Division of Legislative Services > Legislative Record > 2008

Regulatory Alert

A Convenient Guide to Regulatory Activity in the Commonwealth

November - December, 2008

The Regulatory Alert is intended to assist General Assembly members as they keep up with the myriad regulations being proposed by agencies in the Commonwealth. The goal of this project is to provide a timely, simple, and accurate summary of the rules that are being proposed by agencies, boards, and commissions. Highlighting regulations when they are published as "proposed regulations" gives General Assembly members notice that the critical public participation phase of the rulemaking process is well underway. It is during the public participation process that the questions of an Assembly member or constituent may be most effectively communicated to the agency and examined by the individuals crafting the regulatory proposal.

The Regulatory Alert is not intended to be a substitute for the comprehensive information on agency rulemaking activity that is currently published biweekly in the Virginia Register of Regulations or the notification services offered by the Regulatory Town Hall website maintained by the Department of Planning and Budget. It is hoped that the Legislative Record will assist all members as they monitor the development, modification and repeal of administrative rules in the Commonwealth.

Access the Virginia Register of Regulations online at http://legis.state.va.us/codecomm/register/issfiles.htm or contact epalen@leg.state.va.us or the Code Commission staff at (804) 786-3591 for further information.

TITLE 6. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

FORENSIC SCIENCE BOARD

6VAC40-60. DNA Data Bank Regulations (adding 6VAC40-60-10 through 6VAC40-60-80).

Written public comment may be submitted until 5 p.m. on January 23, 2009.

Summary:

The proposed regulations establish the procedures for law enforcement to obtain information from the DNA data bank and further establish who at the Department of Forensic Science has access to the DNA data bank. The regulations also detail the level of access for each Department of Forensic Science employee.

For further information, please contact Michele M. Gowdy, Department Counsel, Department of Forensic Science, Richmond, telephone (804) 786-6848, FAX (804)
786-6857, or email Michele.gowdy@dfs.virginia.gov.


TITLE 12. HEALTH

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

12VAC5-391. Regulations for the Licensure of Hospice (amending 12VAC5-391-10, 12VAC5-391-120, 12VAC5-391-150, 12VAC5-391-160, 12VAC5-391-180, 12VAC5-391-300, 12VAC5-391-440, 12VAC5-391-450, 12VAC5-391-460, 12VAC5-391-480, 12VAC5-391-500; adding 12VAC5-391-395, 12VAC5-391-445, 12VAC5-391-446, 12VAC5-391-485, 12VAC5-391-495, 12VAC5-391-510).

Written public comment may be submitted until 5 p.m. on January 23, 2009.

Summary:

Chapter 391 of the 2007 Acts of Assembly places oversight of hospice facilities with the Department of Health and establishes that continuity of hospice services provided in a patient's home also be provided in a dedicated facility.

This change in law necessitates amending the current regulation by expanding the standards addressing patient care and safety in hospice facilities. The proposed amendments also address omissions in the regulation when it was revised in 2005. The proposed amendments (i) clarify definitions pertaining to hospice facility and inpatient services; (ii) provide clarification between a hospice facility and inpatient services in a hospital or nursing facility; (iii) require notifying the Department of Health of the relocation of a hospice facility; (iv) add provisions for handling medical errors and drug reactions; (v) require compliance with state and local codes, zoning and building ordinances and the Uniform Statewide Building Code; (vi) prohibit a hospice facility from being used for any purpose other than the provision of hospice services; (vii) require that a set of as-built plans be retained; (viii) establish additional physical plant requirements for operating a hospice facility; (ix) establish necessary hospice facility financial controls and requirements for handling patient funds; (x) require 24-hour nursing services including trained and supervised staff to meet the total needs of the hospice patients; (xi) allow facilities with six or fewer beds to have a single licensed nurse as long as patient needs are met; (xii) provide for a 20-minute response time if a registered nurse is not present at the facility; and (xiii) make changes to provide consistency with other facility-type regulations.

For further information, please contact Carrie Eddy, Department of Health, Richmond, telephone (804) 367-5100, or email carrie.eddy@vdh.virginia.gov.


Division of Legislative Services > Legislative Record > 2008

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