IN RE: the Application of EMPIRE STATE ASSOCIATION OF ASSISTED LIVING (2009)

In this hybrid CPLR article 78 proceeding and declaratory judgment action, petitioner Empire State Association of Assisted Living, Inc., a trade association for adult care facilities and assisted living residences, and the other petitioners, licensed adult care facilities that have applied to the Department of Health (the Department) for licensure as Assisted Living Residences (ALR) under the Assisted Living Reform Act (Public Health Law, article 46-B), seek (1) a declaration that respondent Richard H. Daines, Commissioner of the Department (the Commissioner) exceeded his authority in issuing certain regulations associated with article 46-B of the Public Health Law; (2) a judgment nullifying the challenged regulations; and (3) a judgment enjoining the Commissioner and his agents/employees from enforcing those regulations. The Commissioner opposes the petition. Long Care Community Coalition; Alzheimer's Association of New York City, NCCNHR: the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, New York State Nurses Association, New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Assisted Living Consumer Alliance; Friends and Relatives of the Institutionalized Ages, Suffolk County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, and Coalition of Institutionalized Ages and Disabled seek amicus status to submit a brief opposing the matter.

As to the application for amicus status, “[a]n amicus curiae-friend of the court-is a person appearing in a judicial proceeding to assist the court by giving information or otherwise ․ [and] is heard only by leave of the court” (1 N.Y. Jur, Actions § 81). Where a case involves “ questions of important public interest leave is generally granted to file a brief as amicus curiae” ‘ (Kruger vBloomberg, 1 Misc.3d 192, 196, 768 N.Y.S.2d 76 [Sup Ct, New York County, 2003], quoting Colmes v. Fisher, 15 Misc. 222, 223, 36 N.Y.S. 402 [Sup Ct, Erie County, 1934] ). Here, the case concerns questions of important public interest and the movants have shown that they represent a point of view which may not be fully represented by the parties (see id. at 198, 36 N.Y.S. 402). Accordingly, the Court grants the application and accepts the submitted brief.

By way of background, adult care facilities (ACFs) function as a family type home or residence for adults which provide care either temporarily or on a long-term basis “to adults who, though not requiring continual medical or nursing care, ․ are by reason of physical or other limitations ․ unable or substantially unable to live independently” (Social Services Law § 2[21] see New York Coalition for Quality Assisted Living, Inc. v. Novello, 53 A.D.3d 914, 915 n. 1, 861 N.Y.S.2d 857 [3d Dept 2008], lv denied 11 N.Y.3d 715 [2009] ). Prior to 2004, many of these ACFs referred to themselves as assisted living residences. In an attempt to “clarify, improve and standardize business practices with regard to entities providing assisted living services in New York State” (Budget Report on Bills, Bill Jacket, L 2004, ch 2) and to “fill[ ] an important statutory gap in the state's long term care system” (Hannon Letter, id.), in 2004, the Legislature enacted the Assisted Living Reform Act (L 2004, ch 2; hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Act).

The Act was codified as article 46-B of the Public Health Law. In passing the Act, the Legislature found that “the philosophy of assisted living emphasizes aging in place, personal dignity, autonomy, independence, privacy and freedom of choice” (Public Health Law § 4650). Further, the Legislature noted:

The intent of this article is to a create clear and flexible statutory structure for assisted living that provides a definition of assisted living residence; that requires licensure of the residence; that requires a written residency agreement that contains consumer protections; that enunciates and protects resident rights; and that provides adequate and accurate information for consumers, which is essential to the continued development of a viable market for assisted living. Entities which hold themselves out as assisted living residences must apply for licensure and be approved by the state to operate as assisted living residences pursuant to this article, and must comply with the requirements of this article (id .).

Article 46-B defines an “assisted living residence” (ALR) as “an entity which provides or arranges for housing, on-site monitoring, and personal care serves and/or home care services (either directly or indirectly), in a home-like setting to five or more adult residents unrelated to the assisted living provider” (Public Health Law § 4651[1] ). “Aging in place” is defined as “care and services at a facility which possesses an enhanced assisted living certificate which ․ accommodates a resident's changing needs and preferences in order to allow such resident to remain in the residence as long as the residence is able and authorized to accommodate the resident's current and changing needs” (Public Health Law § 4651[13] ).

