(a) All administrators of assisted living facilities or specialty care assisted living facilities as recorded in the records of the State Department of Public Health shall be issued a provisional license, as defined herein, upon the effective date of this act. On and after September 1, 2003, no assisted living facility in the state may operate unless it is under the supervision of an administrator who holds a currently valid assisted living administrator's license, or new initial provisional license, issued by the board. No person shall practice or offer to practice assisted living administration in this state or use any title, sign, card, or device to indicate that he or she is an assisted living administrator unless the person shall have been duly licensed as an assisted living administrator or as a provisional assisted living administrator in this state. In the event an assisted living administrator dies, unexpectedly resigns, becomes incapacitated, or has his or her license revoked, the person or persons then responsible for the management of the assisted living facility shall immediately notify the board and the State Board of Health. The board may issue an emergency permit to a person performing the functions of administrator in the assisted living facility for a reasonable period of time from the date of death, unexpected resignation, incapacitation, or revocation of the license of the assisted living administrator, but not to exceed 120 days. Although the State Board of Health, in its discretion, may permit the assisted living facility to continue to operate under the supervision of a person issued an emergency permit, nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the State Board of Health from denying or revoking the license of the assisted living facility where the State Board of Health has determined that the person with the emergency permit does not demonstrate an ability or willingness to comply with State Board of Health rules governing assisted living facilities or where the State Board of Health has determined that the facility is not otherwise in compliance with those rules.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a licensed assisted living administrator from supervising more than one assisted living facility if specific permission is granted by the State Department of Public Health.