North Carolina HB 513: Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 513

Short Title: Strengthen Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Buansi, Iler, Price, and Cotham (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 26, 2025
*H513-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 2
SERVICES, DIVISION OF AGING, TO STRENGTHEN NORTH CAROLINA'S 3
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM BY FUNDING ADDITIONAL 4
OMBUDSMAN POSITIONS TO MOVE NORTH CAROLINA TOWARDS NATIONAL 5
STANDARDS FOR LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 8
Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) in 9
recurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to be allocated and used as 10
follows: 11
(1) The sum of one hundred forty-five thousand dollars ($145,000) for the 12
2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred six thousand seven hundred 13
fifty dollars ($106,750) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support the 14
operational expenses of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, including 15
costs associated with equipment, supplies, and transportation. 16
(2) The sum of eight hundred fifty-five thousand dollars ($855,000) for the 17
2025-2026 fiscal year and the sum of eight hundred ninety-three thousand two 18
hundred fifty dollars ($893,250) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund nine 19
additional full-time Regional Ombudsman positions to move North Carolina 20
toward national standards for long-term care ombudsman programs. These 21
nine positions shall be dedicated to the Regional Ombudsman Programs 22
within the Area Agencies on Aging most in need of additional ombudsman 23
support, as determined by the Office of the State Long-Term Care 24
Ombudsman. 25
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 26