The Legislature hereby finds and declares:

As used in this chapter:

of ownership interest at each level.

Department of Social Services.

either directly or through one or more intermediaries.

protective supervision, or personal care are provided, based upon their varying needs, as determined in order to be admitted and to remain in the facility. Persons under 60 years of age with compatible needs may be allowed to be admitted or retained in a residential care facility for the elderly as specified in Section 1569.316.

as determined in order to be admitted and to remain in the facility. Persons under 60 years of age with compatible needs may be allowed to be admitted or retained in a residential care facility for the elderly as specified in Section 1569.316.

identified in the individual resident assessment. Supportive services may include any of the following: medical, dental, and other health care services; transportation; recreational and leisure activities; social services; and counseling services.

No person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation within the state and no state or local public agency shall operate, establish, manage, conduct, or maintain a residential facility for the elderly in this state without a current valid license or current valid special permit therefor, as provided in this chapter.

The department shall inspect and license residential care facilities for the elderly. A license is not transferable.

The department may provide consulting services upon request to any residential care facility for the elderly to assist in the identification or correction of deficiencies and in the upgrading of the quality of care provided by the facility.

If any grants-in-aid are made by the federal government for the support of any inspection or consultation service approved by the

department, the amount of the federal grant shall first be applied to defer the cost of the service before state reimbursement is made.

regulations, and standards of the department.

No license issued pursuant to this chapter shall have any property value for sale or exchange purposes and no person, including any owner, agent, or broker, shall sell or exchange any license for any commercial purpose.

This chapter shall not apply to any of the following:

religious denomination for the purpose of providing facilities for the care or treatment of the sick who depend upon prayer or spiritual means for healing in the practice of the religion of that church or denomination.

or drug addiction where the facility provides no care or supervision.

(B) Any housing that qualifies for a low-income housing credit pursuant to Section 252 of Public Law 99-514 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42) or that is subject to the requirements for rental dwellings for low-income families pursuant to Section 8 of Public Law 93-383 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1437f), and that is occupied by elderly or disabled persons,

or both, where supportive services are made available to residents at their option, as long as the project owner or operator does not contract for or provide the supportive services.

A prospective applicant for licensure shall be notified at the time of the initial request for information regarding application for licensure that, prior to obtaining licensure, the facility shall secure and maintain a fire clearance approval from the local fire enforcing agency, as defined in Section 13244, or the State Fire Marshal, whichever has primary fire protection jurisdiction. The prospective applicant shall be notified of the provisions of Section 13235, relating to the fire safety clearance application. The prospective applicant for licensure shall be notified that the fire clearance shall be in accordance with state and local fire safety

regulations.

1569.17, employment history, and character references. If the applicant is a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or company, like evidence shall be submitted as to the individuals or entities holding a beneficial ownership interest of 10 percent or more, and the person who has operational control of the residential care facility for the elderly for which the application for issuance of license or special permit is made. The applicant shall provide or cause to be provided, at the department’s request, any additional information related to consideration of the application regarding any entity that is an applicant or holds a beneficial ownership interest of 10 percent or more. Notwithstanding anything in this section, an applicant or licensee is not required to disclose the names of investors in a publicly traded company or investment fund if those investors are silent investors who do not have influence or control over operations of the company, fund, or facility.

name, address, and license number, if applicable, for each person or entity in the diagram.

executive officer, general partner, owner, or like party, and state that person’s prior or present service as an administrator, chief executive officer, general partner, director, like role of, or as a person who has held or holds a beneficial ownership interest of 10 percent or more in, any residential care facility for the elderly, in any facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250), or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500), or a similarly licensed facility in California or any other state within the past 10 years.

in the process of being adjudicated, against a facility associated with a person identified pursuant to paragraph (5) or by any authority responsible for the licensing of health, residential, or community care facilities within the past 10 years.

for licensure, and any change in the information shall be provided to the department within 30 calendar days of that change unless a shorter timeframe is required by the department. A licensee of multiple facilities may provide a single notice of changes to the department on behalf of all licensed facilities within the chain. Information pertaining to facilities operated in other states may be updated on an annual basis, except for the following information:

licensee shall provide written notification to the department of the email address and of any change to the email address within 10 business days of the change.

licensure, assess a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a material violation of this section.

site, and the number of that license.

the criminal records clearances, if applicable, are complete, and the fire safety clearance is complete. The director may extend the term of a provisional license for an additional six months at the time of the application, if the director determines that more than six months will be required to achieve full compliance with licensing standards due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, and if all other requirements for a license have been met.

shall be clearly explained. If a lack of the fire safety clearance is identified, the notice shall include the dates on which the department requested the clearance and the current status of that request, and the fire marshal’s name and telephone number to whom a fire safety clearance request was sent. The department shall identify the names of individuals for whom criminal records clearances are lacking. If failure to complete the application is identified, the notice shall list all of the forms or attachments that are missing or incorrect. This notice shall be sent to the applicant no later than 60 days after the applicant filed the application. If the reasons identified in the notice are corrected, the department shall issue the provisional license within five days after the corrections are made.

