(a) Each provider shall develop a process for facilitating communication between residents and the personnel, management, board of directors and owner of the provider. Such process shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Permitting residents at each facility to form a residents council;

(2) Allowing residents, including those who serve on the residents council, to serve as voting members of the provider’s board of directors or other governing body if the rules applicable to such board or other governing body allow for resident membership and such board or other governing body approves such membership; and

(3) If the provider does not have a board of directors or similar governing body, or if a residents council is not established, then a provider shall seek comments from residents in advance of designing or adopting policies that affect the provider’s ability to avert financial distress, as defined in § 17b-527.

(b) On or before January 1, 2016, and not less than every two years thereafter, each provider shall conduct a resident satisfaction survey at each facility. The results of the survey shall be made available to the residents council at each such facility, or to each resident, if there is no residents council. A copy of the survey results shall also be posted in a conspicuous location at each facility.