26:2H-12.99 Inspections; violations, penalties.
3. a. Whenever the department conducts an inspection of a long-term care facility, the department's inspector shall determine whether the long-term facility is in compliance with the provisions of this act and the policies, protocols, and procedures adopted pursuant thereto.
b. In addition to any other applicable penalties provided by law, a long-term care facility that fails to comply with the provisions of this act or properly implement the policies, protocols, and procedures adopted pursuant thereto:
(1) shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty, the amount of which shall be determined in accordance with a schedule established by department regulation, which schedule shall provide for an enhanced administrative penalty in the case of a repeat or ongoing violation; and
(2) may be subject to adverse licensure action, as deemed by the department to be appropriate.
c. Whenever a complaint received or an investigation conducted by the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman discloses evidence that a long-term care facility has failed to comply with the provisions of this act or to properly implement the policies, protocols, and procedures adopted pursuant thereto, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman shall refer the matter to the department as provided by section 7 of P.L.1977, c.239 (C.52:27G-7) and, notwithstanding such referral, may take any other appropriate investigatory or enforcement action, with respect to the matter, as may be authorized by P.L.1977, c.239 (C.52:27G-1 et seq.).
L.2020, c.113, s.3.