a period of 3 years and, at, the end of June 30, 2002, with no further action required by
the General Assembly, Sections 1 and 4 of this Act shall be abrogated and of no further
force and effect.

SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in
Sections 6 and 7 of this Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 1999.

Approved May 13, 1999.

CHAPTER 383
(House Bill 791)

AN ACT concerning

Nursing Facilities—Licensure Requirements—Staffing
Task Force on Staffing Requirements in Nursing Facilities
Nursing Facilities - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Reserved Beds -
Task Force on Quality of Care in Nursing Facilities - Nursing Home

Comparative Evaluation System

FOR the purpose of requiring nursing facilities to meet certain staffing requirements
to qualify for licensure; requiring nursing facilities to employ certain individuals
for certain positions; specifying certain duties that certain individuals may not
perform; specifying the staffing to resident ratio requirements for nursing
facilities; requiring nursing facilities to post certain information in certain areas
of the facility on a certain form developed by the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene; providing for certain penalties; providing for the application of
this Act; requiring the Department to conduct a certain study and to report to
the General Assembly by a certain date; authorizing the Department to adopt
certain regulations; defining a certain term; and generally relating to staffing
requirements for nursing facilities establishing a Task Force on Staffing
Requirements in Nursing Facilities to examine certain staffing requirements in
nursing facilities; requiring the Task Force to submit a certain report on or
before a certain date; providing for the membership of the Task Force; requiring
the Governor to appoint the Chairman of the Task Force; requiring the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to staff the Task Force; providing
that a member of the Task Force may not be compensated but may receive travel
expenses; providing for the termination date of the Task-Force; and generally
relating to a Task Force to examine the staffing requirements in nursing
facilities. providing that certain payments to nursing facilities for reserving beds
for Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients may not include payment
for certain nursing services; repealing the requirement that certain payments to
nursing facilities for reserving beds for Program recipients may not be less than
a certain amount; requiring that savings resulting from certain provisions of this
Act be used for a certain purpose; establishing a Task Force on Quality of Care in
Nursing Facilities; specifying the membership of the Task Force; specifying the
duties of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to make certain