A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the department of health and human services to study rules and regulations regarding housing individuals with mental illness in the same facility vicinity as individuals without mental illness, and to recommend staff training requirements for direct care workers in long-term care facilities to provide appropriate care to residents with mental illness, as recommended by the north carolina study commission on aging.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Facility Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, and Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall study rules and regulations in North Carolina and other states regarding the provision of appropriate care and housing of individuals with mental illness in the same facility vicinity with individuals without mental illness and shall make recommendations relating to the housing of these individuals.
SECTION 1.(b)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Facility Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, and Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, shall study the need for training direct care workers in long‑term care facilities to provide appropriate care to facility residents with mental illness and facility residents without mental illness, and shall make recommendations for appropriate training of these workers.
SECTION 1.(c)  The Department of Health and Human Services shall present its findings and recommendations in response to the studies authorized in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, along with any required statutory or rule changes, to the Study Commission on Aging and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services on or before March 1, 2008.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.