(1) The contractor shall be a private nonprofit organization with demonstrated capability to carry out the responsibilities of the state long-term care ombudsman, including, but not limited to, an ability to receive, investigate, and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities statewide. Subcontractors shall have demonstrated the capability to carry out the responsibilities of their respective contracts. The contractor and subcontractors shall also be free of conflicts of interest, including:

(a) Not be an agency or organization that is responsible for licensing, certifying, or regulating long-term care facilities;

(b) Not be an association, or an affiliate of such an association, of long-term care facilities; and

(c) Have no pecuniary interest in any long-term care facility.

(2) The state long-term care ombudsman and assistant state long-term care ombudsman shall have demonstrated expertise and experience in the fields of long-term care and resident advocacy, and be free of conflicts of interest as defined in WAC 365-18-040.

(3) Ombudsmen shall have demonstrated capability to carry out the responsibilities of their respective offices, and be free of conflicts of interest as defined in WAC 365-18-040.

(4) All prospective regional and volunteer ombudsmen shall successfully complete the training program designated by the state office prior to becoming certified and beginning work as ombudsmen. In addition, during the period of their assignment as ombudsmen, all ombudsmen are expected to attend periodic training events designed to increase their knowledge and expertise with regard to long-term care ombudsman issues.

(5) Prior to becoming an ombudsman, all prospective ombudsmen shall, at a minimum, successfully pass a criminal history background check as provided by chapter 43.43 RCW.

(6) Once a person becomes an ombudsman, he or she shall successfully pass a criminal history background check as provided by chapter 43.43 RCW every three years at a minimum.