(d).

Upon receipt of an application to operate a residential care facility for the elderly from an applicant who is also applying or intends to apply for a permit to sell deposit subscriptions on life care contracts pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1770), the department shall review the application for licensure to determine the applicant’s ability and intent to meet all statutory and regulatory requirements for a residential care facility for the elderly.

Upon determination that the applicant has provided satisfactory evidence of ability and intent, the department shall issue a preliminary approval

for licensure, for purposes of the applicant obtaining a permit to sell deposit subscriptions for life care contracts. Preliminary approval does not guarantee that a license will be issued by the department.

officer who is not eligible for licensure pursuant to Sections 1569.16 and 1569.59.

jurisdiction.

A theft and loss program shall be implemented by the residential care facilities for the elderly within 90 days after January 1, 1989. The program shall include all of the following:

dollars ($25) or more within 72 hours of the discovery of the loss or theft and, upon request, the documented theft and loss record for the past 12 months shall be made available to the State Department of Social Services, law enforcement agencies and to the office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in response to a specific complaint. The documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

written resident personal property inventory is established upon admission and retained during the resident’s stay in the residential care facility for the elderly. Inventories shall be written in ink, witnessed by the facility and the resident or resident’s representative, and dated. A copy of the written inventory shall be provided to the resident or the person acting on the resident’s behalf. All additions to an inventory shall be made in ink, and shall be witnessed by the facility and the resident or resident’s representative, and dated. Subsequent items brought into or removed from the facility shall be added to or deleted from the personal property inventory by the facility at the written request of the resident, the resident’s family, a responsible party, or a person acting on behalf of a resident. The facility shall not be liable for items which have not been requested to be included in the inventory or for items which have been deleted from the inventory. A copy of a current inventory shall be made

available upon request to the resident, responsible party, or other authorized representative. The resident, resident’s family, or a responsible party may list those items which are not subject to addition or deletion from the inventory, such as personal clothing or laundry, which are subject to frequent removal from the facility.

Division 3 of the Probate Code.

12 months shall be made available to the State Department of Social Services and law enforcement agencies.

( l)  Notification to all

current residents and all new residents, upon admission, of the facility’s policies and procedures relating to the facility’s theft and loss prevention program.

No provision of a contract of admission, which includes all documents which a resident or his or her representative is required to sign at the time of, or as a condition of, admission to a residential care facility for the elderly, shall require or imply a lesser standard of responsibility for the personal property of residents than is required by law.

Upon initial licensure, residential care facilities for the elderly shall be provided a printed copy of all applicable regulations by the department, without charge. All licensees shall subscribe to the appropriate regulation subscription service and are responsible for keeping current on changes in regulatory requirements.

representatives, facility staff, or others may participate in resident council meetings and activities at the invitation of the resident council.

or recommendations, the

facility shall respond in writing regarding any action or inaction taken in response to those concerns or recommendations within 14 calendar days.

facility has a resident council, the facility shall inform

new residents of the existence of the resident council. The facility shall also provide information on the time, place, and dates of resident council meetings and the resident representative to contact regarding involvement in the resident council.

representatives.

willful interference shall include, but not be limited to, discrimination or retaliation in any way against an individual as a result of his or her participation in a resident council, refusal to publicize resident council meetings or provide appropriate space for either meetings or a bulletin board, or failure to respond to written requests by the resident council in a timely manner.

A facility that violates this section shall be subject to a daily civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) until the violation is corrected. A violation shall be deemed to have been corrected on the date the facility submits documentation of the correction to the department if the correction is verified by the department.

nonworking hours.

representative, including facility staff, may attend a family council meeting, but only at the invitation of the family council.

or identified during the admission process of the existence of the family council. The facility shall provide the resident and those family members, friends, and resident representatives with the name and contact information of the family council representative, as designated by the family council, in writing, prior to or within five business days after the resident’s admission or the resident’s representative, family member, or other individual is designated or identified.

