Section 242.903 - Duties of Institution(a) An institution shall consider the views and recommendations of the family council and make a reasonable effort to resolve the council's grievances.(b) An institution may not: (1) prohibit the formation of a family council;(2) terminate an existing family council;(3) deny a family council the opportunity to accept help from an outside person;(4) limit the rights of a resident, family member, or family council member to meet with an outside person, including: (A) an employee of the institution during nonworking hours if the employee agrees; and(B) a member of a nonprofit or government organization;(5) prevent or interfere with the family council receiving outside correspondence addressed to the council;(6) open family council mail; or(7) wilfully interfere with the formation, maintenance, or operation of a family council, including interfering by:(A) discriminating or retaliating against a family council participant; and(B) wilfully scheduling events in conflict with previously scheduled family council meetings if the institution has other scheduling options.(c) On admission of a resident, an institution shall inform the resident's family members in writing of: (1) the family members' right to form a family council; or(2) if a family council already exists, the council's:(A) meeting time, date, and location; and(d) An institution shall: (1) include notice of a family council in a mailing that occurs at least semiannually;(2) permit a representative of a family council to discuss concerns with an individual conducting an inspection or survey of the facility;(3) provide a family council with adequate space on a prominent bulletin board to post notices and other information;(4) provide a designated staff person to act as liaison for a family council; and(5) respond in writing to a written request by a family council within five working days.Tex. Health and Safety Code § 242.903
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 798, Sec. 3, eff. 9/1/2008.