§ 5119.34 — Inspecting and licensing of residential facilities

Ohio § 5119.34

• Jurisdiction: Ohio
• Title 51: Public Welfare
• Ch. 5119: Department of Behavioral Health

Text

(A) As used in this section and sections5119.341to5119.344of the Revised Code:

(1) "Accommodations" means housing, daily meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, arranging for transportation, social and recreational activities, maintenance, security, and other services that do not constitute personal care services or skilled nursing care.

(2) "ADAMHS board" means a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services.

(3) "Adult" means a person who is eighteen years of age or older, other than a person described in division (A)(4) of this section who is between eighteen and twenty-one years of age.

(4) "Child" means a person who is under eighteen years of age or a person with a mental disability who is under twenty-one years of age.

(5) "Operator" means the person or persons, firm, partnership, agency, governing body, association, corporation, or other entity that is responsible for the administration and management of a residential facility and that is the applicant for a residential facility license.

(6) "Personal care services" means services including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Assisting residents with activities of daily living;

(b) Assisting residents with self-administration of medication in accordance with rules adopted under this section;

(c) Preparing special diets, other than complex therapeutic diets, for residents pursuant to the instructions of a physician or a licensed dietitian, in accordance with rules adopted under this section.

"Personal care services" does not include "skilled nursing care" as defined in section3721.01of the Revised Code. A facility need not provide more than one of the services listed in division (A)(6) of this section to be considered to be providing personal care services.

(7) "Room and board" means the provision of sleeping and living space, meals or meal preparation, laundry services, housekeeping services, or any combination thereof.

(8) "Residential state supplement program" means the program established under section5119.41of the Revised Code.

(9) "Supervision" means any of the following:

(a) Observing a resident to ensure the resident's health, safety, and welfare while the resident engages in activities of daily living or other activities;

(b) Reminding a resident to perform or complete an activity, such as reminding a resident to engage in personal hygiene or other self-care activities;

(c) Assisting a resident in making or keeping an appointment.

(10) "Unrelated" means that a resident is not related to the owner or operator of a residential facility or to the owner's or operator's spouse as a parent, grandparent, child, stepchild, grandchild, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt, or uncle, or as the child of an aunt or uncle.

(B)(1) A "residential facility" is a publicly or privately operated home or facility that falls into one of the following categories:

(a) Class one facilities provide accommodations, supervision, personal care services, and mental health services for one or more unrelated adults with mental illness or one or more unrelated children or adolescents with severe emotional disturbances;

(b) Class two facilities provide accommodations, supervision, and personal care services to any of the following:

(i) One or two unrelated persons with mental illness;

(ii) One or two unrelated adults who are receiving payments under the residential state supplement program;

(iii) Three to sixteen unrelated adults.

(c) Class three facilities provide room and board for five or more unrelated adults with mental illness.

(2) "Residential facility" does not include any of the following:

(a) A hospital subject to licensure under section5119.33of the Revised Code or an institution maintained, operated, managed, and governed by the department of behavioral health for the hospitalization of persons with mental illnesses pursuant to section5119.14of the Revised Code;

(b) A residential facility licensed under section5123.19of the Revised Code or otherwise regulated by the department of developmental disabilities;

(c) An institution or association subject to certification under section5103.03of the Revised Code;

(d) A facility operated by a hospice care program licensed under section3712.04of the Revised Code that is used exclusively for care of hospice patients;

(e) A nursing home, residential care facility, or home for the aging as defined in section3721.02of the Revised Code;

(f) A facility licensed under section5119.37of the Revised Code to operate an opioid treatment program;

(g) Any facility that receives funding for operating costs from the department of development under any program established to provide emergency shelter housing or transitional housing for the homeless;

(h) A terminal care facility for the homeless that has entered into an agreement with a hospice care program under section3712.07of the Revised Code;

(i) A facility approved by the veterans administration under section 104(a) of the "Veterans Health Care Amendments of 1983," 97 Stat. 993, 38 U.S.C. 630, as amended, and used exclusively for the placement and care of veterans;

(j) The residence of a relative or guardian of a person with mental illness.