In the Act, the Legislature empowered the Commissioner to, among other things, promulgate such rules and “regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions” of article 46-B (Public Health Law § 4662[1][b] ). In addition, the Act created a task force to provide recommendations and to update and revise requirements and regulations applicable to adult care facilities and assisted living residences “to better promote resident choice, autonomy and independence” (L 2004, ch 2, § 5). However, the Act prohibited the Commissioner from enacting emergency regulations (see L 2004, ch 2, § 7).

Beginning in 2005, the Department began posting guidelines regarding article 46-B on its website. For instance, on July 17, 2005, the Department posed “Enhanced Assisted Living Overview” and “Staffing in ALR/EALR/SNALR.”¹ These postings noted that EALR's would be required to have a nurse on site 24-hours a day. During this period, the Task Force also met to discuss proposed regulations. On March 8, 2007, the Department published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the State Register, requesting comments on proposed regulations implementing the Act. After receiving comments on the posted documents and proposed regulations, on December 26, 2007, the Department published a Notice of Revised Rule Making in the State Register. On March 26, 2008, the Commissioner issued regulations in conjunctions with article 46-B and published the Notice of Adoption (see 10 NYCRR, part 1001).

It is those regulations which are the subject of this proceeding/action. Petitioners contend that the regulations the Commissioner promulgated (1) violate the plain language of article 46-B; (2) violate the legislative intent of the subject article; (3) fail to promote the development of a sufficient number of EALRs to meet needs; and (4) failed to “recognize that, per legislative mandate, the ALR differs from the ACF in legislatively specified areas” (Petition at ¶ 56). The petition asserts three causes of action, seeking (1) a declaration that the Commissioner exceeded his authority by issuing regulations and requirements that conflict with the intent of article 46-B of the Public Health Law; (2) a declaration that the challenged regulations are null and void; and (3) an order staying and enjoining the Commissioner from enforcing the regulations. The essence of the Commissioner's response is that petitioners take an unreasonably narrow view of the Act, essentially arguing that the petitioners would have the Court believe that the Legislature simply meant to do little more than allow ACFs to call themselves assisted living residences and to function with little change.

“The cornerstone of administrative law is derived from the principle that the Legislature may declare its will, and after fixing a primary standard, endow administrative agencies with the power to fill in the interstices in the legislative product by prescribing rules and regulations consistent with the enabling legislation” ‘ (Matter of Medical Socy. v. Serio, 100 N.Y.2d 854, 865 [2003], quoting Matter of Nicholas v. Kahn, 47 N.Y.2d 24, 31 [1979] ). Here, petitioners challenge whether regulations promulgated by the Commissioner under a grant of statutory authority in article 46-B of the Public Health Law are consistent with that enabling legislation. “It is well settled that a State regulation should be upheld if it has a rational basis and is not unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious or contrary to the statute under which it was promulgated. If a regulation is to be nullified, the challenger must establish that it is so lacking in reason for its promulgation that it is essentially arbitrary” ‘ (Kuppersmith v. Dowling, 93 N.Y.2d 90, 96 [1999], quoting Matter of Marburg v. Cole, 286 N.Y. 202, 212 [1941]; see Matter of Consolidated Nursing Home, Inc. v. Commissioner of New York State Dept. of Health, 85 N.Y.2d 326, 331-332 [1995]; Matter of Adesso, 89 A.D.2d 662, 662, 453 N.Y.S.2d 107 [3d Dept 1982] ). Further, “[e]ven under the broadest and most open-ended of statutory mandates, an administrative agency may not use its authority as a license to correct whatever societal evils it perceives” ‘ (Matter of Medical Socy., 100 N.Y.2d at 865, 768 N.Y.S.2d 423, 800 N.E.2d 728, quoting Boreali v. Axelrod, 71 N.Y.2d 1, 9 [1987]; see Matter of Beer Garden, Inc. v. New York State Liquor Auth., 79 N.Y.2d 266, 276 [1992] ).

