BILL NUMBER: SB 648 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JANUARY 26, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE JANUARY 5, 2016
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 5, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 20, 2015
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 7, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Mendoza
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Levine)
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act to amend Sections 1400, 1401, 1404, 1404.5, 1405, 1407,
1408, 1409.3, and 1410 of, and to add Sections 1402, 1409.4,
1409.5, 1409.6, 1409.7, and 1409.8
1409.8, and 1409.9 to, the Health and Safety Code, and to
amend Section 15630 of the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to health and care facilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 648, as amended, Mendoza. Health and care facilities: referral
agencies.
Existing law requires a referral agency to obtain a license from
the State Department of Public Health in order to refer a person to
any extended care facility, skilled nursing home, or intermediate
care facility. Existing law exempts a local public agency performing
referral services without cost from these provisions. Under existing
law, a violation of these provisions is subject to a civil penalty
and suspension or revocation of the license.
This bill would additionally require a referral agency to obtain a
license from the State Department of Social Services in order to
refer a person to a residential care facility for the
elderly and elderly. The bill would prohibit an
extended care facility, skilled nursing home, intermediate care
facility, or residential care facility for the elderly from paying a
commission or fee to a referral agency that is not licensed, as
specified. The bill would prohibit a referral agency from holding any
power of attorney or any other property of a person receiving
referral services, or from disclosing any personal information of a
person receiving services, unless authorized to do so. The bill would
require a referral agency to provide a disclosure
statement, as specified, disclose specified
information to each person receiving its services, and to
retain, for 3 years, the an
acknowledgment from the person being referred, or his or her
conservator, guardian, authorized family member, or agent under a
power of attorney, stating that the disclosure statement was
received. The bill would state that failure to provide the
disclosure statement or retain the acknowledgment, with the intent to
mislead the public on the nature of the services provided,
constitutes unfair competition and is subject to a civil penalty of
up to $2,500. disclosures had been made. The
bill would also require referral agencies to maintain liability
insurance in specified amounts.
Existing law makes specified persons mandated reporters of elder
or dependent adult abuse, including administrators, supervisors, and
licensed staff of a facility that provide care or services for elder
or dependent adults. Under existing law, failure to report physical
abuse, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect
of an elder or dependent adult is a misdemeanor.
The bill would include on the list of mandated reporters owners,
operators, and employees of a referral agency. By expanding the crime
of failure to report elder or dependent adult abuse, this bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no yes .
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1400 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
1400. (a) It is unlawful for any person, association, or
corporation to establish, conduct, or maintain a referral agency or
to refer any person for remuneration to any extended care facility,
skilled nursing home, intermediate care facility, or residential care
facility for the elderly, or a distinct part of a facility providing
extended care, skilled nursing home care, or intermediate care,
without first having obtained a written license as provided in this
chapter from the State Public Health Officer or from an inspection
service approved by the State Public Health Officer pursuant to
Section 1257, from the State Department of Social Services, or from
both, as appropriate.
(b) It is unlawful for any person, association, or corporation to
establish, conduct, or maintain a referral agency or to refer any
person for remuneration to any person or agency outside a long-term
health care facility, as defined in Section 1418, for professional
services for which the long-term health care facility does not employ
a qualified professional person to furnish a specific service,
including, but not limited to, laboratory, diagnostic, or therapy
services, unless the long-term health care facility complies with
current federal and state laws regarding the provision of these
services and all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The services will be provided in accordance with professional
standards applicable to the provision of these services in a
long-term health care facility.
(2) The long-term health care facility assumes responsibility for
timeliness of the services.
(3) Services are provided or obtained only when ordered by the
attending physician and a notation is made in the resident's medical
chart reflecting that the service has been provided to the resident.
(c) It is unlawful for any person, association, or corporation to
establish, conduct, or maintain a referral agency or to refer any
person for remuneration to any residential care facility for the
elderly for professional services if that facility does not meet the
licensing standards established in Chapter 3.2 (commencing with
Section 1560). The referral agency may satisfy this requirement by
obtaining and relying on the licensing status information for a
residential care facility for the elderly that is published on the
Internet Web site of the State Department of Social Services.
