A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT requiring nursing homes, combination homes, and adult care homes to have emergency electrical service available for use during power outages.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 1 of Chapter 131D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 131D‑4.3A.  Emergency electrical service required.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all nursing homes, combination homes, and adult care homes, as those terms are defined in G.S. 131E‑101, licensed and operating in this State shall provide emergency electrical service for use in the event of failure of the normal electrical service. Each facility subject to this section shall provide emergency electrical service sufficient to provide heat, lighting, and other essential electrical services required by rules of the Medical Care Commission."
SECTION 2.  Part 1 of Article 6 of Chapter 131E of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 131E‑114.3A.  Emergency electrical service required.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all nursing homes, combination homes, and adult care homes, as those terms are defined in G.S. 131E‑101, licensed and operating in this State shall provide emergency electrical service for use in the event of failure of the normal electrical service. Each facility subject to this section shall provide emergency electrical service sufficient to provide heat, lighting, and other essential electrical services required by rules of the Medical Care Commission."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 143B‑165 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(14)	The Commission shall adopt rules specifying the essential electrical services nursing homes, combination homes, and adult care homes are required to provide through the use of emergency electrical services pursuant to G.S. 131D‑4.3A and G.S. 131E‑114.3A."
SECTION 4.  Section 3 of this act becomes effective when this act becomes law. The remainder of this act becomes effective on the date the rules adopted by the Medical Care Commission, pursuant to G.S. 143B‑165(14), as amended by this act, become effective. The Medical Care Commission shall notify the Reviser of Statutes of the date the rules become effective.