Relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for assisted living facility residents during an emergency; providing penalties.

Contracts

• Generator Vendors: renegotiate service agreements to include "priority status" for fuel delivery and repairs during area-wide disasters; standard SLAs will be insufficient during a freeze.
• Construction & Architecture: All contracts for renovations or new builds permitted after September 1, 2026, must explicitly cite compliance with Section 247.073 regarding backup power integration (e.g., quick-connect boxes).
• Resident Agreements: Update admission packets to acknowledge the resident's (or family's) right to request a summary of the Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Hiring/Training

• Facility Management: Staff must be trained to calculate and designate the "Area of Refuge" (15 sq. ft. per non-bedfast resident).
• Clinical Staff: Nursing staff must identify and maintain a dynamic list of "bedfast" residents, as these individuals require climate control in their specific rooms and cannot be moved to the general refuge area.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• New Plan: You must draft a standalone "Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Operations Plan." This is separate from your general disaster plan.
• Event-Driven Reporting: You must notify HHSC immediately if an unplanned power outage exceeds 12 hours.
• Disclosure: A summary of the plan must be available for distribution to residents and families upon request.

Fees & Costs

• Capital Expenditure (High): Facilities without adequate backup generation must budget immediately for HVAC and electrical upgrades.
• Penalties: HHSC is authorized to levy administrative penalties for failure to maintain temperatures or failure to report outages >12 hours.