(a) For purposes of this section, a temporary change
of ownership license is a temporary license issued to an applicant
who proposes to become the new operator of a facility that exists
on the date the application is submitted.
(b) A license holder may not transfer its license.
The applicant (new license holder) must obtain a temporary change
of ownership license followed by an initial three-year license in
accordance with this section. When the Texas Health and Human Services
Commission (HHSC) approves the change of ownership by issuing a temporary
change of ownership license to the new license holder, the current
license holder's license becomes invalid as of the effective date
of the change of ownership indicated in the change of ownership application.
Between the effective date of the change of ownership and the issuance
of the temporary change of ownership license, the current license
holder remains responsible under its license; however, the applicant
may operate a facility on behalf of the current license holder during
such period of time.
(c) The applicant must submit to HHSC through the online
portal:
(1) a complete application for a license in accordance
with HHSC instructions and §551.11 of this subchapter (relating
to Criteria for Licensing) or an incomplete application with a letter
explaining the circumstances that prevented the inclusion of the missing
information;
(2) the application fee, in accordance with §551.19
of this subchapter (relating to License Fees); and
(3) a signed and notarized Change of Ownership Transfer
Affidavit HHSC Form 1092 from the applicant and the facility's current
license holder of intent to transfer operation of the facility from
the current license holder to the applicant beginning on the change
of ownership effective date specified on the change of ownership,
unless waived in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.
(d) To avoid a facility operating without a license,
an applicant must submit all items in subsection (c) of this section
at least 30 days before the anticipated date of the change of ownership
in accordance with HHSC instructions, unless the 30-day notice requirement
is waived in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.
(e) HHSC may waive the 30-day notice required by subsection
(d) of this section if HHSC determines that the applicant presents
evidence showing that circumstances prevented the submission of the
items in subsection (c) of this section at least 30 days before the
anticipated date of the change of ownership and that not waiving the
30-day requirement would create a threat to resident welfare or health
and safety.
(f) Upon HHSC approval of the items in subsection (c)
of this section, HHSC issues a temporary change of ownership license
to the applicant if HHSC finds that the applicant, all controlling
persons, and all person disclosed in the application satisfy the requirements
in §§551.11(d) of this subchapter, 551.13 of this subchapter
(relating to Applicant Disclosure Requirements), and 551.17 of this
subchapter (relating to Criteria for Denying a License or Renewal
of a License).
(1) The issuance of a temporary change of ownership
license constitutes HHSC's official written notice to the facility
of the approval of the application for a change of ownership.
(2) The effective date of the temporary change of ownership
license is the date requested in the application and cannot precede
the date the application is received by HHSC through the online portal.
(g) A temporary change of ownership license expires
on the earlier of:
(1) 90 days after its effective date or the last day
of any extension HHSC provides in accordance with subsection (h) of
this section; or
(2) the date HHSC issues a three-year license in accordance
with subsection (k) of this section.
(h) HHSC, in its sole discretion, may extend the temporary
change of ownership license for a term of 90 days at a time based
on extenuating circumstances.
(i) HHSC conducts an on-site health inspection to verify
compliance with the licensure requirements after issuing a temporary
change of ownership license. HHSC may conduct a desk review instead
of an on-site health inspection after issuing a temporary change of
ownership license if:
(1) less than 50 percent of the direct or indirect
ownership interest in the former license holder changed, when compared
to the new license holder; or
(2) every owner with a disclosable interest in the
new license holder had a disclosable interest in the former license
holder.
(j) HHSC, in its sole discretion, may conduct an on-site
Life Safety Code inspection after issuing a temporary change of ownership
license.
(k) If an applicant, all controlling persons, and all
person disclosed in the application satisfy the requirements of §§551.11(d),
551.13, and 551.17 of this subchapter, and the facility passes the
change of ownership health inspection as described in subsection (i)
of this section, HHSC issues a three-year license. The effective date
of the license is the same date as the effective date of the change
of ownership and cannot precede the date the application was received
by HHSC through the online portal.
(l) If a license holder changes its name but does not
undergo a change of ownership, the license holder must notify HHSC
and submit documentation evidencing a legal name change by submitting
an application through the online portal. On receipt of the notice
and documentation, HHSC reissues the current license in the license
holder's new name.
(m) If a license holder adds an owner with a disclosable
interest, but the license holder does not undergo a change of ownership,
the license holder must notify HHSC of the addition no later than
30 days after the addition of the owner by submitting an application
through the online portal.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §551.16 adopted to be effective July 30, 2012; 37 TexReg 5629; amended to be effective October 11, 2017, 42 TexReg 5505; transferred effective May 1, 2019, as published in the Texas Register April 12, 2019, 44 TexReg 1883; amended to be effective February 24, 2022, 47 TexReg 787; amended to be effective October 11, 2022, 47 TexReg 6588 |