site.btaParliament Moves to Impose Harsher Punishments for Unlicensed Nursing Homes

The organization and management of unlicensed nursing homes will be criminalized, the National Assembly decided on Thursday at first reading, unanimously adopting amendments to the Penal Code with 172 votes in favour. The bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers, stipulates that managers of homes who do not comply with service quality standards and thus endanger the life or health of elderly people will be subject to up to three years' imprisonment or probation.

It is proposed that persons who provide services as a home for the elderly without a license be punished with up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of between BGN 1,000 and BGN 5,000 if, within one year of having been fined once, they engage in such activity again.

If a legal entity has profited from this activity, it will be subject to a property sanction of BGN 100,000, according to the amendments proposed by the Cabinet.

It is proposed that the offence be more severely punishable if it is committed by two or more persons who have conspired in advance, by using a document with false content, a false or forged document; for financial gain; by a person acting on behalf of or in execution of a decision by an organized criminal group, or constitutes a dangerous repeat offence.

The Social Services Act is also being amended to provide for increased fines and property sanctions for the provision of social services without a license, which may reach up to BGN 30,000.