(1) A licensed skilled nursing facility located on the campus of a nonprofit retirement community that is exempt from taxation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and provides housing exclusively for veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses may request to designate certain beds or alter the designation of certain beds as veteran and spouse nursing home beds if:
(a) The residents who will be admitted meet the criteria of s. 296.36.
(b) The beds will be operated in accordance with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs Community Nursing Home Program.
(2)(a) The director may approve a request to designate or alter the designation of veteran and spouse nursing home beds if the request complies with the requirements of subsection (1) and ss. 296.35-296.37 and 296.41.
(b) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.