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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill adds provisions to the Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act
10 related to monitoring devices installed in assisted living facilities.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ allows a resident of an assisted living facility to install a video or audio monitoring
14 device in the resident's room under certain conditions;
15 ▸ prohibits an assisted living facility from denying an individual admission to the
16 facility or discharging a resident from the facility solely because the individual or
17 resident wants to operate or install a monitoring device in the individual's or
18 resident's room; and
19 ▸ provides that a facility, resident, or resident's legal representative may not be held
20 civilly or criminally liable for operating or installing a monitoring device in
21 accordance with certain requirements.
22 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23 None
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 None
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 ENACTS:
28 26-21-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29 26-21-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30 26-21-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
31 26-21-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 26-21-301 is enacted to read:
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36 26-21-301. Title.
37 This part is known as the "Assisted Living Facility Surveillance Act."
38 Section 2. Section 26-21-302 is enacted to read:
39 26-21-302. Definitions.
40 As used in this part:
41 (1) "Facility" means an assisted living facility.
42 (2) "Legal representative" means an individual who is legally authorized to make
43 health care decisions on behalf of another individual.
44 (3) (a) "Monitoring device" means:
45 (i) a video surveillance camera; or
46 (ii) a microphone or other device that captures audio.
47 (b) "Monitoring device" does not include:
48 (i) a device that is specifically intended to intercept wire, electronic, or oral
49 communication without notice to or the consent of a party to the communication; or
50 (ii) a device that is connected to the Internet or that is set up to transmit data via an
51 electronic communication.
52 (4) "Resident" means an individual who receives health care from a facility.
53 (5) "Room" means a resident's private or shared primary living space.
54 (6) "Roommate" means:
55 (a) an individual sharing a room with a resident; or
56 (b) the individual's legal representative.
57 Section 3. Section 26-21-303 is enacted to read:
58 26-21-303. Monitoring device -- Installation, notice, and consent.
59 (1) A resident or the resident's legal representative may operate or install a monitoring
60 device in the resident's room if the resident or the resident's legal representative:
61 (a) notifies the resident's facility:
62 (i) that the resident or the resident's legal representative intends to operate or install a
63 monitoring device in the resident's room;
64 (ii) of the specific location where the resident or the resident's legal representative will
65 operate or install the monitoring device; and
66 (iii) of the technical specifications and capabilities of the monitoring device;
67 (b) obtains written consent from each of the resident's roommates that specifically
68 states the hours when each roommate consents to the resident or the resident's legal
69 representative operating the monitoring device; and
70 (c) assumes all responsibility for any cost related to installing or operating the
71 monitoring device.
72 (2) Notwithstanding any provision of Title 76, Utah Criminal Code, or Title 77, Utah
73 Code of Criminal Procedure, a facility, resident, or resident's legal representative is not civilly
74 or criminally liable for a privacy violation related to video or audio captured by a monitoring
75 device that the resident or the resident's legal representative operates in accordance with this
76 part.
77 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, an individual may not, under this
78 part, operate a monitoring device in a facility without a court order:
79 (a) in secret; or
80 (b) with an intent to intercept a wire, electronic, or oral communication without notice
81 to or the consent of a party to the communication.
82 Section 4. Section 26-21-304 is enacted to read:
83 26-21-304. Monitoring device -- Facility admission, patient discharge, and posted
84 notice.
85 (1) A facility may not deny an individual admission to the facility for the sole reason
86 that the individual or the individual's legal representative requests to install or operate a
87 monitoring device in the individual's room.
88 (2) A facility may not discharge a resident for the sole reason that the resident or the
89 resident's legal representative requests to install or operate a monitoring device in the
90 individual's room.
91 (3) A facility may require the resident or the resident's legal representative to place a
92 sign near the entrance of the resident's room that states that the room contains a monitoring
93 device.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel