Amended in Senate May 18, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 4, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2341

Introduced by Assembly Member begin delete Lackey end delete begin insert Obernolte end insert

February 18, 2016

An act to begin delete amend Section 1252 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health facilities. end delete begin insert end insert begin insert add Section 69614.5 to the Government Code, relating to judgeships. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2341, as amended, begin delete Lackey end delete   begin insert Obernolte end insert . begin delete Health facilities: special services. end delete begin insert Allocation of vacant judgeships. end insert

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Existing law specifies the number of judges for the superior court of each county. Existing law allocates additional judgeships to the various counties in accordance with uniform standards for factually determining additional judicial need in each county, as updated and approved by the Judicial Council, pursuant to the Update of Judicial Needs Study, based on specified criteria, including, among others, workload standards that represent the average amount of time of bench and nonbench work required to resolve each case type.

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This bill would require the allocation of up to 5 vacant judgeships, as defined, from superior courts with more authorized judgeships than their assessed judicial need to superior courts with fewer authorized judgeships than their assessed judicial need. The bill would require the allocation to be in accordance with a methodology approved by the Judicial Council, as specified, and would require the determination of a superior court’s assessed judicial need to be in accordance with the above uniform standards and be based on the criteria described above. The bill would require the Judicial Council, if a vacant judgeship is eligible for allocation to another superior court, to promptly notify the applicable courts, the Legislature, and the Governor that the judgeship shall be allocated to another court.

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This bill would also make a statement of legislative intent regarding the authority of the Legislature, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of California.

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Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities by the State Department of Public Health and prohibits a health facility from providing a special service without the approval of the department. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law defines a “special service” to mean a functional division, department, or unit of a health facility that is organized, staffed, and equipped to provide a specific type of patient care and that has been identified by regulations of the department and for which the department has established special standards for quality of care. Under existing law, “special services” includes physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, or speech pathology and audiology services provided by a nursing facility to outpatients.

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This bill would additionally define “special services” to mean dialysis, peritoneal, and infusion services as may be approved by the department for nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities that are not identified in regulations of the department, if the licensee can demonstrate to the department that the special service will operate in accordance with a minimum standard for quality of care. The bill would require a licensee applying to the department for approval of special services that are not identified by regulations of the department to submit an application and other information, as specified. By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

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This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  begin delete yes end delete begin insert no end insert .

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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It is the intent of the Legislature that this act shall
not be construed to limit any of the following:

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(a) The authority of the Legislature to create and fund new
judgeships pursuant to Section 4 of Article VI of the California
Constitution.

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(b) The authority of the Governor to appoint a person to fill a
vacancy pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 16 of Article VI of
the California Constitution.

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(c) The authority of the Chief Justice of California to assign
judges pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 6 of Article VI of the
California Constitution.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

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begin insert Section 69614.5 is added to the end insert begin insert Government Code end insert begin insert , to
read: end insert

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begin insert 69614.5. end insert   

(a) To provide for a more equitable distribution of
judgeships and upon notice to the applicable courts, up to five
vacant judgeships shall be allocated from superior courts with
more authorized judgeships than their assessed judicial need to
superior courts with fewer authorized judgeships than their
assessed judicial need pursuant to the requirements of this section.

(b) The allocation of vacant judgeships pursuant to subdivision
(a) shall be in accordance with a methodology approved by the
Judicial Council after solicitation of public comments. The
determination of a superior court’s assessed judicial need shall
be in accordance with the uniform standards for factually
determining additional judicial need in each county, as updated
and approved by the Judicial Council, pursuant to the Update of
Judicial Needs Study, based on the criteria set forth in subdivision
(b) of Section 69614.

(c) If a judgeship in a superior court becomes vacant, the
Judicial Council shall determine whether the judgeship is eligible
for allocation to another superior court under the methodology,
standards, and criteria described in subdivision (b). If the
judgeship is eligible for allocation to another superior court, the
Judicial Council shall promptly notify the applicable courts, the
Legislature, and the Governor that the judgeship vacated in one
court shall be allocated to another court.

(d) (1) For purposes of this section only, a judgeship shall
become “vacant” when an incumbent judge relinquishes the office
through resignation, retirement, death, removal, or confirmation
to an appellate court judgeship during either of the following:

(A) At any time before the deadline to file a declaration of
intention to become a candidate for a judicial office pursuant to
Section 8023 of the Elections Code.

(B) After the deadline to file a declaration of intention to become
a candidate for a judicial office pursuant to Section 8023 of the
Elections Code if no candidate submits qualifying nomination
papers by the deadline pursuant to Section 8020 of the Elections
Code.

(2) For purposes of this section, a judgeship shall not become
“vacant” when an incumbent judge relinquishes the office as a
result of being defeated in an election for that office.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 1252 of the Health and Safety Code is
amended to read:

1252.  

(a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), “special
service” means a functional division, department, or unit of a health
facility that is organized, staffed, and equipped to provide a specific
type or types of patient care and that has been identified by
regulations of the state department and for which the state
department has established special standards for quality of care.
“Special service” does not include a functional division,
department, or unit of a nursing facility, as defined in subdivision
(k) of Section 1250, that is organized, staffed, and equipped to
provide inpatient physical therapy services, occupational therapy
services, or speech pathology and audiology services to residents
of the facility if these services are provided solely to meet the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services certification
requirements. “Special service” includes physical therapy services,
occupational therapy services, or speech pathology and audiology
services provided by a nursing facility, as defined in subdivision
(k) of Section 1250, to outpatients.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), “special service” also
means dialysis, peritoneal, and infusion services as may be
approved by the department for nursing facilities and skilled
nursing facilities that are not identified by regulations of the
department, if the licensee can demonstrate to the satisfaction of
the department that the special service will operate in accordance
with a minimum standard for quality of care. The minimum
standard for quality of care for the special service under this
subdivision shall be equivalent to, or greater than, that of current
community standards for quality of care for that type of service.
Approved special services shall be listed on the facility license.
Failure to maintain the agreed upon minimum standard for quality
of care shall result in approval for the special service being
terminated. A licensee applying to the department for approval of
special services that are not identified by regulations of the
department pursuant to this subdivision shall submit all the
following information for the department’s consideration:

(1) A completed application on forms prescribed by the
department, with additional documentation or data, as required by
the department, that clearly identifies the scope of the special
service proposed to be provided.

(2) The hours of operation for the special service.

(3) Whether the service is to be provided solely to the residents
of the facility or also on an outpatient basis. If the service is to be
provided on an outpatient basis, the licensee shall specify the
population to be served.

(4) A copy of the special service policies and procedures for
review and approval.

(5) The minimum staffing levels and qualifications for the
proposed special service, sufficient to meet the needs of the
residents and patients.

(6) Identification of the equipment and supplies necessary to
meet the needs of residents and patients receiving care in the special
service.

(7) Identification of an appropriate space within the facility to
be used to provide the special service. A special service that is
provided on an outpatient basis shall not be provided in a space
that would require outpatients to traverse areas where resident
sleeping rooms are located.

(8) Confirmation that the applicable building, zoning, and fire
safety standards for the proposed use of the special service space
are met.

(9) Any other relevant information requested by the department.

(c) This section does not limit the department’s ability to
evaluate compliance with the therapy requirements for nursing
facilities and skilled nursing facilities established in Title 22 of
the California Code of Regulations during investigations or
inspections, including, but not limited to, inspections conducted
pursuant to Section 1422, or to limit the department’s ability to
enforce the therapy requirements.

SEC. 2.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.

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