When family council meeting information is provided by the family council, the facility shall include notice of family council meetings in routine mailings to those family members, friends, and resident representatives. The notice shall include the time, place, and date of meetings, and the name and contact information of the family council representative, as designated by the family council.

during the admission process of their right to form a family council.

individuals designated by the resident if the person has provided written consent specifying the contact information that may be shared with the family council.

liaison who shall be responsible for providing assistance to the family council and responding to written requests that result from family council meetings. A facility shall provide an alternate staff liaison as needed.

governmental entities. For purposes of this subdivision, willful interference shall include, but shall not be limited to, discrimination or retaliation in any way against an individual as a result of their participation in a family council, refusal to publicize family council meetings or provide appropriate space for meetings or postings as required under this section, failure to respond to written requests, concerns, or recommendations by a family council as required under this section.

section shall be subject to a daily civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) until the violation is corrected. A violation shall be deemed to have been corrected on the date the facility submits documentation of the correction to the department if the correction is verified by the department.

The State Department of Social Services shall provide to residential care facilities for the elderly a form, which the residential care facility for the elderly shall attach to each resident admission agreement, notifying the resident that he or she is entitled to obtain services and equipment from the telephone company. The form shall include the following information:

“Any hearing or speech impaired, or otherwise disabled resident of any residential care facility for the elderly is entitled to equipment and service by

the telephone company, pursuant to Section 2881 of the Public Utilities Code, to improve the quality of their telecommunications. Any resident who has a declaration from a licensed professional, or a state or federal agency pursuant to Section 2881 of the Public Utilities Code, that he or she is hearing or speech impaired, or otherwise disabled should contact the local telephone company and ask for assistance in obtaining this equipment and service.”

This section shall not be construed to require, in any way, the licensee to provide a separate telephone line for any resident.

facilities for the elderly are exempt from the health planning requirements contained in Part 2 (commencing with Section 127125) of Division 107.

department shall cease any further review of the application unless the excluded individual has been reinstated pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code by the department.

coapplicants and the department denies a license due to concerns pertaining solely to one of the coapplicants, any other coapplicant may withdraw its application, and with the department’s written consent pursuant to Section 1569.52, shall not be deemed to have a license application denied.

the decision and order of the department upholding a denial.

The Legislature recognizes the need to generate timely and accurate positive fingerprint identification of applicants as a condition of issuing licenses, permits, or certificates of approval for persons to operate or provide direct care services in a residential care facility for the elderly. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to require the fingerprints of those individuals whose contact with clients of residential care facilities for the elderly may pose a risk to the clients’ health and safety. An individual shall be required to obtain either a criminal record clearance or a criminal record exemption from the State Department of Social Services before their initial presence in a residential care facility for the elderly.

Code.

processing the criminal record information until the conclusion of the trial.

level criminal offender record information search, in addition to the search required by subdivision (a).

If, after licensure, the department determines that the licensee or person specified in subdivision (b) has a criminal record, the license may be revoked pursuant to Section 1569.50. The department may also suspend the license pending an administrative hearing pursuant to Sections 1569.50 and 1569.51.

these requirements.

exclude a certified nurse assistant or certified home health aide from a licensed residential care facility for the elderly pursuant to Section 1569.58.

exempt from requirements applicable under paragraph (1):

(ii) The volunteer is directly supervised by the licensee or a facility employee with a criminal record clearance or exemption.

(iii) The volunteer spends no more than 16 hours per week at the facility.

(iv) The volunteer does not provide clients with assistance in

dressing, grooming, bathing, or personal hygiene.

(C) A third-party contractor retained by the facility if the contractor is not left alone with clients in care.

(D) A third-party contractor or other business professional retained by a client and at the facility at the request or by permission of that client. These individuals shall not be left alone with other clients.

(E) Licensed or certified medical professionals are exempt from fingerprint and criminal background check requirements imposed by community care licensing. This exemption does not apply to a person who is a community care facility licensee or an employee of the facility.

(F) Employees of licensed home health agencies and members of licensed hospice interdisciplinary teams who have contact with a resident of a residential care facility at the request of the resident or resident’s legal decisionmaker are exempt from fingerprint and criminal background check requirements imposed by community care licensing. This exemption does not apply to a person who is a community care facility licensee or an employee of the facility.

(G) Clergy and other spiritual caregivers who are performing services in common areas of the residential care facility, or who are advising an individual resident at the request of, or with permission of, the resident, are exempt from fingerprint and criminal background check requirements imposed by community care licensing. This exemption does not apply to a person who is a community care facility licensee or an employee of the facility.

(H) Any person similar to those described in this subdivision, as defined by the department in regulations.

(I) Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a licensee from requiring a criminal record clearance of any individual exempt from the requirements of this section, provided that the individual has client contact.

The department shall not require the person to disclose their criminal history information prior to receipt of live scan results.

