1     
MONITORING EQUIPMENT IN A CARE FACILITY

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Timothy D. Hawkes

5     
Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     

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
32     

33     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34          Section 1. Section 26-21-301 is enacted to read:
35     
Part 3. Assisted Living Facility Surveillance Act

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