(a) Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman staff:

• (1) acquire and share with area programs, citizen organizations, and individuals copies of proposed and enacted laws, regulations, and policies which may affect older long-term care facility residents;
• (2) give testimony and written comments as appropriate and assist others to learn of opportunities to comment;
• (3) attend or conduct public hearings;
• (4) request comments from area ombudsman staff; and
• (5) investigate complaints and take other action as necessary to monitor the development and implementation of laws, rules, and policies.

(b) Area ombudsman staff:

• (1) review proposed and enacted laws, regulations, and policies which may affect older long-term care facility residents in the planning and service area (PSA), as provided by state long-term care ombudsman staff;
• (2) give testimony and written comments, and attend or conduct public hearings, as appropriate;
• (3) investigate complaints; and
• (4) communicate concerns identified through the above activities to state long-term care ombudsman staff.