(d) It is unlawful for any extended care facility, skilled nursing
home, intermediate care facility, or residential care facility for
the elderly, or a distinct part of a facility providing extended
care, skilled nursing home care, or intermediate care to pay a
commission or fee to a referral agency that does not have a written
license as provided in this chapter from the State Public Health
Officer or from an inspection service approved by the State Public
Health Officer pursuant to Section 1257, from the State Department of
Social Services, or from both, as appropriate.
SEC. 2. Section 1401 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1401. As used in this chapter, "referral agency" means a private,
profit or nonprofit agency that is engaged in the business of
referring persons for remuneration to any extended care facility,
skilled nursing home, intermediate care facility, or residential care
facility for the elderly, or a distinct part of a facility providing
extended care, skilled nursing home care, or intermediate care.
"Referral agency" does not include any of the following:
(a) A licensed residential care facility for the elderly that does
either of the following:
(1) Provides discounts or other remuneration to residents or their
families for referring new or prospective clients.
(2) Provides remuneration to staff for marketing or sales offers.
(b) A resident who refers a new or prospective resident and
receives a discount or other remuneration from a licensed residential
care facility for the elderly.
(c) A licensed residential care facility staff member who receives
remuneration from the facility for sales or marketing efforts.
SEC. 3. Section 1402 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
1402. "Residential care facility for the elderly" has the same
meaning as set forth in Section 1569.2.
SEC. 4. Section 1404 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1404. No licensee under this chapter shall have a direct or
indirect financial interest in any facility doing business with the
licensee.
SEC. 5. Section 1404.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1404.5. A license application shall be submitted to either or
both licensing departments, as appropriate, whenever any of the
following circumstances occur:
(a) Change of ownership of the referral agency.
(b) Change of name of the referral agency.
(c) Change of location of the referral agency.
SEC. 6. Section 1405 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1405. (a) Any person,
partnership, firm, corporation, or association desiring to obtain a
license to refer persons to extended care facilities, skilled nursing
homes, or intermediate care facilities, or a distinct part of a
facility providing extended care, skilled nursing home care, or
intermediate care, shall file with the State Department of Public
Health an application on forms furnished by the State Department of
Public Health. Any person, partnership, firm, corporation, or
association desiring to obtain a license to refer persons to
residential care facilities for the elderly shall file with the State
Department of Social Services an application on forms furnished by
the State Department of Social Services. The applications shall
contain all of the following:
(a) Name of applicant, and if an individual, whether the applicant
has attained the age of 18 years.
(b) Name of referral agency.
(c) The location of the referral agency.
(d) The business or occupation engaged in by each applicant, and
by each partner, officer officer, and
director, for at least two years immediately preceding the filing of
the application. In addition, each such person shall submit a
statement setting forth whether he or she has previously engaged in
the operation of a referral agency, whether he or she has been
involved in, or the subject of, a refusal or revocation of a referral
agency license, and whether he or she has been convicted of a crime
other than a minor traffic offense.
(e) If the applicant is a corporation, the name and principal
business address of each officer and director of the corporation; and
for nonpublic corporations, the name and business address of each
stockholder owning 10 percent or more of the stock and the name and
business address of any corporation member who has responsibility in
the operation of the facility.
(f) If the applicant is a partnership, the name and principal
business address of each partner.
(g) Evidence of the right to occupy the premises where the
referral agency is to be located.
(h) A copy of the partnership agreement or the Articles of
Incorporation, if applicable.
(i) A copy of the current organization chart.
(j) A schedule of fees to be charged and collected by the referral
agency, and a statement of the method by which each fee is to be
computed or determined.
(k) A declaration that the licensee will not have any financial
interest in any health facility doing business with the referral
agency.
( l ) Evidence satisfactory to the licensing department
that the applicant demonstrates reputable and responsible character
and the capability to comply with this chapter.
SEC. 7. Section 1407 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1407. (a) Any licensee desiring to voluntarily surrender his or
her license for cancellation or temporary suspension shall notify the
licensing department in writing as soon as possible and, in all
cases, at least 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation
or temporary suspension of the license.
