(a) A state hospital may petition the commission to suspend in-person essential caregiver visits for not more than seven days if in-person visitation poses a serious community health risk. The commission may deny the hospital’s request to suspend in-person essential caregiver visitation if the commission determines that in-person visitation does not pose a serious community health risk.
(b) A state hospital may request an extension from the commission to suspend in-person essential caregiver visitation for more than seven days. The commission may not approve an extension for a period that exceeds seven days, and the hospital must separately request each extension.

(c) A state hospital may not suspend in-person essential caregiver visitation in any year for more than 14 consecutive days or 45 days total.