If the department determines a situation exists which constitutes an imminent threat to health or safety of the residents of a nursing facility, the department may take immediate control of the nursing facility and appoint an interim administrator. Within ten days of taking control of a nursing facility, the department shall petition the district court of the district in which the nursing facility is located to establish a receivership. The court shall grant the petition if it finds the department is substantially justified in concluding there was an imminent threat to life or health of the residents. In making its decision the court shall consider the matters set forth in section 23-16.1-02, any matters that the department considered in reaching its decision, and any other matters bearing on the ability of the nursing facility to provide for the health or safety of its residents. If the court grants the petition, the court shall also reconfirm the appointment of the interim administrator or direct the state health officer to choose another pursuant to section 23-16.1-03. Any receiver reconfirmed or appointed pursuant to this section shall comply with sections 23-16.1-03 through 23-16.1-05. Neither the department nor the court may terminate the appointment of a receiver appointed under this section until the nursing facility has complied with federal and state law and demonstrated management capability to ensure continued compliance and the health and safety of the residents.

As used in this section, an “imminent threat to health or safety” means without intervention one or more of the following will occur to the residents: death, loss of mobility, partial disability, loss of motor skills, loss of speech, hearing, sight, or other ability to function within normal limits for an individual of that age and condition.