A new bill that would put Florida assisted-living facilities under greater scrutiny and increase fines for serious violations passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday after three years of attempts to increase regulations on the facilities, theAssociated Pressreports.
The bill would create a consumer guide to each of the 3,000 licensed facilities in the state along with the year it opened, its size and any violations. The page would also allow for public posting of reviews of the facility, with the state monitoring the pages.
The Florida Health Care Association supports the bill. (Editor's note: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized the group's position.)
Under the bill, fines for smaller violations would be eliminated. Facilities that serve mentally impaired residents would be required to get a separate license.