(b) Any license placed in temporary suspension pursuant to this
section may be reinstated by the licensing department within 12
months of the date of the voluntary suspension on receipt of an
application and evidence showing compliance with licensing
requirements.
SEC. 8. Section 1408 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1408. (a) Upon verification of compliance with this chapter and
with the approval of the licensing department, the licensing
department shall issue the license to the applicant.
(b) When licensing referral agencies that provide referrals to
residential care facilities for the elderly, the State Department of
Social Services is not required to conduct an onsite licensing
inspection as a condition of verifying compliance with this chapter.
(c) As a condition of verifying compliance with this chapter, the
licensing department may require an applicant to submit a copy or
example of the disclosure statement
disclosures required by Section 1409.4.
(d) If the applicant is not in compliance with this chapter, the
licensing department shall deny the applicant a license. Immediately
upon the denial of any license, the licensing department shall notify
the applicant in writing. Within 20 days of receipt of the notice,
the applicant may present his or her written petition for a hearing
to the licensing department. Proceedings conducted by the State
Department of Public Health shall be conducted in accordance with
Section 100171.
(e) For purposes of compliance with this chapter, an applicant is
not required to have a physical place of business within the state.
SEC. 9. Section 1409.3 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1409.3. (a) The licensee shall notify either or both licensing
departments, as appropriate, within 10 days in writing when a change
of stockholder owning 10 percent or more of the nonpublic corporate
stock occurs. The writing shall include the name and principal
mailing addresses of the new stockholder.
(b) When a change of agency manager occurs, either or both
licensing departments, as appropriate, shall be notified in writing
within 10 days by the licensee. The notification shall include the
name of the new agency manager.
(c) Each licensee shall notify either or both licensing
departments, as appropriate, within 10 days in writing of any change
of the mailing address of the licensee. The writing shall include the
new mailing address of the licensee.
(d) When a change occurs in the principal officer of a
corporate licensee, chairperson, president, or general manager,
occurs either or both licensing departments, as
appropriate, shall be notified within 10 days in writing by the
licensee. The writing shall include the name and principal business
address of the officer.
SEC. 10. Section 1409.4 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to
read:
1409.4. (a) Before referring a person to any facility, a licensee
shall provide the person with a disclosure statement
containing all of the following: disclose all of the
following to the person:
(1) Whether the licensee has an agreement or contract with the
facility to which the person is being referred.
(2) That Whether a commission or fee
will be received by the licensee from the facility as a result of
the referral, if applicable. referral.
(3) Any gift or exchange of monetary value between the facility
and the licensee that is in addition to, or in lieu of, a commission
or fee.
(4) Any fee charged to the person or persons by the licensee. The
notice shall include a description of the services being rendered for
that fee and the licensee's refund policy.
(5) The licensee's contact information, including address and
telephone number, and the licensee's privacy policy. The privacy
policy may be provided as an Internet Web site link consistent with
provisions set forth in Section 22575 of the Business and Professions
Code.
(6) The date of the licensee's most recent tour or visit to the
facility and, as appropriate, a hyperlink to, or copy of, the most
recent evaluation report for a residential care facility for the
elderly to which the person is being referred, prepared pursuant to
Section 1569.33 and published by the State Department of Social
Services.
(7) Information regarding the type of facility and the services
offered by the facility.
(8)
(6) The contact information, including address and
telephone number, of the State Department of Social Services or State
Department of Public Health, as appropriate, and the contact
information for filing consumer complaints, including contact
information for the local long-term care ombudsman. If the disclosure
statement is provided electronically, the contact information for
each department and the local long-term care ombudsman may be
provided as a hyperlink.
(b) Contemporaneous with a referral, the licensee shall provide
the person with the following information about the facility:
(1) The date of the licensee's most recent tour or visit to the
facility and verification that the facility is licensed and in good
standing, and a hyperlink to, or copy of, the most recent evaluation
report for a residential care facility for the elderly to which the
person is being referred, prepared pursuant to Section 1569.33 and
published by the State Department of Social Services, if an
evaluation report has been prepared in the previous 24 months.
(2) Information regarding the type of facility and the services
offered by the facility.
(b)
(c) (1) The disclosure statement
disclosures shall be dated and shall contain, in addition
to the requirements of subdivision (a),
subdivisions (a) and (b), the name of the person being referred.