(C) Nothing in division (B) of this section shall be construed to permit personal care services to be imposed on a resident who is capable of performing the activity in question without assistance.

(D) Except in the case of a residential facility described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, members of the staff of a residential facility shall not administer medication to the facility's residents, but may do any of the following:

(1) Remind a resident when to take medication and watch to ensure that the resident follows the directions on the container;

(2) Assist a resident in the self-administration of medication by taking the medication from the locked area where it is stored, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to this section, and handing it to the resident. If the resident is physically unable to open the container, a staff member may open the container for the resident.

(3) Assist a resident who is physically impaired but mentally alert, such as a resident with arthritis, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson's disease, in removing oral or topical medication from containers and in consuming or applying the medication, upon request by or with the consent of the resident. If a resident is physically unable to place a dose of medicine to the resident's mouth without spilling it, a staff member may place the dose in a container and place the container to the mouth of the resident.

(E) A person operating or seeking to operate a residential facility shall apply for licensure of the facility to the department of behavioral health. The application shall be submitted by the operator. When applying for the license, the applicant shall pay to the department the application fee specified in rules adopted under division (N) of this section. The fee is nonrefundable.

The department shall send a copy of an application to the ADAMHS board serving the county in which the person operates or seeks to operate the facility. The ADAMHS board shall review the application and provide to the department any information about the applicant or the facility that the board would like the department to consider in reviewing the application.

(F) The department of behavioral health shall inspect and license the operation of residential facilities.

The department may issue full, probationary, and interim licenses. A full license shall expire up to three years after the date of issuance, a probationary license shall expire in a shorter period of time as specified in rules adopted by the director of behavioral health under division (N) of this section, and an interim license shall expire ninety days after the date of issuance. A license may be renewed in accordance with rules adopted by the director under division (N) of this section. The renewal application shall be submitted by the operator. When applying for renewal of a license, the applicant shall pay to the department the renewal fee specified in rules adopted under division (N) of this section. The fee is nonrefundable.

(G)(1) If the department finds any of the following with respect to a residential facility, the department may issue an order suspending the admission of residents to the facility, refuse to issue or renew a license for the facility, or revoke the facility's license:

(a) The facility is not in compliance with rules adopted by the director pursuant to division (N) of this section;

(b) Any facility operated by the applicant or licensee has been cited for a pattern of serious noncompliance or repeated violations of statutes or rules during the period of current or previous licenses;

(c) The applicant or licensee submits false or misleading information as part of a license application, renewal, or investigation.

(d) The facility is not managed and operated by qualified persons or adequately staffed and equipped to operate.

(e) The department has been notified under section5119.343of the Revised Code or otherwise becomes aware that the facility, any owner, operator, or manager of the facility, or any subsidiary of the facility, owner, or operator has been the subject of an adverse action, as defined in that section, taken during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of notification or date of becoming aware of the adverse action.

(f) The department has been notified under section5119.343of the Revised Code or otherwise becomes aware that the facility, any owner, operator, or manager of the facility, or any subsidiary of the facility, owner, or operator has been the subject of an adverse action, as defined in that section, taken at any time based on an act or omission that violated the right of a residential facility resident to be free from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(2) Proceedings initiated to deny applications for full or probationary licenses, to refuse to renew full or probationary licenses, or to revoke full or probationary licenses are governed by Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If an order has been issued suspending the admission of residents to the facility, the order remains in effect during the pendency of those proceedings.

Proceedings initiated to suspend the admission of residents to a facility are governed by Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, except as provided in division (H) of this section.

(3) In a proceeding initiated to suspend the admission of residents to a facility, to deny an application for a full or probationary license, to refuse to renew a full or probationary license, or to revoke a full or probationary license, the department may order the suspension, denial, refusal, or revocation regardless of whether some or all of the deficiencies that prompted the proceedings have been corrected at the time of the hearing.

