SCS/SB 324 - This act creates the Shared Care Program for families who provide the primary long-term care for an elderly person, attempts to increase public awareness regarding elder abuse, and requires uniform regulations for inspectors and surveyors of long term care facilities. The following sections are added:

Section 198.067: Current law allows the Department of Social Services to assign penalties to nursing facilities that do not comply with sections 198.003 through 198.096, RSMo. New language prohibits facilities from reporting any noncompliance penalties as charitable contributions for tax purposes.

Section 198.070: Currently, this section requires practitioners to report any abuse or neglect of long term care facility residents. New language provides that it is a crime to file false reports of elder abuse or neglect. In addition, if a facility self-reports abuse or neglect, it will not be recorded as a hotline call, but rather as a "self-reported incident". If the incident results in a violation, then it will be reported as a "substantiated report".

Section 1: This section requires the Department of Health to develop an education and awareness program regarding elder abuse and neglect.

Section 2: This section requires the Department of Social Services to evaluate the requirements for and performance of inspectors and surveyors and to develop a uniform course of instruction.

This substitute is substantially similar to the HCS/HBs 316, 660, & 203 and to the HCS/HBs 837 & 667.
ERIN MOTLEY