A bill that would have removed certain reporting requirements for assisted living facilities (ALFs) was vetoed Monday by Gov. Rick Scott, who said “recent reports” of assisted living facilities falling short of legal requirements gave him pause.
The bill (HB 4045) would have removed requirements that the state disseminate a list of sanctions against ALFs and ended certain liability claims reporting requirements for the facilities.
“Assisted living facilities play a critical role in the spectrum of residential options and services available to Florida’s seniors,” Scott wrote in a veto message.
“…House Bill 4045 furthers the worthy goal of reducing unnecessary regulations and paperwork for these facilities,” Scott continued. “However, there have been recent reports of certain facilities falling short of what is currently required by statutes and rules and what should be reasonably expected by residents. Until a more deliberate examination of the regulation and oversight of assisted living facilities is conducted, I do not believe it is prudent to relax any reporting requirements…”
Scott also said he was forming a task force to review assisted living facility regulations and oversight.
Scott also on Monday vetoed a bill (HB 767) that would let boards of county commissioners lease property for less than five years without going through the normal process requiring that counties seek the best bid in determining who will lease the property.
“The requirements of current law serve to protect the interest of Florida taxpayers, and this exception to these accountability measures for leases of real property for terms not exceeding five years should not be created,” Scott wrote in a veto message. “Competitive bidding is fundamental for protecting the taxpayers’ money.”