First, petitioners argue that the Commissioner failed to establish an expedited review process for adult care facilities to be licensed as assisted living residences as directed under article 46-B. Petitioners maintain that the licensure requirements subject ACF's in good standing to onerous standards that require them to submit duplicative and costly materials. For instance, petitioners note that ACF's in good standing have to submit a architectural certification showing they meet certain standards already met during their ACF licensing procedure. This, petitioners contend, is in contravention to what the Legislature intended in passing the Act.

Public Health Law § 4652 provides:

Adult homes and enriched housing programs which possess a valid operating certificate ․ may call themselves assisted living provided they:

1. file an application for licensure and are approved by the department as assisted living;

2. comply with all the requirements of this article.

Further, section 4653 provides for the licensure procedure and requirements for assisted living and, as significant here, notes in subsection four that the applicant should give to the Commissioner “any other information the department may deem necessary for the evaluation of the application provided such information is not duplicative of what is otherwise required of the applicant in obtaining an adult care facility license ” (emphasis supplied).² Sections 4654 and 4655 set forth requirements for certification of an EALR. Notably, section 4656(4) provides: “The department shall develop an expedited review and approval process.”

Next, petitioners argue that the structural and environmental standards set forth in the regulations (10 NYCRR 1001.13)³ should be nullified since the Commissioner “has failed to demonstrate any rational basis for the new, more stringent requirements for ALRS” (Petitioner's Memorandum of Law at 13). Moreover, petitioners contend that the additional requirements to become licensed as an ALR are prohibitively expensive and will reduce the number of ACF's able to be licensed ALRs, which is contrary to the Legislative intent in passing the Act. Aside from potential renovation expenses to comply with more exacting standards, petitioners note that submission of an architect or an engineer certificate is costly and duplicative of the ACF licensing procedure.

This argument finds support in an affidavit submitted from one of the petitioners who operates an adult care facility-the Adirondack Manor Home for Adults (hereinafter Adirondack). In that affidavit, the ACF operator avers that Adirondack has complied with all ACF building requirements since its licensure in 1996 but the structure would not comply with the new regulations for ALRs. The ACF operator notes that it would cost $50,000-20% of Adirondack's current operating budget-to bring the structure to conformity with ALR regulations to serve the same population that Adirondack is currently serving.

This argument finds further support in letters sent by various members of the State Assembly and Senate to the Commissioner regarding proposed (and now current) promulgated regulations for article 46-B. For instance, Senator George D. Maziarz-the sponsor of the Act-noted:

The Law was specifically designed to create a seamless process for existing licensed ․ ACF's to apply for licensure as ․ ALRs, continue to serve the same population as ACFs, and have the right to continue to use the phrase assisted living.' The only additional requirement for these facilities was enhanced consumer disclosure. ․ It did not intend for the Department to impose significant costs upon existing operators through additional building, construction, and other environmental standards․ (Sen. Maziarz Letter [dated 5-8-07], Petition, Exhibit H [emphasis in original] ).

State Senator Martin J. Golden noted that 10 NYCRR 1001.13 is “particularly troubling as the varying structural requirements will impose a significant financial burden on many operators. The differences in adult home requirements and assisted living requirements also appear to be unnecessary and arbitrary as an operator which has converted will in many cases be serving the same residents” (Golden Letter [dated 5-9-07], id.; see Assembly Member Harvey Weisenberg Letter [dated 5-7-09], id.; Assembly Member William B. Magnarelli Letter [dated 5-9-07], id.; Assembly Member RoAnn M. Desitto Letter [dated 5-7-09], id.; Sen. James L. Seward Letter [dated 5-9-07], id.; Assembly Member Audrey I. Pheffer Letter [dated 5-14-07]; id.; Sen. Stephan M. Seland Letter [dated 5-16-07], id.; Assembly Member David R. Townsend Letter [dated 3-11-08] [noting that the Act “[b]uilt upon the existing ACF licensing framework, so that existing ACF providers that had played by the rules all along could obtain the new assisted living residence ․ license without having to comply with burdensome new requirements or incur significant new costs. Indeed, under the 2004 law, the Legislature made clear that the only need [sic] additional requirement for already licensed facilities was enhanced consumer disclosure”]; Sen. William T. Stachowski Letter [dated 3-12-08], id.; Assembly Member Gary D. Finch Letter [dated 3-18-08], id.; [noting that the new “physical plant requirements will make compliance excessively costly and in many cases, virtually impossible”]; Assembly Member John J. McEneny Letter dated [3-198-08], id.; Assembly Member Donna A. Lupardo Letter [dated 4-11-08], id.).