(2) If the disclosure is disclosures are
provided in written form, it they
shall be printed in 16-point bold type.
(3) If the disclosure statement is
disclosures are provided electronically, it
they shall be provided in a manner that is
consistent with provisions set forth in Title 2.5 (commencing with
Section 1633.1) of Part 2 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, and shall
be displayed on a secured Web page in a larger type than the
surrounding text.
(c)
(d) The licensee shall provide the disclosure
statement make the disclosures pursuant to
subdivision (a) subdivisions (a) and (b)
in the same language in which the licensee negotiates any
referral services with the person receiving services.
(d)
(e) The disclosure statement
disclosures shall be signed or otherwise acknowledged by the
person being referred, or his or her conservator, guardian,
authorized family member, or agent under a power of attorney, stating
that the disclosure statement disclosures
required by this section was were
received. The acknowledgment shall be executed with one of
the following: evidenced in one of the following ways:
(1) The signature of the person being referred, or his or her
conservator, guardian, authorized family member, or agent under a
power of attorney on the exact disclosure statement.
the document containing the required disclosures.
(2) An electronic signature that is consistent with standards set
forth in Title 2.5 (commencing with Section 1633.1) of Part 2 of
Division 3 of the Civil Code and includes the date, time, and
Internet provider address and displays the exact disclosure
statement document. required disclosures.
(3) A faxed confirmation that includes the date, time, and fax
number and displays the exact disclosure statement document.
required disclosures.
(4) A telephonic, oral acknowledgment of the person being
referred, or his or her conservator, guardian, authorized family
member, or agent under power of attorney, which shall be recorded,
with that person's consent, consistent with Sections 632 and 632.7 of
the Penal Code. This paragraph does not authorize an inperson, oral
acknowledgment.
(e) The acknowledgment required by this section
(f) Evidence of the dated disclosure
acknowledgment shall be retained for a period of no less than
three years.
(f)
(g) (1) If the disclosure statement,
disclosures, or any other referral-related document,
is are provided electronically, the
licensee shall provide a written copy, in 16-point bold type, to the
person being referred, or his or her conservator, guardian,
authorized family member, or agent under power of attorney following
any referral. This written copy may be provided by fax, email, or
other means of electronic communication, if appropriate.
(2) Recorded telephonic acknowledgments shall, upon request, be
provided in an easily accessible format to the person being referred
or the licensing department within five days of the request.
(g) Any violation of this section with the intent to directly or
indirectly mislead the public on the nature of services provided by
the referral agency will constitute unfair competition which includes
unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business acts or practices and
unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising. Any person or
entity that engages in unfair competition shall be liable for a civil
penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for
each violation.
SEC. 11. Section 1409.5 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1409.5. Owners, operators, and employees of a licensee are
mandated reporters of elder or dependent adult abuse pursuant to
Section 15630 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 11. SEC. 12. Section 1409.6 is
added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
1409.6. (a) It is unlawful for a licensee to share any personal
information, including, but not limited to, the name, address, age,
gender, or medical information of the person receiving services from
the licensee, with any unauthorized person or third-party affiliate
of the licensee, unless authorized pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) Before making a referral A referral
agency shall not refer a person to any facility or
facilities, facilities unless the person being
referred, or his or her conservator, guardian, family member, or
agent under power of attorney, may authorize
authorizes the licensee to share his or her
the referred person's personal information, as well as the
name and a description of the care or services needed by the
individual being referred, with a facility or facilities for purposes
of the referral. The personal information, or other information
shared, shall be limited to only that information which is necessary
to complete the referral process. The authorization shall be obtained
in either of the following ways:
(1) As a separate authorization form that clearly discloses
that, by executing an acknowledgment in the manner described
in subdivision (d) of Section 1409.4, that the
individual is consenting to the disclosure of his or her personal
information to a facility or facilities for which they are being
referred. This acknowledgment authorization
form shall include the name and location of the facility or
facilities that will receive the personal information and
the format in which the personal information will be shared.
information, and shall be executed in the
manner described in subdivision (e) of Section 1409.4.