(B) These fingerprint images and related information shall be electronically transmitted in a manner approved by the State Department of Social Services and the Department of Justice. A licensee’s failure to submit fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice, or to comply with paragraph (1) of subdivision (g), as required in this section, shall result in the citation of a deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds

for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1569.50. The State Department of Social Services may assess civil penalties for continued violations as permitted by Section 1569.49. The licensee shall then submit these fingerprint images to the State Department of Social Services for processing. Documentation of the individual’s clearance or exemption shall be maintained by the licensee and be available for inspection. The Department of Justice shall notify the department, as required by Section 1522.04, and notify the licensee by mail within 14 days of electronic transmission of the fingerprints to the Department of Justice, if the person has no criminal record. A violation of the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 1522.04 shall result in the citation of a deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case

the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1569.50. The department may assess civil penalties for continued violations as permitted by Section 1569.49.

fingerprint images were illegible.

Services may subsequently grant an exemption pursuant to subdivision (f). If the conviction was for another crime, except an infraction, the licensee shall, upon notification by the State Department of Social Services, act immediately to either (1) terminate the person’s employment, remove the person from the residential care facility for the elderly, or bar the person from entering the residential care facility for the elderly or (2) seek an exemption pursuant to subdivision (f). The department shall determine if the person shall be allowed to remain in the facility until a decision on the exemption is rendered by the department. A licensee’s failure to comply with the department’s prohibition of employment, contact with clients, or presence in the facility as required by this paragraph shall result in a citation of deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties by the department against the licensee, in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days,

unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1569.50.

individual may seek an exemption only if the licensee terminates the person’s employment or removes the person from the facility after receiving notice from the department pursuant to paragraph (4).

accusation, information, or indictment. For purposes of this section or any other provision of this chapter, the record of a conviction, or a copy thereof certified by the clerk of the court or by a judge of the court in which the conviction occurred, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction. For purposes of this section or any other provision of this chapter, the arrest disposition report certified by the Department of Justice or documents admissible in a criminal action pursuant to Section 969b of the Penal Code shall be prima facie evidence of the conviction, notwithstanding any other law prohibiting the admission of these documents in a civil or administrative action.

department’s completion of an investigation pursuant to paragraph (1).

applicant, are of such good character as to justify issuance of the license or special permit or granting an exemption for purposes of subdivision (c). However, an exemption shall not be granted pursuant to this subdivision if the conviction was for any of the following offenses:

(A) An offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, or 264.1, subdivision (a) of Section 273a, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (1) of Section 273a, Section 273ab, 273d, 288, or 289, subdivision (c) of Section 290, or Section 368, of the Penal Code, or was a conviction of another crime against an individual specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code.

(B) A felony offense specified in Section 729 of the Business and Professions Code or Section 206 or 215, subdivision (a) of Section 347, subdivision (b) of Section 417, or subdivision (a) of Section 451 of the Penal Code.

state licensing district office, and is being transferred to another facility licensed by a state licensing district office. The request shall be submitted to the

department on a form provided by the department or submitted via the department’s secure online portal. Upon request of the licensee, who shall verify the individual’s identity, the department shall verify whether the individual has a clearance that can be transferred.

insurance liability as a result of that denial or termination.

Prior to issuance to any person of a certificate of completion of the administrator certification program pursuant to Section 1569.616, the department shall secure from an appropriate law enforcement agency a criminal record to determine if the person has been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation. Based upon the criminal record information received, the department shall take appropriate action as provided for in Section 1569.17.

The Department of Justice may charge a fee sufficient to cover its cost in providing services in accordance with Section 1569.17 to comply with the 14-day requirement for provision to the department of the criminal record information, as contained in subdivision (c) of Section 1569.17.

received a response of action taken or a reason why no action needs to be taken.

The fees are for the purpose of financing activities specified in this chapter. Fees shall be assessed as follows, subject to paragraph (2):

subject to Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

(A) A fee that represents 50 percent of an established application fee when an existing licensee moves the facility to a new physical address.

(B) A fee that represents 50 percent of the established application fee when a corporate licensee changes who has the authority to select a majority of the board of directors.

(C) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) when an existing licensee seeks to either increase or decrease the licensed capacity of the facility.

(D) An orientation fee of fifty dollars ($50) for attendance by an individual at a department-sponsored orientation session.

(E) A probation monitoring fee equal to the current annual fee, in addition to the current annual fee for that category and

capacity for each year a license has been placed on probation as a result of a stipulation or decision and order pursuant to the administrative adjudication procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(F) A late fee that represents an additional 50 percent of the established current annual fee when a licensee fails to pay the current annual licensing fee on or before the due date as indicated by postmark on the payment.