The Commissioner contends that these additional requirements were discussed with several groups and arrived at essentially for the protection of the elderly population served by ALRs. Otherwise, the Commissioner contends that the requirement that an architect's or engineer's certification be submitted was meant to expedite review instead of requiring the submission of a full set of architectural documents for review “to ensure that the ACF met minimum standards for licensure” (Commissioner's Memorandum of Law at 13). This argument, however, appears unavailing. As highlighted during oral argument held on April 30, 2009, this certification had to be supplied to become a licensed ACF. Therefore, it appears duplicative of that process and, as such, is in contravention of Public Health Law § 4653(4).

While the Commissioners objectives of requiring further safety features for all ALRs and others for new structures appears well motivated and in the interest of assisted living residents, these objectives transgressed the “difficult-to-define line between administrative rule-making and legislative policy-making” (Boreali, 71 N.Y.2d at 11, 523 N.Y.S.2d 464, 517 N.E.2d 1350). Here, the Legislature set up a system by which existing ACFs in good standing could become licensed in an expedited fashion with the changes between ACFs and ALRs coming in the form of consumer protections and not additional and costly building changes, especially where the basic population being served remains essentially the same.⁴ The structural and environmental standards found in 10 NYCRR 1001.13 go beyond that legislative mandate and should accordingly be nullified (see id.).

Next, petitioners argue that the nursing requirements for EALRs and SNALRs have no rational relation to the actual needs of the residents (see 10 NYCRR 1001.11[j-n] ). As petitioner's note and as this Court held in a related case decided herewith:

The regulations at issue require, among other things, EALRs and SNARLs to have a registered nurse on duty on site eight hours a day, five days a week and a licensed practical nurse on duty eight hours a day, two days a week (see 10 NYCRR 1001.10[m][4]; 10 NYCRR 1001.11[j], [m] ). These regulations do not comport with Public Health Law § 4659, which provides that an individualized service plan is to be developed for each resident in consultation with the resident's physician and, where necessary, a home care services agency. That plan shall “include the services to be provided and how and by whom services will be provided and accessed” (Public Health Law § 4659[4] [emphasis supplied] ). The underscored phrase anticipates that medical services will be provided through the resident's medical provider and not by facility staff. The Court recognizes that an EALR “may hire care staff directly ․ or contract with a home care services agency ․” (Public Health Law § 4655[1][d] [emphasis supplied]; see also Public Health Law § 4651[1] ). The underscored “may” is not a statutory mandate to hire staff, but permits a facility to do so. Not to be overlooked here is that for a resident to be eligible to live in an EALR, a physician must report that “the resident is not in need of twenty-four hour skilled nursing care or medical care which would require placement in a hospital or residential health care facility” (Public Health Law § 4655[2][b] ). Moreover, where a resident's condition changes to require such care, discharge is mandated unless the resident “hires appropriate nursing, medical or hospice staff to care for his or her increased needs” (Public Health Law § 4655[4][a] ).

Contrary to respondents argument, the Court does not find authority for the challenged regulations within Public Health Law § 4655. To the contrary, while Public Health Law § 4655 permits a facility to provide nursing care, the decision to do so remains discretionary. Moreover, the statute expressly imposes the burden on the resident to hire appropriate nursing or medical care when round the clock services become necessary.