(4) When the department issues an order suspending the admission of residents to a facility, denies an application for a full or probationary license, refuses to renew a full or probationary license, or revokes a full or probationary license, the department shall not grant an opportunity for submitting a plan of correction.

(H)(1) If a suspension of admissions of residents to a facility is proposed because the director has determined that the licensee has demonstrated a pattern of serious noncompliance or that a violation creates a substantial risk to the health and safety of residents, the director may issue an order imposing the suspension of admissions before providing an opportunity for an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The director shall lift the order for the suspension of admissions if the director determines that the violation that formed the basis for the order has been corrected.

(2) Appeals from proceedings initiated to order the suspension of admissions to a facility shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, unless the order was issued before providing an opportunity for an adjudication, in which case all of the following apply:

(a) The licensee may request a hearing not later than ten days after being served in accordance with sections119.05and119.07of the Revised Code.

(b) If a timely request for a hearing that includes the licensee's current address is made, the hearing shall commence not later than thirty days after the department receives the request.

(c) After commencing, the hearing shall continue uninterrupted, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, unless other interruptions are agreed to by the licensee and the director.

(d) If the hearing is conducted by a hearing examiner, the hearing examiner shall file a report and recommendations with the department not later than ten days after the last of the following:

(i) The close of the hearing;

(ii) If a transcript of the proceedings is ordered, the hearing examiner receives the transcript;

(iii) If post-hearing briefs are timely filed, the hearing examiner receives the briefs.

(e) The hearing examiner shall send a written copy of the report and recommendations, by certified mail, to the licensee, or the licensee's attorney, if applicable, not later than five days after the report is filed with the department.

(f) Not later than five days after receiving the report and recommendations, the licensee may file objections with the department.

(g) Not later than fifteen days after the hearing examiner files the report and recommendations, the department shall issue an order approving, modifying, or disapproving the report and recommendations.

(h) Notwithstanding the pendency of the hearing, the department shall lift the order for the suspension of admissions if the department determines the violation that formed the basis for the order has been corrected.

(I) The department may issue an interim license to operate a residential facility if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The department determines that the closing of or the need to remove residents from another residential facility has created an emergency situation requiring immediate removal of residents and an insufficient number of licensed beds are available.

(2) The residential facility applying for an interim license meets standards established for interim licenses in rules adopted by the director under division (N) of this section.

An interim license shall be valid for ninety days and may be renewed by the director no more than twice. Proceedings initiated to deny applications for or to revoke interim licenses under this division are not subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(J)(1) The department of behavioral health may conduct an inspection of a residential facility as follows:

(a) Prior to issuance of a license for the facility;

(b) Prior to renewal of the license;

(c) To determine whether the facility has completed a plan of correction required pursuant to division (J)(2) of this section and corrected deficiencies to the satisfaction of the department and in compliance with this section and rules adopted pursuant to it;

(d) Upon complaint by any individual or agency;

(e) At any time the director considers an inspection to be necessary in order to determine whether the facility is in compliance with this section and rules adopted pursuant to this section.

(2) In conducting inspections the department may conduct an on-site examination and evaluation of the residential facility and its personnel, activities, and services. The department shall have access to examine and copy all records, accounts, and any other documents relating to the operation of the residential facility, including records pertaining to residents, and shall have access to the facility in order to conduct interviews with the operator, staff, and residents. Following each inspection and review, the department shall complete a report listing any deficiencies, and including, when appropriate, a time table within which the operator shall correct the deficiencies. The department may require the operator to submit a plan of correction describing how the deficiencies will be corrected.

(K) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Operate a residential facility unless the facility holds a valid license;

(2) Violate any of the conditions of licensure after having been granted a license;

(3) Interfere with a state or local official's inspection or investigation of a residential facility;

(4) Violate any of the provisions of this section or any rules adopted pursuant to this section.