(G) A fee to cover any costs incurred by the department for processing payments including, but not limited to, bounced

check charges, charges for credit and debit transactions, and postage due charges.

(H) A plan of correction fee of two hundred dollars ($200) when a licensee does not implement a plan of correction on or prior to the date specified in the plan.

a business license, fee, or tax for the privilege of operating a facility licensed under this chapter that serves six or fewer persons.

in addition to any other funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act in support of the licensing program. The department shall adjust the fees collected pursuant to this section to ensure that they do not exceed the costs described in this paragraph.

A license shall be forfeited by operation of law prior to its expiration date when one of the following occurs:

another. The department shall develop regulations to ensure that the facilities are not charged a full licensing fee and do not have to complete the entire application process when applying for a license for the new location.

addition to forfeiture of the license pursuant to this section, shall be excluded from licensure in facilities licensed by the department without the right to petition for reinstatement.

time that a bona fide offer is made, whichever period is longer.

licensing agency.

and business fully comply with this section, then the transfer may be completed and the buyer shall not be considered to be operating an unlicensed facility while the department makes a final determination on the application for licensure.

licensee shall submit a written request for inactive license status, on a form approved by the department, to the department for review and approval.

for complying with all licensing standards when inactive license status ends. The department’s timeframe for required site visits may be adjusted during the period of inactive license status. However, if the department believes the licensee is operating during a period in which the department has granted inactive license status to the licensee, the department may enter the facility for any inspection permitted by law.

If the designee decides not to apply for licensure, he or she shall notify the department of that decision within five working days of the licensee’s death. If the designee decides not to apply, the department shall assist the designee in the development and implementation of a relocation plan.

decides whether to grant the provisional license.

1569.40 shall not apply to this section.

Upon the filing of the application for issuance of an initial license, the department shall, within five working days of the filing, make a determination regarding the completeness of the application. If the application is complete, the department shall immediately request a fire clearance and notify the applicant to arrange a time for the department to conduct a prelicensure inspection. If the department determines that an application is for licensure of a currently licensed facility for which there is no material change to the management or operations of the facility, the prelicensure inspection is optional at the discretion of the department. If the application is incomplete, the department shall notify the applicant and request the necessary information. Within

60 days of making a determination that the file is complete, the department shall make a determination whether the application is in compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations of the department and shall either immediately issue the license or notify the applicant of the deficiencies. The notice shall specify whether the deficiencies constitute denial of the application or whether further corrections for compliance will likely result in approval of the application.

The director may issue provisional licenses to operate residential care facilities for the elderly for the facilities which the director determines are in substantial compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto; provided, that no life safety risks are involved, as determined by the director. In determining whether any life safety risks are involved, the director shall require completion of all applicable fire clearances and criminal record clearances as otherwise required by the department’s rules and regulations. This provisional license shall expire six months from the date of issuance, or at such earlier time as

the director may determine, and may not be renewed. However, the director may extend the term of a provisional license for an additional six months at time of application, if it is determined that more than six months will be required to achieve full compliance with licensing standards due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant; provided, that all other requirements for a license have been met.

Immediately upon the denial of any application for a license, the department shall notify the applicant in writing. Within 15 days after the department mails the notice, the applicant may present his or her written petition for a hearing to the department. Upon receipt by the department of the petition in proper form, the petition shall be set for hearing. The proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department has all the powers granted therein.

certification program shall include a uniform core of knowledge which shall include all of the following:

antipsychotics, and the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs for use in controlling the behavior of persons with dementia.

allows an applicant to have access to the California Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Act and related regulations during the examination. The department, no later than July 1 of every other year, shall review and revise the examination in order to ensure the rigor and quality of the examination. Each year, the department shall ensure by January 1 that the exam is not in conflict with current law. The department may convene a stakeholder group to assist in developing and reviewing test questions.

association, or corporation, the chief executive officer, or other person serving in a like capacity, or the designated administrator of the facility, shall provide evidence of successfully completing an approved certification program.

As a requirement for licensure, the applicant shall attend an orientation given by the department which outlines the applicable rules and regulations, and the scope and responsibility for operation of a residential care facility for the elderly.

Within 90 days after a facility accepts its first resident for placement following its initial licensure, the department shall inspect the facility to evaluate compliance with rules and regulations and to assess the facility’s continuing ability to meet regulatory requirements. The licensee shall notify the department, within five business days after accepting its first resident for placement, that the facility has commenced operating.

The department may take appropriate remedial action as provided for in this

chapter.