Administrative penalties.

(1) In addition to the requirements of part II of chapter 408, the agency may deny, revoke, and suspend any license issued under this part and impose an administrative fine in the manner provided in chapter 120 against a licensee for a violation of any provision of this part, part II of chapter 408, or applicable rules, or for any of the following actions by a licensee, any person subject to level 2 background screening under s. 408.809, or any facility staff:

(a) An intentional or negligent act seriously affecting the health, safety, or welfare of a resident of the facility.

(b) A determination by the agency that the owner lacks the financial ability to provide continuing adequate care to residents.

(c) Misappropriation or conversion of the property of a resident of the facility.

(d) Failure to follow the criteria and procedures provided under part I of chapter 394 relating to the transportation, voluntary admission, and involuntary examination of a facility resident.

(e) A citation for any of the following violations as specified in s. 429.19:

1. One or more cited class I violations.

2. Three or more cited class II violations.

3. Five or more cited class III violations that have been cited on a single survey and have not been corrected within the times specified.

(f) Failure to comply with the background screening standards of this part, s. 408.809(1), or chapter 435.

(g) Violation of a moratorium.

(h) Failure of the license applicant, the licensee during relicensure, or a licensee that holds a provisional license to meet the minimum license requirements of this part, or related rules, at the time of license application or renewal.

(i) An intentional or negligent life-threatening act in violation of the uniform firesafety standards for assisted living facilities or other firesafety standards which threatens the health, safety, or welfare of a resident of a facility, as communicated to the agency by the local authority having jurisdiction or the State Fire Marshal.

(j) Knowingly operating any unlicensed facility or providing without a license any service that must be licensed under this chapter or chapter 400.

(k) Any act constituting a ground upon which application for a license may be denied.

(2) Upon notification by the local authority having jurisdiction or by the State Fire Marshal, the agency may deny or revoke the license of an assisted living facility that fails to correct cited fire code violations that affect or threaten the health, safety, or welfare of a resident of a facility.

(3) The agency may deny a license of an applicant or a controlling interest as defined in part II of chapter 408 which has or had a 25 percent or greater financial or ownership interest in any other facility that is licensed under this part, or in any entity licensed by this state or another state to provide health or residential care, if that facility or entity during the 5 years prior to the application for a license closed due to financial inability to operate; had a receiver appointed or a license denied, suspended, or revoked; was subject to a moratorium; or had an injunctive proceeding initiated against it.

(4) The agency shall deny or revoke the license of an assisted living facility if:

(a) There are two moratoria, issued pursuant to this part or part II of chapter 408, within a 2-year period which are imposed by final order;

(b) The facility is cited for two or more class I violations arising from unrelated circumstances during the same survey or investigation; or

(c) The facility is cited for two or more class I violations arising from separate surveys or investigations within a 2-year period.

(5) An action taken by the agency to suspend, deny, or revoke a facility’s license under this part or part II of chapter 408, in which the agency claims that the facility owner or an employee of the facility has threatened the health, safety, or welfare of a resident of the facility, shall be heard by the Division of Administrative Hearings of the Department of Management Services within 120 days after receipt of the facility’s request for a hearing, unless that time limitation is waived by both parties. The administrative law judge shall render a decision within 30 days after receipt of a proposed recommended order.

(6) As provided under s. 408.814, the agency shall impose an immediate moratorium on an assisted living facility that fails to provide the agency with access to the facility or prohibits the agency from conducting a regulatory inspection. The licensee may not restrict agency staff from accessing and copying records at the agency’s expense or from conducting confidential interviews with facility staff or any individual who receives services from the facility.

(7) Agency notification of a license suspension or revocation, or denial of a license renewal, shall be posted and visible to the public at the facility.

(8) If a facility is required to relocate some or all of its residents due to agency action, that facility is exempt from the 45-day notice requirement imposed under s. 429.28(1)(k). This subsection does not exempt the facility from any deadlines for corrective action set by the agency.