Section 1

Provides legislative intent regarding issuance of adult care home licenses to accredited assisted living programs. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation (Division) to work with the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (Commission) to conduct a compliance review of the standards for granting assisting living program accreditation to ensure the standard meet or exceed the adult care home licensure requirements and the Adult Care Home Residents' Bill of Rights set forth in specified state law. Requires the review to begin July 1, 2019, and be completed by December 31, 2019. Directs DHHS to notify the Revisor of Statutes upon determining that the Commission's accreditation standards meet or exceed the adult care home licensure requirements and the Adult Care Home Residents' Bill of Rights, and authorizes the Commission to begin performing assisted living program accreditation surveys of licensed adult care homes on January 1, 2020.

Section 2

Enacts GS 113D-2.4 to deem an adult care home to meet the licensure requirements and require DHHS to issue an adult care home license without further review or inspection if the facility obtains assisted living accreditation from the Commission or another DHHS approved nationally recognized accrediting body for assisted living programs. Requires any adult care home deemed to meet the licensure requirements by accreditation to submit to the Division within 30 days of receipt documentation concerning its accreditation, fire-safety inspection, and sanitation inspection. Clarifies that licensure by accreditation does not exempt the adult care home from the licensure requirements or related rules. Allows DHHS to conduct validation surveys to ensure compliance with applicable licensure requirements. 

Exempts adult care homes licensed by virtue of accreditation from routine inspections by DHHS or county departments of social services under GS 131D-2.11(a) or (b). Requires DHHS or a county department in receipt of a complaint against an accredited facility to forward the complaint to the accrediting body for investigation. Authorizes DHHS to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect. Exempts adult care homes licensed by virtue of accreditation from the rules adopted by the Medical Board Care Commission under GS 131D-10, and instead requires that the adult care homes by noted as accredited rather than receiving a rating.

Effective January 1, 2022 contingent upon DHHS notifying the Revisor that the Commission's assisted living program accreditation standards meet or exceed the adult care home licensure requirements and the Adult Care Home Residents' Bill of Rights.