In effect, the challenged regulations impose a hiring and cost obligation upon EALR's that the statute does not embrace. Such a determination to shift the cost of a nursing service from the resident to the facility is an inherently legislative function beyond the scope of respondent's authority (see Boreali v. Axelrod, supra, 71 N.Y.2d at 9, 11, 523 N.Y.S.2d 464, 517 N.E.2d 1350; see also McKinney's Cons.Laws of NY, Book 1, Statutes §§ 2, 3). Nor is there any viability in respondent's thesis that the regulation is not prohibited by the Act. This reverse logic contradicts the fundamental premise that the agency may only implement a legislative directive within reason and in a manner “consistent with the enabling legislation” (Matter of Medical Socy., 100 N.Y.2d at 865, 768 N.Y.S.2d 423, 800 N.E.2d 728). The question is not whether the statute prohibits the challenged regulation, but whether the regulation reasonably implements the legislative directive. This Court finds that it does not. (Matter of New York Coalition for Quality Assisted Living, Inc. v. Daines, Sup Ct, Albany County, Lynch, J., Index No. 6328-08).

As petitioners also note:

ACF Regulations (which also apply to all ALRs and EALRs) already require facilities to assist residents with arranging for necessary skilled nursing staff from community sources, such as home care agencies. In the event of an emergency medical situation, the facility will call 911 to assist residents. Moreover, those residents that require skilled nursing need to access the service through an outside certified home health agency in order for Medicare to cover these services (Petition at ¶ 83).

In addition, the staffing regulation appears to be inconsistent with the intent of the legislature in making the possibility of “aging at home” available for low to middle income residents since these staffing requirements will inflate costs. This is further borne out by letters from the 14 members of the State Assembly and Senate (noted above) who all commented that these requirements will increase costs and who also noted, in many cases, that the requirement will be difficult in many rural areas due to nursing shortages. For example, Sen. Maziarz noted:

[W]hile the law grants the Department the authority to require additional care and services in EARL and SNARL certification, the proposed regulation proposes overly burdensome and unreasonable requirements which will make compliance excessively costly and in many cases virtually impossible. For example, the proposed regulations includes minimum nurse staffing levels which fail to take into account the actual needs of the resident population. This requirement is in direct conflict with both the letter and spirit of the law which is to ensure access to care and services tailored specifically to the individual needs of the resident as determined collaboratively by the residents, his or her family, health care providers and the operator. Moreover, such staffing ratios will unnecessarily increase the cost for the resident, and considering the shortage of nurses in the State, will make it virtually impossible to comply, especially in rural communities (Sen. Maziarz Letter [dated 5-8-07], Petition, Exhibit H).

While the Commissioner again maintains that such staffing is to help ensure care for the residents, such an objective transgressed the “difficult-to-define line between administrative rule-making and legislative policy-making” (Boreali, 71 N.Y.2d at 11, 523 N.Y.S.2d 464, 517 N.E.2d 1350). Accordingly, nullification of the personnel regulation-10 NYCRR 1001.11-is warranted.⁵

Next, petitioners argue that the alteration of one of the “residents's rights” was arbitrary and contradicts the statute. The Court agrees. Public Health Law § 4660 provides for “[r]ights of residents in assisted living residences,” and, specific to here, those rights include the following:

every resident shall have the right to written notice of any fee increase not less than forty-five days prior to the proposed effective date of the fee increase, provided however providing additional services to a resident shall not be considered a fee increase pursuant to this paragraph (Public Health Law § 4660[3][p] ).

However, when the same fee rights were reiterated in the regulations for article 46-B, the above-cited language was altered to provide:

Every resident shall have the right to written notice of any fee increase not less than forty-five days prior to the proposed effective date of the fee increase, provided, however, providing additional services to a resident in accordance with section 461-c (2) of the Social Services Law, shall not be considered a fee increase pursuant to this paragraph in the following situations:

(a) if a resident, resident representative or legal representative agrees in writing to a specific rate or fee increase, through an amendment of the residency agreement, due to the resident's need for additional care, services or supplies, the operator may increase such rate upon less than forty-five days' written notice;

(b) if the operator provides additional care services, or supplies upon the written order of the resident's primary physician, the operator may, through an amendment to the residency agreement, increase such rate upon less than forty-five days' written notice; or

(c) in the event of an emergency which affects the resident, the operator may assess additional charges for the benefit of the resident as are reasonable and necessary for services, materials, equipment and food supplies during such emergency (10 NYCRR 1001.8[b][2][xvi][a-c] ).

