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Florida Governor Rick Scott signed bills requiring nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs) in the state to have emergency generators to keep residents safe. Under SB 7028 and HB 7099, the emergency generator rule is now permanent.

In September last year, Gov. Scott’s administration issued an emergency generator rule requiring all nursing homes and ALFs to install generators immediately. The action comes after the deaths of 14 elderly residents at a Broward County nursing home in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

The nursing home industry in Florida challenged the state government’s emergency generator rule. However, the state’s First District Court of Appeals upheld the rule, which Gov. Scott believed could save lives during disasters.

Under SB 7028 and HB 7099, the emergency generator rule is now permanent.

Gov. Scott aggressively fought to implement emergency generator rule

In a statement, Gov. Scott said the tragedy at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills clearly demonstrated that the state needs to do more to ensure the protection for vulnerable Floridian during emergencies.

“We fought aggressively to quickly implement this life-saving rule at facilities across the state…Florida is one of the first states in the nation to require emergency generators at nursing homes and ALFs,” he said.

On the other hand, Justin Senior, Secretary of Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) emphasized that the emergency generator rule aims to ensure a safe environment for residents at nursing homes and ALFs. Gov. Scott made that clear since day one when his administration issued the rule.

In addition, Sec. Senior stressed that the bill signing means AHCA can move forward with implementing the emergency generator rule.

“Florida faces an annual risk from Mother Nature, and these rules will help keep seniors safe during a possible devastating weather event or periods with prolonged power outage,” according to the AHCA Secretary.

As of December 1, the AHCA reported that 104 nursing homes already complied with the emergency generator rule. The number of nursing homes and ALFs that submitted plans or reported compliance was 2,365.  The agency also noted that 563 ALFs haven’t responded to the requirements in the regulation.