HB11: HB11 Health; sufficient staff for carrying out food and nutrition services at a long-term care facility; provide

25 LC 52 0581 House Bill 11 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and Jackson of the 68th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to provide for2 sufficient staff for carrying out food and nutrition services a t a long-term care facility; to3 provide for definitions; to provide for the employment of a licensed dietitian; to provide for4 the designation and qualifications of a director of food and nutrition services; to provide for5 sufficient support personnel; to provide for rules and regulati ons; to provide for related6 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and10 construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, is amended by adding a new Code11 section to read as follows:12 "31-7-12.9.13 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:14 H. B. 11 - 1 - 25 LC 52 0581 (1) 'Certified dietary manager' means a food service professio nal who has satisfied15 credentialing requirements to work as a dietary manager, includ ing, but not limited to,16 coursework, work experience, and passing a nationally recognized credentialing exam. 17 (2) 'Certified food service manager' means a food service professional who has satisfied18 credentialing requirements to work as a food service manager, including, but not limited19 to, coursework, work experience, and passing a nationally recognized credentialing exam.20 (3) 'Licensed dietitian' means a dietitian licensed under Chapter 11A of Title 43.21 (4) 'Long-term care facility' m eans a skilled nursing home, in termediate care home,22 personal care home, assisted living community, community living arrangement, or23 inpatient hospice facility licensed or permitted to operate pursuant to this chapter.24 (b) A long-term care facility s hall employ sufficient staff wi th the appropriate25 competencies and skill sets to carry out the functions of food and nutrition services, taking26 into consideration resident assessments, individual plans of care, and the number, acuity,27 and diagnoses of such facility's resident population.28 (c) A long-term care facility shall employ a licensed dietitian on a full-time, part-time, or29 consultant basis; provided, however, that, if such facility doe s not employ a licensed30 dietitian on a full-time basis, such facility shall designate a n individual to serve as the31 director of food and nutrition services; provided, further, that such individual shall:32 (1) Satisfy at least one of the following qualifications:33 (A) Be a certified dietary manager;34 (B) Be a certified food service manager;35 (C) Have a similar national certification for food service management and safety from36 a national certifying body;37 (D) Have an associate's or higher degree in food service management or in hospitality38 from an accredited institution of higher learning, provided that the coursework for such39 degree includes food service or restaurant management; or40 H. B. 11 - 2 - 25 LC 52 0581 (E) Have two or more years of experience in the position of di rector of food and41 nutrition services in a long-term care facility and have completed a course of study in42 food safety and management, provided that such course of study includes topics integral43 to managing dietary operations, including, but not limited to, foodborne illness,44 sanitation procedures, and food purchasing or receiving; and45 (2) Receive frequently scheduled consultations from a licensed dietitian.46 (d) A long-term care facility shall provide sufficient support personnel to safely and47 effectively carry out the functions of food and nutrition services.48 (e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations nece ssary to implement the49 provisions of this Code section."50 SECTION 2.51 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.52 H. B. 11 - 3 -