Visitation rights.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that health care facilities must provide a written copy of the visitation policy upon request, only that they shall visibly post one copy in the facility.

Visitation Rights for Health Care Facilities

This law sets rules for health care facilities to allow visitors and limits when they can restrict visits.

What This Bill Does

• Requires health care facilities that provide round-the-clock care to let people visit patients.
• Allows these facilities to set rules about who can visit, where and when visits happen, and what safety measures are needed.
• Needs facilities to put up signs showing the current visiting rules.
• Lets patients or someone speaking for them choose who can visit.

Who It Names or Affects

• People receiving care in health care facilities
• Visitors to these facilities

Terms To Know

health care facility

A place that gives medical or nursing care, like a hospital.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not apply to people who are involuntarily detained or those charged with or convicted of crimes.
• The rules about visitation can change based on safety concerns like abuse, neglect, or disruptive behavior.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0496
Bill No.:

SF0080

Effective:

7/1/2023

LSO No.:

23LSO-0496

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0078

Chapter No.:

183

Prime Sponsor:

McKeown

Catch Title:

Visitation rights.

Subject:

Visitation rights in health care facilities.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act requires specified health care facilities that provide twenty-four (24) hour per day care to allow visitation for a person receiving care in the facility.

In addition, the health care facility:
May impose and enforce specified restrictions on visitation;
Shall provide a written copy of its visitation policy upon request;
Shall visibly post a copy of its visitation policy in the facility;
Shall allow the person receiving care or that person’s representative to designate persons as visitors or to prohibit some or all visitation.

The visitation requirement shall not apply to persons involuntarily detained or adults who have been charged with or convicted of a crime and are in the custody of the state or a local jurisdiction.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

23LSO-0496

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0080

ENROLLED ACT NO. 78,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; establishing visitation rights and limitations for specified health care facilities; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
914 is created to read:

35
‑
2
‑
914.

Visitation rights.

(a)

A health care facility, as defined by W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
901(a)(x), that provides twenty
‑
four (24) hour per day care shall allow visitation for a person receiving care in that facility. The visitation required under this section shall not apply to persons involuntarily detained under W.S. 25
‑
10
‑
109 or 25
‑
10
‑
110 or adults who have been charged with or convicted of a crime and are in the custody of the state or a local jurisdiction.

(b)

A health care facility subject to subsection (a) of this section may impose and enforce restrictions on visitation that limit the number or age of visitors, limit the location or time of visitation, require protective equipment or impose requirements otherwise required under W.S. 35
‑
1
‑
240 or by the centers for Medicaid and Medicare services, the centers for disease control or the joint commission on the accreditation of healthcare organizations. Visitation may be further restricted or limited under this section when the health care facility determines a restriction or limitation is necessary due to a court order, violent or disruptive behavior or reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect against a person receiving care in the facility. A health care facility shall provide a written copy of its visitation policy upon request and shall visibly post in the facility one (1) copy of the most current visitation restrictions imposed in accordance with this subsection. The health care facility shall allow the person receiving care or that person's representative to designate persons as visitors or to prohibit some or all visitation under this section.

Section 2.

W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
901(a)(xxvii) is amended to read:

35
‑
2
‑
901.

Definitions; applicability of provisions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(xxvii)

"This act" means W.S. 35
‑
2
‑
901 through
35
‑
2
‑
913
35
‑
2
‑
914
.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1