2005 Bill 213 First Session, 26th Legislature, 54 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 213 STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONTINUING CARE STANDARDS ACT MS PASTOOR First Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Committee of the Whole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Third Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Royal Assent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bill 213 Ms Pastoor BILL 213 2005 STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONTINUING CARE STANDARDS ACT (Assented to , 2005)

WHEREAS the Auditor General’s May 2005 report on seniors care and programs concluded that almost one-third of long-term care facilities under review did not meet basic care standards;

WHEREAS persons in long-term care facilities and supportive living settings deserve to be treated with dignity and receive continuing care that meets or exceeds current health service standards;

WHEREAS there is a need for Members of the Legislative Assembly to have an ongoing role in assessing and monitoring continuing care standards in Alberta; THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) “Committee” means the Stan ding Committee on Continuing Care Standards established under

section 2; (b) “long-term care facility” means a facility that provides medical or general care and includes (

i) auxiliary hospitals, and (ii) nursing homes as defined in the Nursing Homes Act; 1

(c) “supportive living setting” includes lodge accommodation as defined in the Alberta Housing Act and any other residential facility that provides medical or general care for residents. Standing Committee 2(1) In the first session of the Legislative Assembly following the coming into force of this Act, the Government must introduce a resolution in the Assembly which, if passed, would establish a standing committee of the Assembly called the “Standing Committee on Continuing Care Standards” consisting of 7 Members of the Assembly.

(2) The membership of the Committee must include a minimum of 2 Members of the Legislative Assembly who are not members of the governing party, but if there is (

a) an insufficient number of non-government members to fill the 2 positions on the Committee, or (

b) an insufficient number of non-government members who are willing to fill the 2 positions on the Committee, the resulting vacant positions on the Committee may be filled by Members of the Assembly who are members of the governing party. Function 3(1) The function of the Committee is to review the ongoing state of continuing care in long-term care facilities and supportive living settings and report to the Assembly on the level of compliance with current standards.

(2) In its annual report, the Committee may make recommendations to the Assembly in any of the following areas: (

a) minimum staff to resident ratios; (

b) minimum staff training requirements; (

c) legislated standards fo r resident care that address accommodation, medication, diet and nutrition, safety and security; (

d) a bill of rights for residents; (

e) procedures for complaints; (

f) monitoring and en forcement mechanisms. 2

(3) In performing its functions, the Committee must hold a minimum of 4 public meetings each year with Albertans. Committee reports and Ministers’ responses 4(1) In this section, when a person is required to make a document public, the person must (

a) lay the document before the Legislative Assembly if it is sitting at the time the document is required to be made public or, if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting, and (

b) make the document available to the general public in a reasonable manner at the time required under this Act, whether or not the document has been laid before the Legislative Assembly.

(2) The Committee must prepare its initial report to the Assembly regarding the matters outlined in

section 3 no later than 1 year after the Committee is established under

section 2.

(3) The subsequent reports of the Committee must be prepared on an annual basis.

(4) Upon completion of a Committee report, the chair of the Committee must immediately make it public.

(5) Within 3 months of a Committee report being made public, the Minister of Health and Wellness and the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports must respond to the report and make their responses immediately available to the public. Coming into force 5 This Act comes into force on January 1, 2006. Title: 2005 (26th, 1st) Bill 213, Standing Committee on Continuing Care Standards Act