(L) The following may enter a residential facility at any time:

(1) Employees designated by the director of behavioral health;

(2) Employees of an ADAMHS board under either of the following circumstances:

(a) When a resident of the facility is receiving services from a community mental health services provider under contract with that ADAMHS board or another ADAMHS board;

(b) When authorized by section340.05of the Revised Code.

(3) Employees of a community mental health services provider under either of the following circumstances:

(a) When the provider has a person receiving services residing in the facility;

(b) When the provider is acting as an agent of an ADAMHS board other than the board with which it is under contract.

(4) Representatives of the state long-term care ombudsman program when the facility provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults or to one or two unrelated adults who are receiving payments under the residential state supplement program.

The persons specified in division (L) of this section shall be afforded access to examine and copy all records, accounts, and any other documents relating to the operation of the residential facility, including records pertaining to residents.

(M) Employees of the department of behavioral health may enter, for the purpose of investigation, any institution, residence, facility, or other structure which has been reported to the department as, or that the department has reasonable cause to believe is, operating as a residential facility without a valid license.

(N) The director of behavioral health shall adopt and may amend and rescind rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the licensing and operation of residential facilities. The rules shall establish all of the following:

(1) Minimum standards for the health, safety, adequacy, and cultural competency of treatment of and services for persons in residential facilities;

(2) Procedures for the issuance, renewal, or revocation of the licenses of residential facilities;

(3) Procedures for conducting background investigations for prospective or current operators, employees, volunteers, and other non-resident occupants who may have direct access to facility residents;

(4) The fee to be paid when applying for a new residential facility license or renewing the license;

(5) Procedures for the operator of a residential facility to follow when notifying the ADAMHS board serving the county in which the facility is located when the facility is serving residents with mental illness or severe mental disability, including the circumstances under which the operator is required to make such a notification;

(6) Procedures for the issuance and termination of orders of suspension of admission of residents to a residential facility;

(7) Measures to be taken by residential facilities relative to residents' medication;

(8) Requirements relating to preparation of special diets;

(9) The maximum number of residents who may be served in a residential facility;

(10) The rights of residents of residential facilities and procedures to protect such rights;

(11) Standards and procedures under which the director may waive the requirements of any of the rules adopted.

(O)(1) The department of behavioral health may withhold the source of any complaint reported as a violation of this section when the department determines that disclosure could be detrimental to the department's purposes or could jeopardize the investigation. The department may disclose the source of any complaint if the complainant agrees in writing to such disclosure and shall disclose the source upon order by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(2) Any person who makes a complaint under division (O)(1) of this section, or any person who participates in an administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from such a complaint, is immune from civil liability and is not subject to criminal prosecution, other than for perjury, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.

(P)(1) The director of behavioral health may petition the court of common pleas of the county in which a residential facility is located for an order enjoining any person from operating a residential facility without a license or from operating a licensed facility when, in the director's judgment, there is a present danger to the health or safety of any of the occupants of the facility. The court shall have jurisdiction to grant such injunctive relief upon a showing that the respondent named in the petition is operating a facility without a license or there is a present danger to the health or safety of any residents of the facility.

(2) When the court grants injunctive relief in the case of a facility operating without a license, the court shall issue, at a minimum, an order enjoining the facility from admitting new residents to the facility and an order requiring the facility to assist with the safe and orderly relocation of the facility's residents.

(3) If injunctive relief is granted against a facility for operating without a license and the facility continues to operate without a license, the director shall refer the case to the attorney general for further action.

(Q) The director of behavioral health may fine a person for violating division (K) of this section. The fine shall be five hundred dollars for a first offense; for each subsequent offense, the fine shall be one thousand dollars. The director's actions in imposing a fine shall be taken in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM

Legislative History

Effective: September 30, 2025 | Latest Legislation: House Bill 96 - 136th General Assembly