establishments; exceptions; assisted living facility inspection procedure;
assisted living facility staffing; nursing care facility comfort and safety requirements.

(d)

Unless otherwise specified by law, the division shall not require licensed practical nurses or nurses with more advanced credentials to serve as nursing staff for any secured unit of an assisted living facility or any assisted living facility dedicated to providing special care and services for people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia conditions.

(e)

A nursing care facility shall ensure hot water temperatures are adjusted for resident comfort and safety. Water temperatures for nursing care facility resident showers and baths shall not exceed one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120°F) and for hand wash sinks shall not exceed one hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit (110°F).

Section 2.

Consistent with W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
907(d) and (e), the department of health shall promulgate rules to implement the requirements of section 1 of this act on or before July 1, 2020, provided these rules shall not take effect until July 1, 2020.

Section 3.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2020.

(b)

Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
SF0096