651.085 Quarterly meetings between residents and the governing body of the provider; resident representation before the governing body of the provider.—
(1) The governing body of a provider, or the designated representative of the provider, shall hold quarterly meetings with the residents of the continuing care facility for the purpose of free discussion of subjects including, but not limited to, income, expenditures, and financial trends and problems as they apply to the facility, as well as a discussion on proposed changes in policies, programs, and services. At quarterly meetings where monthly maintenance fee increases are discussed, a summary of the reasons for raising the fee as specified in subsection (4) must be provided in writing to the president or chair of the residents’ council. Upon request of the residents’ council, a member of the governing body of the provider, such as a board member, general partner, principal owner, or designated representative shall attend such meetings. Residents are entitled to at least 7 days’ advance notice of each quarterly meeting. An agenda and any materials that will be distributed by the governing body or representative of the provider shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the facility and shall be available upon request to residents of the facility. The office shall request verification from a facility that quarterly meetings are held and open to all residents. In addition, a facility shall report to the office in the annual report required under s. 651.026 the dates on which quarterly meetings were held during the reporting period.
(2) A residents’ council formed pursuant to s. 651.081, members of which are elected by the residents, shall nominate and elect a designated resident representative to represent them before the governing body of the provider on matters specified in subsection (3). The initial designated resident representative elected under this section shall be elected to serve at least 12 months. The designated resident representative does not have to be a current member of the residents’ council; however, such individual must be a resident, as defined in s. 651.011.
(3) The designated resident representative shall be notified by a representative of the provider at least 14 days in advance of any meeting of the full governing body at which the annual budget and proposed changes or increases in resident fees or services are on the agenda or will be discussed. The designated resident representative shall be invited to attend and participate in that portion of the meeting designated for the discussion of such changes. Designated resident representatives shall perform their duties in good faith. For providers that own or operate more than one facility in the state, each facility must have its own designated resident representative.
(4) At a quarterly meeting prior to the implementation of any increase in the monthly maintenance fee, the designated representative of the provider must provide the reasons, by department cost centers, for any increase in the fee that exceeds the most recently published Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, all items, Class A Areas of the Southern Region. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as placing a cap or limitation on the amount of any increase in the monthly maintenance fee, establishing a presumption of the appropriateness of the Consumer Price Index as the basis for any increase in the monthly maintenance fee, or limiting or restricting the right of a provider to establish or set monthly maintenance fee increases.
(5) The board of directors or governing board of a licensed provider may at its sole discretion allow a resident of the facility to be a voting member of the board or governing body of the facility. The board of directors or governing board of a licensed provider may establish specific criteria for the nomination, selection, and term of a resident as a member of the board or governing body. If the board or governing body of a licensed provider operates more than one licensed facility, regardless of whether the facility is in-state or out-of-state, the board or governing body may select at its sole discretion one resident from among its facilities to serve on the board of directors or governing body on a rotating basis. A resident who serves as a member of the board or governing body of the facility shall perform his or her duties in a fiduciary manner, including the duty of confidentiality, duty of care, duty of loyalty, and duty of obedience, as required of any individual serving on the board or governing body of the facility.
History.—s. 1, ch. 77-323; s. 252, ch. 79-400; ss. 11, 25, ch. 81-292; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 83-265; ss. 14, 31, 33, 35, ch. 83-328; s. 1, ch. 92-56; ss. 7, 12, ch. 93-22; s. 4, ch. 2003-120; s. 1681, ch. 2003-261; s. 11, ch. 2010-202; s. 6, ch. 2015-122; s. 12, ch. 2023-295.
