A. The State Department of Health shall establish a comprehensive system of licensure and certification for facilities in accordance with the Nursing Home Care Act for the purposes of:

1. Protecting the health, welfare and safety of residents;

2. Assuring the accountability for reimbursed care provided in certified facilities participating in a federal or state health program as provided by or through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority; and

3. Assuring consistent application of uniform inspection protocols.

B. The licensing and certification procedures and standards provided in this act, or by rules of the State Board of Health, shall be no less than provided in statute and rules currently governing nursing facilities.

C. It shall be unlawful and upon conviction thereof, punishable as a misdemeanor for any person to operate, manage or open a facility unless such operation and management shall have been approved and regularly licensed as hereinafter provided.

D. Before an initial license shall be issued pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act to operate and manage a facility, the applicant shall provide the following:

1. An application on a form provided by the Department containing, at a minimum, the following information:

a.the name and address of the applicant, if an individual, and that the applicant is not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, of reputable and responsible character, and in sound physical and mental health; and if a firm, partnership, or association, of every member thereof; and in the case of a corporation, the name and address thereof and of its officers and its registered agent and like evidence for officers, as submitted for an individual,

b.the name and location of the facility for which a license is sought,

c.the name and address of the person or persons under whose management or supervision the facility will be conducted, and a copy of the written agreement between the manager and the applicant,

d.the name and address of any other person holding an interest of at least five percent (5%) in the ownership, operation or management of the facility,

e.the number and type of residents for which maintenance, personal care, specialized or nursing facility services are to be provided, and

f.a projected staffing pattern for providing patient care;

2. A statement from the unit of local government having zoning jurisdiction over the facility's location stating that the location of the facility is not in violation of a zoning ordinance; and

3. Documentation that the administrator is the holder of a current license as a Nursing Home Administrator issued by the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators.

E. Before issuing an initial license, the Department shall find that the individual applicant, or the corporation, partnership or other entity, if the applicant is not an individual, is a person responsible and suitable to operate or to direct or participate in the operation of a facility by virtue of financial capacity, appropriate business or professional experience, a record of compliance with lawful orders of the Department and lack of revocation of a license during the previous five (5) years. In determining the applicant's responsibility and suitability to operate or to direct or participate in the operation of a facility, the Department may also consider the applicant's record of suspensions, receivership, administrative penalties, or noncompliance with lawful orders of this Department or of other departments of other states with similar responsibilities.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 241, § 4, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 1987, c. 98, § 25, emerg. eff. May 20, 1987; Laws 1991, c. 127, § 3, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 2000, c. 340, § 14, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2002, c. 230, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.