Relates to the use of electronic monitoring devices to monitor residents in assisted living residences and patients in nursing homes; requires consent from roommates to such electronic monitoring.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1967B
SPONSOR: Paulin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the use of elec-
tronic monitoring devices in the rooms of residents in assisted living
residences and patients in nursing homes
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill adds the right to install, operate and maintain an electronic
monitoring device in their room to the list of residence rights in the
public health law.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends paragraphs (0) and (p) of subdivision 3 of section
4660 of the public health law, as added by chapter 2 of the laws of
2004, to add a new paragraph (q) to add a new resident right.
Section two adds a new paragraph (s) to subdivision 3 of section 2803-c
To add a new skilled nursing facility patient right.
Section three contains an immediate effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
When a resident of an assisted living residence or skilled nursing
facility becomes frailer and in need of more support, it is often diffi-
cult for their family members.
Families want their loved ones to be given the best care possible and it
is often difficult to monitor that care if they live far away or cannot
visit the resident on a consistent basis. One of the tools that can be
used to help family members check in on their resident is an electronic
monitoring devices. These devices capture pictures, video and audio of
the residents' personal space. Many of these residents are physically
vulnerable and may have memory issues. This mean that they can not accu-
rately tell their family members what is happening to them in their
room. These devices allow families to know exactly what is happening in
their loved one' s room and report any issues or abuse that they come
across.
It is reported that Assisted Living Facilities and skilled nursing
facilities each make their own rules for allowing cameras. This means
that families with residents in some facilities don't have the same
right to see what is happening to their loved one. With the passage of
this legislation, every family could choose an electronic monitoring
device if they feel like it is the right thing for the resident. If the
resident has a room- mate, that roommate will be able to give written
consent to say that they agree to the installation of the device. And if
the device captures audio, written consent to they agree to have their
audio captured. Every skilled nursing facility and assisted living
facility resident deserves to feel safe, and cameras can give back that
feeling of safety to residents and their families.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.10151a of 2024, amended and recommitted to health.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1967--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, SAYEGH -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again
reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the use of elec-
tronic monitoring devices in the rooms of residents in assisted living
residences and patients in nursing homes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraphs (o) and (p) of subdivision 3 of section 4660 of
2 the public health law, as added by chapter 2 of the laws of 2004, are
3 amended and a new paragraph (q) is added to read as follows:
4 (o) every resident shall have the right to receive visits from family
5 members and other adults of the resident's choosing without interference
6 from the assisted living residence; [and]
7 (p) every resident shall have the right to written notice of any fee
8 increase not less than forty-five days prior to the proposed effective
9 date of the fee increase, provided however providing additional services
10 to a resident shall not be considered a fee increase pursuant to this
11 paragraph[.]; and
12 (q) (i) every resident, or in the case of a resident who lacks capaci-
13 ty, such resident's lawful representative, may install, operate, and
14 maintain an electronic monitoring device in such resident's room at
15 their own expense, provided, however, that:
16 (A) such electronic monitoring device which captures picture or video
17 shall only capture picture or video of such resident's personal space;
18 (B) any roommate of such resident or the roommate's lawful represen-
19 tative shall have provided written consent for the use and installation
20 of such electronic monitoring device. If no such consent is received, no
21 electronic monitoring device may be used or installed; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04745-03-5
A. 1967--B 2
1 (C) if the electronic monitoring device captures audio, that any room-
2 mate of the resident, or such roommate's lawful representative, shall
3 have provided written consent for the use and installation of such audio
4 capturing electronic monitoring device. Audio capture shall also require
5 posting of a notice in a conspicuous place advising individuals entering
6 the room that audio is being captured.
7 (ii) for the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall
8 have the following meanings:
9 (A) "electronic monitoring device" means a surveillance instrument
10 with a video camera or an audio recording device, or a combination ther-
11 eof, which is installed in a resident's room and transmits to a specific
12 recipient or records activity or sounds occurring in the room; and
13 (B) "resident's personal space" means the space in the resident's room
14 including and immediately surrounding the resident's bed, furniture,
15 equipment, the resident's effects and possessions, and shall not include
16 the personal space of a roommate resident or shared bathing or toilet
17 area.
18 § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 2803-c of the public health law is
19 amended by adding a new paragraph s to read as follows:
20 s. (i) Every patient in a nursing home, or in the case of a patient
21 who lacks capacity to consent, the patient's lawful representative, may
22 install, operate and maintain an electronic monitoring device in the
23 patient's room, at their own expense, provided that:
24 (A) such electronic monitoring device which captures picture or video
25 shall only capture picture or video of the patient's personal space;
26 (B) any roommate of the patient or such roommate's lawful represen-
27 tative shall have provided written consent for the use and installation
28 of such electronic monitoring device. If no such consent is received, no
29 electronic monitoring device may be used or installed;
30 (C) if the electronic monitoring device captures audio, that any room-
31 mate of the patient or such roommate's lawful representative shall have
32 provided written consent for the use or installation of such audio
33 capturing electronic monitoring device. Audio capture shall also require
34 posting of a notice in a conspicuous place advising individuals entering
35 the room that audio is being recorded; and
36 (D) a report on the installation of an electronic monitoring device
37 including all required consent received shall be maintained by the
38 facility administrator as part of the patient record.
39 (ii) For the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall
40 have the following meanings:
41 (A) "electronic monitoring device" means a surveillance instrument
42 with a video camera or an audio recording device, or a combination ther-
43 eof, which is installed in a patient's room and transmits to a specific
44 recipient or records activity or sounds occurring in the room; and
45 (B) "patient's personal space" means the space in the patient's room
46 including and immediately surrounding the patient's bed, furniture,
47 equipment, the patient's effects and possessions, and shall not include
48 the personal space of a roommate patient or shared bathing or toilet
49 area.
50 § 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
51 have become a law.