The regulation as currently written places notice conditions on a change in services that was not contemplated by the statute. Thus, in promulgating this portion of 10 NYCRR 1001.8, the Commission exceeded his authority (Boreali, 71 N.Y.2d at 9, 523 N.Y.S.2d 464, 517 N.E.2d 1350)⁶ and its nullification is warranted.

Petitioners also contend that the schedule of penalties set forth in 10 NYCRR 1001.15(f)(1) violates the express language of Public Health Law § 4663, which provides:

Any person who violates any provision of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated by the department, or the terms or conditions of any order or permit issued by the department pursuant to this article, shall be subject to the maximum penalties which may be levied against a licensed adult care facility.

However, a review of the penalties in the challenged regulation reveal they do not differ from those set forth for adult care facilities (compare 10 NYCRR 1001.15[f] with 18 NYCRR 486.5). Furthermore, petitioners' argument that this regulation “eliminate[s] the ability for facilities to rectify any non-endangering conditions cited in inspection reports before a fine is imposed” (petitioners' Memorandum of Law at 23) is belied by the regulation. That regulation provides that, “[u]nless otherwise specified in this section, an operator of an assisted living residence shall be subject to the inspection and authority standards and remedies of 18 NYCRR Part 486 ․” (10 NYCRR 1001.15[a] ). Part 486 of 18 NYCRR contains the rectifying provisions that petitioners argue were eliminated. Accordingly, petitioners have not demonstrated that this regulation is arbitrary and capricious to warrant its nullification (see Kuppersmith, 93 N.Y.2d at 96, 688 N.Y.S.2d 96, 710 N.E.2d 660; Matter of Consolidated Nursing Home, Inc., 85 N.Y.2d at 131-332, 624 N.Y.S.2d 563, 648 N.E.2d 1326).

Petitioners next contend that the Commissioner exceeded his authority in restricting the right of an ALR operator from requiring a guarantor of payment to the residency agreement (see 10 NYCRR 1001.8[f][4] [xvii] ). The part of the regulation challenged provides that

[t]he residency agreement shall include, at a minimum ․ clear notice to the consumer that the operator cannot mandate that a resident or other person agree to a guarantor of payment as a condition of admission unless the operator has reasonably determined, on a case by case basis, that the prospective resident would lack either the current capacity to manage financial affairs and/or the financial means to assure payment due under the residency agreement.

Petitioners argue that nothing in article 46-B allows the Commissioner to limit the right of the operator to insist on a guarantor and is inconsistent with the Legislature's intention to further develop a viable assisted living market. In this instance petitioners have failed to demonstrate that this portion of the regulation is either arbitrary or in contravention of the enabling statute (see Kuppersmith, 93 N.Y.2d at 96, 688 N.Y.S.2d 96, 710 N.E.2d 660; Matter of Consolidated Nursing Home, Inc., 85 N.Y.2d at 131-332, 624 N.Y.S.2d 563, 648 N.E.2d 1326). The Commissioner explains that this portion of the regulation is consistent with the Department's preexisting practices and, further, was designed to carry out the mandate that “every resident shall have the right to manage his or her own financial affairs” (Public Health Law § 4660[3][e] ). Thus, nullification of this regulation is not warranted.

Likewise, petitioners also contend that the Department exceeded its authority in promulgating a regulation that gives it the power to restrict the alienability of real property by requiring that the Department pre-approve the sale of real estate associated with the facility (see 10 NYCRR 1001.4[i] [3] ). Petitioners contend that, under the law, an operator only has to demonstrate site control and, thus, the type of restriction demonstrated by this provision is neither expressed in nor contemplated by the Act. In response, the Commissioner argues that the Department has long required that any operator who owns the real estate upon which a adult care facility is located receive approval before the sale of such property. Further, the Commissioner contends that the Social Service Law-which applies to ALRs as well-gives the Department authority to inquire into the “general management and financial condition of the facility” (Social Services Law § 460-c [2] [c] ).

