The rules are being updated due to the changes to Chapter 400, Part IV, Florida Statutes, made by the 2005 Florida Legislature in Chapter 2005-243, Laws of Florida. These changes are: adding that advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants may also sign treatment orders and eliminating the 30 day requirement for signature; revising the amount of the licensure fee since the licensure period was increased from one to two years; changing the due date for renewal applications from 90 days to 60 days prior to expiration of the license; deleting the late application fine in rule since it was placed in law; updating the renewal application form to include an item to collect volume data and clarify existing items; updating the date for screening staff that have been continuously employed; updating the rule on exempting accredited home health agencies from licensure surveys; and removing the requirement for an alternate director of nursing. In addition, the following changes were made: the periodic licensure survey cycle was replaced with the requirement to survey no later than 36 months; one of the financial schedules was removed from the change of ownership application requirements and a financial schedule was added for renewal applicants that have evidence of financial instability; the requirement for training homemakers and companions was removed to be consistent with the homemaker companion registration program; a one-year retention period was added for personnel records; and the emergency management plan criteria form was replaced with a standard plan format and the emergency management plan rule includes patients residing in assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. Addresses and legal references are also updated and the newer version of the Agency’s background screening form is referenced.