Electronic monitoring can help residents and families identify, prevent and respond to abuse, neglect or mistreatment, whether from staff or others. The law is especially important for residents who may have difficulty reporting concerns on their own or whose families are seeking additional assurance about their care.
The measure also maintains important privacy protections for residents. Roommate consent is required, and residents living in the room may request that the device be turned off at any time.
“Safety and privacy should not be treated as competing values,” Guzmán said. “This law respects resident rights while making sure families have another way to keep their loved ones safe.”
House Bill 4517 has been signed into law and takes effect immediately.
