Alabama Administrative Code Title 135 - ALABAMA BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF ASSISTED LIVING ADMINISTRATORS
The Alabama Administrative Code, Title 135, is dedicated to the Alabama Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators (BOEALA).
This Board is a critical regulatory body in Alabama, tasked with ensuring that individuals who administer assisted living facilities within the state are qualified, competent, and uphold professional and ethical standards. Its ultimate goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the vulnerable residents in assisted living and specialty care assisted living facilities.
Key Responsibilities and Powers of the Alabama Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators, as outlined in Title 135:
Licensing and Regulation: The core function of the Board is to license and regulate assisted living administrators. This includes:
Establishing the standards that individuals must meet to receive a license.
Determining the qualifications for different categories of assisted living administrators (e.g., Category I and Category II, with Category II often involving specialty care like dementia).
Administering examinations to assess competency.
Issuing initial licenses and managing license renewals.
Handling reciprocal licensure for administrators licensed in other states.
Setting Standards for Practice: The Board establishes and enforces standards for the ethical and professional conduct of licensed administrators. These standards are designed to ensure administrators have good character and are suitable for overseeing the complex operations of an assisted living facility.
Continuing Education: It prescribes requirements for continuing education (CEUs) that licensed administrators must complete to maintain their licenses. This ensures ongoing professional development and knowledge of current best practices, especially concerning topics like dementia care.
Investigation and Discipline: The Board receives, investigates, and takes appropriate action on complaints filed against licensed administrators. This includes addressing allegations where an administrator has failed to conform to the established standards of practice. Disciplinary actions can range from reprimands to license suspension or revocation.
Study and Improvement: The Board conducts ongoing studies and investigations of assisted living facilities and administrators to continuously improve licensing standards and enforcement procedures.
Approving Educational Programs: The Board approves various educational programs and courses that count towards initial licensing requirements and continuing education credits.
Key Chapters within Alabama Administrative Code Title 135:
The rules are typically organized into chapters addressing specific aspects of the Board's functions:
Chapter 135-X-1: Authority and Title: States the legal basis for the Board's existence and its general purpose.
Chapter 135-X-2: General Definitions: Defines key terms used throughout the regulations, such as "assisted living administrator," "assisted living facility," "specialty care assisted living facility," "administrator-in-training (AIT)," and "preceptor."
Chapter 135-X-3: Meetings: Outlines the procedures for Board meetings, including frequency, quorum, and public notice.
Chapter 135-X-4: General Powers of the Board: Details the overall authority and responsibilities of the Board.
Chapter 135-X-5: Examination Information: Specifies the subjects covered in the licensing examinations, the format (often two sections, A and B), and the eligibility requirements for taking the exams (e.g., age, character, education, and experience). It also outlines requirements for criminal background checks.
Chapter 135-X-6: Continuing Education: Sets the number of required continuing education hours (e.g., 12 hours for Category I, 18 for Category II with dementia-specific hours), acceptable subject areas, and procedures for approving CEU programs.
Chapter 135-X-7: License Information: Covers the application process for initial licenses, provisional licenses, annual renewal procedures, and the process for reactivation if a license has expired or been inactive. It also covers the use of the "A.L.A." abbreviation.
Chapter 135-X-8: Complaints: Establishes the process for filing and investigating complaints against licensed administrators, and the procedures for disciplinary actions.
Chapter 135-X-9: Non-Disciplinary Refusal of License: Addresses reasons why a license might be refused without involving a disciplinary action (e.g., failure to meet qualifications).
Chapter 135-X-10: Issuance of Emergency Permits: Provides for the issuance of temporary permits under certain circumstances.
Chapter 135-X-11: Required Personal and Business Information: Outlines the information administrators must keep on file with the Board (e.g., contact details, facility administered).
Chapter 135-X-12: Reciprocal Licensure: Details the requirements for administrators licensed in other states to obtain an Alabama license without having to go through the full examination process again.
Chapter 135-X-13: Fees: Specifies the fees associated with applications, examinations, initial licenses, renewals, and other services.
Chapter 135-X-14: Effective Date of Rules and Regulations: General provision on when the rules become effective.
These rules ensure that assisted living facilities in Alabama are managed by qualified, ethical, and continuously educated professionals, thereby contributing directly to the quality of life and safety of their residents.
You can typically find the full text of these rules on the Alabama Legislative Services Agency's Administrative Code website (admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/135) or legal research platforms like Justia. The official website of the Alabama Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators (boeala.alabama.gov) also provides information and resources related to these rules.
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