State and local ombudsman council investigations.

(1) A representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program shall identify and investigate, within a reasonable time after a complaint is made, by or on behalf of a resident relating to actions or omissions by providers or representatives of providers of long-term care services, other public agencies, guardians, or representative payees which may adversely affect the health, safety, welfare, or rights of residents.

(2) Subsequent to an appeal from a local council, the state council may investigate any complaint received by the local council involving a long-term care facility or a resident.

(3) If a representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is not allowed to enter a long-term care facility, the administrator of the facility shall be considered to have interfered with a representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in the performance of official duties as described in s. 400.0083(1) and to have violated this part. The representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program shall report a facility’s refusal to allow entry to the state ombudsman or his or her designee, who shall report the incident to the agency, and the agency shall record the report and take it into consideration when determining actions allowable under s. 400.102, s. 400.121, s. 429.14, s. 429.19, s. 429.69, or s. 429.71.