Committee backs bill barring in-room electronic monitoring in assisted living facilities

Senate Bill 409 would prohibit families and residents from installing electronic monitoring devices inside assisted living facility rooms, using guardrails similar to a measure passed for nursing homes the previous year. Senator Boisco said the bill mirrors last year’s nursing-home law and applies similar protections to assisted living, which falls under different state agencies (SEG 603-616).

Scott Johnson, general counsel for the Virginia Healthcare Association and Virginia Center for Assisted Living, told the committee the bill mirrors last year’s approach and asked members to "please vote green" (Scott Johnson, SEG 634-639). The committee voted to report SB409 (Eyes 13, No 0; SEG 648).

Supporters said the bill preserves residents’ privacy while applying established guardrails from last year’s nursing-home legislation. No fiscal impact was indicated during the committee discussion on the record.