Purpose
The Agency proposes to amend Rules 59A-13.004, 59A-13.005, and 59A-13.007 through 59A-13.010, 59A-13.013 through 59A-13.015, 59A-13.020 and 59A-13.022, F.A.C., consistent with provisions of Section 400.914, Florida Statutes. Amendments to Section 59A-13.004, F.A.C., include a revised Application of Licensure dated July 2005, a statement that a license for initial or change in ownership will not be issued until the application fee has been received by the Agency and all associated checks have cleared, and adds language that the facility must notify the Agency 60 days prior to a request to increase the center’s licensed capacity; amendments to Rules 59A-13.005, F.A.C., revises language requiring the centers to develop and maintain a current job description for each employee, revises language that provides employee access to policies and procedures governing conditions of employment, revises language requiring annual written job performance evaluations of PPEC center staff, and revises language for the development and implementation of infection control policies and procedures; amendments to Rule 59A-13.010, F.A.C., deletes the requirement for the Director of Nursing to hold a Baccalaureate degree, deletes annual recertification for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and adds current CPR certification for the Director of Nursing, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPN), and direct care personnel, adds LPN requirements and experience, adds definition for the term “others” as direct care personnel, and adds standards and requirements the direct care staff must meet, adds LPN’s into the staffing ratio, and adds new language for the staffing pattern if the PPEC center has a census of more than 45 children; amendments to Rule 59A-13.013, F.A.C., include technical clean up of current language, and deletes the requirement for all employees to maintain annual CPR certification and replaces it with all employees must have a current CPR certification; amendments to Rule 59A-13.014, F.A.C., clarifies the medical plan of treatment and the nursing protocol of care; amendments to Rule 59A-13.015, F.A.C., adds language to clarify the selection process of the quarterly assurance review sample and the required members of the quality assurance committee; amendments to Rule 59A-13.020, F.A.C., adds a new statement relating to hand washing procedures for staff after direct contact with each child; amendments to section Rule 59A-13.022, F.A.C., adds language that requires each PPEC center to have documentation of a satisfactory fire safety inspection annually by the local authority having jurisdiction, and adds language that the PPEC center must have an emergency kit available to provide basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.