The state would be able to more quickly and effectively protect the welfare of nursing home residents if a facility falls into state receivership, according to a bill on its way to the governor.
The House concurred Monday with a Senate amendment to HF1792*/SF1471 before repassing it 106-28. The Senate passed it 52-10 May 13.
The amendment would tweak the medical cannabis laws regarding registering manufacturers, enrolling patients and moving up the date when intractable pain could be added to a list of qualifying medical conditions.
Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) and Sen. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) sponsor the bill, which would shorten the timeline for when the Department of Human Services could step in with new management staff for a nursing home in receivership.
Used as a last resort, the process can take a week to go through the courts and to hire a company to take over operations. A judge, who issues the receivership order, currently has five days to authorize the order. That would be shortened to two days in the bill, enabling the state to step in quicker.