Assisted living communities in North Carolina would be required to have generators for use during power outages under a bill being considered by state legislators, reports the North Carolina Health News.
Lawmakers reportedly agree on the concept in House Bill 410, which is that communities be able to provide “heat, air conditioning, lighting and other essential services” during emergencies.
Equipping all assisted living communities in the state with backup power would cost $84 million, Jeff Horton, executive director of the North Carolina Senior Living Association, said at a legislative committee hearing. Doing so would be “desirable” but a “luxury” given reimbursements from the county, state and federal governments, he said, the North Carolina Health News reported.
The bill is on its way to the Rules Committee and then would need to go through the full state House before heading to the state Senate. “If passed, any rules would have to be written by the North Carolina Medical Care Commission, a process that can take years,” the media outlet said.
Last year, Florida passed laws requiring assisted living communities and nursing homes to have emergency generators. AARP Oklahoma identified the measure as a legislative priority in the state in 2018, noting that nursing homes already are subject to federal requirements, but a bill under consideration there didn’t advance.
