BILL NUMBER: AB 1690	CHAPTERED  08/13/01

	CHAPTER  196
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 13, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 12, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 21, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 24, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Human Services (Aroner (Chair), Goldberg
(Vice Chair), Ashburn, Chan, Diaz, Dutra, and Mountjoy)

                        MARCH 6, 2001

   An act to amend Section 15655 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to human services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1690, Committee on Human Services.    Elder and dependent abuse
reporting:  training.
   Existing law requires mandated reporters to report instances of
abuse of elder or dependent adults. Existing law also specifies that
long-term health care facilities or community care facilities that
provide care to adults shall provide training to their staff in
recognizing and reporting elder and dependent adult abuse.
   This bill would also make residential care facilities for the
elderly subject to the requirement to provide training to staff in
recognizing and reporting elder and dependent adult abuse, and would
require compliance by July 1, 2002.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 15655 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   15655.  (a) (1) Each long-term health care facility, as defined in
Section 1418 of the Health and Safety Code, community care facility,
as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, or
residential care facility for the elderly, as defined in Section
1569.2 of the Health and Safety Code, that provides care to adults
shall provide training in recognizing and reporting elder and
dependent adult abuse, as prescribed by the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice shall, in cooperation with the State
Department of Health Services and the State Department of Social
Services, develop a minimal core training program for use by these
facilities.  As part of that training, long-term care facilities,
including nursing homes and out-of-home care facilities, shall
provide to all staff being trained a written copy of the reporting
requirements and a written notification of the staff's
confidentiality rights as specified in Section 15633.
   (2) Each long-term health care facility as defined in Section 1418
of the Health and Safety Code and each community care facility as
defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code shall comply
with paragraph (1) by January 1, 2001, or, if the facility began
operation after July 31, 2000, within six months of the date of the
beginning of the operation of the facility.  Employees hired after
June 1, 2001, shall be trained within 60 days of their first day of
employment.
   (3) Each residential care facility as defined in Section 1569.2 of
the Health and Safety Code shall comply with paragraph (1) by July
1, 2002, or, if the facility began operation after July 1, 2002,
within six months of the date of the beginning of the operation of
the facility.  Employees hired on or after July 1, 2002, shall be
trained within 60 days of their first day of employment.
   (b) Each long-term health care facility, as defined in Section
1418 of the Health and Safety Code, shall be subject to review by the
State Department of Health Services Licensing and Certification Unit
for compliance with the duties imposed in subdivision (a).
   (c) Each community care facility, as defined in Section 1502 of
the Health and Safety Code, and residential care facility for the
elderly, as defined in Section 1569.2 of the Health and Safety Code,
shall be subject to review by the State Department of Social Services
Community Care Licensing Unit for compliance with the duties imposed
in subdivision (a).