CS/HB 797 — Veteran and Spouse Nursing Home Beds
by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee and Rep. LaMarca and others (SB 788 by Senators Truenow and Gaetz)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee (MS)
The bill creates s. 296.415, F.S., to authorize a licensed skilled nursing facility located on the campus of a nonprofit retirement community that exclusively provides housing for veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses to request to designate or alter the designation of certain beds as veteran and spouse nursing beds if the residents admitted meet the criteria for admissions to a state veterans’ nursing home in s. 296.36, F.S., and the beds are operated according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Community Nursing Home Program. The bill authorizes the director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) to approve a bed designation request if the request meets those requirements as well as the nondiscrimination, admissions, financial contribution, and inspection requirements for state veterans’ nursing homes.
The bill revises exemptions to the certificate of need (CON) process for veterans nursing homes by providing that a CON is not required for:
- State veterans’ nursing homes operated by or on behalf of the FDVA that are constructed with state or federal funds and where the federal government pays a per diem rate not to exceed one-half of the cost of the veterans’ care.
- The consolidation or combination of licensed skilled nursing facilities or the transfer of beds between licensed skilled nursing facilities which are for the sole use of veterans, their spouses, or surviving spouses in accordance with s. 296.415, F.S., if the facilities have a shared controlling interest and are not more than 100 miles apart.
The bill authorizes the FDVA to adopt rules to implement the bed designation process for certain nonprofit retirement communities.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 115-0