The Court notes that Public Health Law § 4656(2) provides that “[a]n assisted living operator shall comply with all applicable statutes, rules and regulations required for maintaining a valid operating certificate issued pursuant to title two of article seven of the social services law․” Under that article, the Department has the authority to make inquiries into the financial resources of an adult care facility in the process of licensing such facility and may inquire into other matters as it deems fit (see Social Services Law § 461-b [3][a] [ii-iii] ). The power to inquire into financial affairs, however, does not equate to the power to restrict the sale of property. While the Commissioner may have exercised such power informally, this alone does not give him or the Department the authority to impose such a regulation. That power comes from the authority granted by the Legislature under the enabling statute (see Matter of Medical Socy., 100 N.Y.2d at 865, 768 N.Y.S.2d 423, 800 N.E.2d 728). Here, the regulation at issue appears to exceed that grant of authority and nullification of it is warranted (Boreali, 71 N.Y.2d at 11, 523 N.Y.S.2d 464, 517 N.E.2d 1350).

The Court has considered the parties' remaining arguments and finds them either without merit or unnecessary to reach given its determination. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the petition is granted to the extent discussed in the Court's decision; and it is further

ADJUDGED AND DECLARED that the Commission exceeded his authority in issuing Regulations 10 NYCRR 1001.4; 10 NYCRR 1001.8; 10 NYCRR 1001.11; and 10 NYCRR 1001.13 to the extent discussed in the Court's decision; and it if further

ADJUDGED AND DECLARED that Regulations 10 NYCRR 1001.4; 10 NYCRR 1001.8; 10 NYCRR 1001.11; and 10 NYCRR 1001.13 are null and void; and it is further

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Commissioner is enjoined from enforcing Regulations 10 NYCRR 1001.4; 10 NYCRR 1001.8; 10 NYCRR 1001.11; and 10 NYCRR 1001.13.

This Memorandum constitutes the Decision and Order of the Court. This original Decision and Order is being returned to the attorney for petitioners. The below referenced original papers are being mailed to the Albany County Clerk. The signing of this Decision and Order shall not constitute entry or filing under CPLR 2220. Counsel is not relieved from the provision of that rule regarding filing, entry, or notice of entry.

FOOTNOTES

1.  ALR refers to an assisted living residence; EALR refers to an enhanced assisted living residence; SNALR refers to a special needs assisted living residence (see Public Health Law §§ 4651[1], [13-15]; 4654; 4655).

2.  To become licensed as an ALR, an entity must already hold or concurrently apply for ACF status (see Public Health Law § 4656[1] ).

3.  The structural and environmental standards set forth in 10 NYCRR 1001.13 provide that an operator of an ALR must comply with certain regulations governing ACF's (see 10 NYCRR 1001.13[a] ). Further, that regulation distinguishes between “existing structures” and “new structures,” requiring new structures to have certain additional safety features not required by existing structures for ALRS but required for EALRS and SNALRS. Moreover, the regulation requires all structures to have minimum corridor widths of 60 inches (10 NYCRR 1001.13[e][2] ).

4.  This is not to say that additional safety features may not be warranted for EALRs or SNALRs, which issue was not squarely before the Court.

5.  The Court notes that, while it is nullifying this regulation, it found no merit to the argument that the case management requirements were not in line with the overall intent underlying article 46-B. Thus, the Court cannot say that petitioners demonstrated that this requirement is irrational or arbitrary (see Matter of Consolidated Nursing Home, Inc., 85 N.Y.2d at 331-332, 624 N.Y.S.2d 563, 648 N.E.2d 1326).

6.  This change was highlighted during oral argument using an example of a resident needing additional bathing services. Under section 4660, no notice would need to be given to charge for such additional, needed services while, under the regulation, such notice may need to be given. However, under both the statue and the current regulation notice would need to be given to change the fee structure for such a service.

MICHAEL C. LYNCH, J.