State Rep. Corey Holland wants to ensure all nursing homes have portable power generators to help protect their vulnerable residents in emergencies.Holland, R-Marlow, filed House Bill 1535 this month, which would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to use federal and state funding to retrofit nursing homes and other specialized facilities with portable generators and to submit a funding plan to the governor and state Legislature that would provide for the retrofitting of the nursing homes. The bill would also make nursing homes immune from liability for civil damages during any efforts to provide assistance to individuals seeking shelter during natural and man-made disasters.
“This is a badly needed measure considering the bad winter weather we’ve had in recent years,” Holland said. “There were a number of nursing homes throughout the state that would have benefitted from a portable generator but for one reason or another did not have one.
This bill would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to look for the best way to provide incentives for those nursing homes to attain portable generators and more properly ensure the welfare of our senior citizens.”
Holland said last year’s ice storms made him aware of the problem.
“There were cases of nursing homes that did have access to a generator that took in the elderly residents of nearby communities. This is one reason I included language granting immunity from civil damages for effort to provide assistance during disasters,” Holland said. “It also allows nursing homes to take whatever action is necessary to protect their residents without worrying about frivolous lawsuits.”
Holland added that in order to be immune, the nursing home staff would have to be operating in good faith and would still be liable if any harm was caused by willful or gross negligence.
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