A. The State Department of Health shall:

1. Ensure that no employee of the Department whose responsibilities relate in any manner to long-term care is subject to a conflict of interest which would impair the ability of the person to carry out his or her employment duties in an impartial manner including, but not limited to:

a.ownership or investment interest by the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family represented by equity, debt or other financial relationship in a long-term care facility or a long-term care service,

b.employment by, under contract to, or participation by the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family in the management of, a long-term care facility, except as provided in Section 1-1914.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and with the approval of the State Commissioner of Health, or

c.the receipt or the right of the employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family to receive directly or indirectly remuneration, in cash or in kind, under a compensation arrangement with an owner or operator of a long-term care facility; and

2. Establish and specify, in writing, mechanisms to identify and remove conflicts of interest referred to in this section including, but not limited to:

a.the methods by which the Department will examine individuals and members of the individuals' immediate family members to identify the conflicts, and

b.the actions that the Department will require the individuals and such family members to take to eliminate such conflicts.

B. For purposes of this section, the term “immediate family” means:

1. The spouse of the employee;

2. The parents of the spouse of the employee;

3. A child by birth or adoption;

4. A stepchild;

5. A parent;

6. A grandparent;

7. A grandchild;

8. A sibling of the employee;

9. The spouse of any immediate family member specified in this subsection; or

10. Such other relationship deemed necessary by the State Board of Health as determined by rule.

Added by Laws 2000, c. 340, § 11, eff. July 1, 2000.