(a) A residential care facility for the elderly shall not prohibit the formation of a family council. If requested by a member of the residentâs family or the resident representative, the family council shall be allowed to meet in a common meeting room of the facility during mutually agreed-upon hours. A family council shall also be allowed to meet virtually or at an offsite location at its discretion. (b) Facility policies on family councils shall in no way limit the right of residents and participants in a family council to meet independently with outside persons, including members of nonprofit or governmental organizations or with facility personnel during nonworking hours. (c) For purposes of this section, âfamily councilâ means a meeting of family members, friends, or representatives of two or more residents to confer in private without facility staff. (d) A family council shall be provided with adequate space on a prominent bulletin board or other posting area for the display of meeting notices, minutes, information, and newsletters. (e) A person other than a family member, friend, or resident representative, including facility staff, may attend a family council meeting, but only at the invitation of the family council. (f) If a family council submits written requests, concerns, or recommendations, the facility shall respond in writing regarding any action or inaction taken in response to the requests, concerns, or recommendations within 14 calendar days and shall detail its rationale for that response. (g) (1) If a facility has a family council, the facility shall inform the resident and the residentâs representatives, family members, or other individuals designated by the resident or identified during the admission process of the existence of the family council. The facility shall provide the resident and those family members, friends, and resident representatives with the name and contact information of the family council representative, as designated by the family council, in writing, prior to or within five business days after the residentâs admission or the residentâs representative, family member, or other individual is designated or identified. When family council meeting information is provided by the family council, the facility shall include notice of family council meetings in routine mailings to those family members, friends, and resident representatives. The notice shall include the time, place, and date of meetings, and the name and contact information of the family council representative, as designated by the family council. (2) If a facility does not have a family council, the facility shall provide, upon admission of a new resident, written information to the residentâs family members, friends, or resident representatives identified during the admission process of their right to form a family council. (3) Upon request, and with the permission of the family council, the facility shall share the name and contact information of the designated representative of the family council with the long-term care ombudsman program. (h) (1) A facility shall provide the family council with the names, email addresses, and other contact information for each residentâs representatives, family members, or other individuals designated by the resident if the person has provided written consent specifying the contact information that may be shared with the family council. (2) The facility must inform the identified family members, friends, and representatives of their right to have their contact information shared with the family council and their right to consent or withhold consent to have their contact information shared with the family council pursuant to paragraph (1). (i) If a facility has a family council and a licensed capacity of 16 or more, the facility shall appoint a designated staff liaison who shall be responsible for providing assistance to the family council and responding to written requests t
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