CARSON CITY – A legislative committee is suggesting toughening the fines on unlicensed group homes that care for such residents as the disabled, recovering alcoholics, drug users and Alzheimer patients.
The goal, says Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-Las Vegas, is to protect the health and safety of these residents.
"It’s unfair to raise the fees of the good homes but we want to punish the unlicensed ones," she said.
The Legislative Committee on Group Homes unanimously voted Wednesday to impose a $10,000 fine for the first offense of a home that is found not to be licensed. The law now allows a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 but the suggestion would make the $10,000 fine mandatory.
Marla McDade Williams of the state Health Division says it receives 100 to 200 complaints a year about unlicensed facilities. “There are quite a few in Las Vegas,” she said.
The division licenses about 1,200 of these homes statewide.
The committee accepted the suggestion of Sen. Shirley Breeden, D-Henderson, that the second fine should be $25,000 and the third $50,000. After the third violation, the home couldn't be granted a license and the residents would be transferred.
Administrators of some of the homes have the power of attorney for residents and they collect money for the individual. Breeden said they co-mingle the money into one account. The committee recommended that separate accounts be maintained for each resident.
The committee accepted the recommendation of Sen. Allison Copening, D-Las Vegas, that owners of these group homes not be allowed to be beneficiaries of life insurance policies of a resident.
There will also be a recommendation going to the 2011 Legislature toughening the licensing requirements for those who refer patients to such homes. Kirkpatrick said she knows of one case where a sex offender was referred to a home for Alzheimer's patients.
The committee was also told that the Las Vegas City Council will be updating its regulations on residential facilities for groups on June 16.
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