(2) As part of the disclosure statement required by
Section 1409.4 if it clearly indicates that the individual
disclosures required by Section 1409.4, if the acknowledgment
required by subdivision (e) of Section 1409.4 clearly indicates that
the individual being referred, or his or her conservator, guardian,
authorized family member, or agent under power of attorney, is
consenting to the referral agency's disclosure of his or her personal
information to a facility or facilities for which her
he or she is being referred. The
authorization shall include licensee shall prov
ide to the individual being referred the name and location
information of the facility or facilities that
will receive the personal information and the format in
which the personal information will be shared.
information, as applicable.
(c) The licensee shall not share the contact information of an
individual who has not provided his or her authorization pursuant to
subdivision (b).
SEC. 12. SEC. 13. Section 1409.7 is
added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
1409.7. It is unlawful for a licensee to hold any power of
attorney for a person receiving placement referral services from that
licensee, or to receive or hold a client's property in any capacity.
SEC. 13. SEC. 14. Section 1409.8 is
added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
1409.8. On and after July 1, 2016, 2017,
all persons, associations, or corporations licensed pursuant to
this chapter shall maintain liability insurance coverage in an
amount of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per person
occurrence and three million dollars ($3,000,000) in the total annual
aggregate, for negligent acts or omissions by the licensee.
SEC. 15. Section 1409.9 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1409.9. A licensee shall display the licensee's name and license
number on all advertising, promotional or marketing material, and
Internet Web sites paid for or operated by the licensee.
SEC. 14. SEC. 16. Section 1410 of
the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
1410. The licensing department may suspend or revoke a license
issued under this chapter for violation of any provisions of this
chapter or rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. In addition,
the licensing department shall assess a civil penalty in the amount
of fees received by a licensee as a result of a violation of any
provisions of this chapter or rules and regulations promulgated
hereunder. Proceedings to suspend or revoke a license conducted by
the State Department of Public Health shall be conducted pursuant to
Section 100171.
SEC. 17. Section 15630 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code is amended to read:
15630. (a) Any person who has assumed full or intermittent
responsibility for the care or custody of an elder or dependent
adult, whether or not he or she receives compensation, including
administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or
private facility that provides care or services for elder or
dependent adults, or any elder or dependent adult care custodian,
health practitioner, clergy member, or employee of a county adult
protective services agency or a local law enforcement agency, is a
mandated reporter.
15630. (a) All of the following persons are
mandated reporters:
(1) A person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility
for the care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or
not he or she receives compensation, including administrators,
supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility
that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults.
(2) An elder or dependent adult care custodian.
(3) A health practitioner.
(4) A clergy member.
(5) An employee of a county adult protective services agency.
(6) An employee of a local law enforcement agency.
(7) An owner, operator, or employee of a referral agency licensed
under Article 1 (commencing with Section 1400) of Chapter 2.3 of
Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) (1) Any mandated reporter who, in his or her professional
capacity, or within the scope of his or her employment, has observed
or has knowledge of an incident that reasonably appears to be
physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63, abandonment,
abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect, or is told by an
elder or dependent adult that he or she has experienced behavior,
including an act or omission, constituting physical abuse, as defined
in Section 15610.63, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial
abuse, or neglect, or reasonably suspects that abuse, shall report
the known or suspected instance of abuse by telephone or through a
confidential Internet reporting tool, as authorized by Section 15658,
immediately or as soon as practicably possible. If reported by
telephone, a written report shall be sent, or an Internet report
shall be made through the confidential Internet reporting tool
established in Section 15658, within two working days.
(A) If the suspected or alleged abuse is physical abuse, as
defined in Section 15610.63, and the abuse occurred in a long-term
care facility, except a state mental health hospital or a state
developmental center, the following shall occur:
(i) If the suspected abuse results in serious bodily injury, a
telephone report shall be made to the local law enforcement agency
immediately, but also no later than within two hours of the mandated
reporter observing, obtaining knowledge of, or suspecting the
physical abuse, and a written report shall be made to the local
ombudsman, the corresponding licensing agency, and the local law
enforcement agency within two hours of the mandated reporter
observing, obtaining knowledge of, or suspecting the physical abuse.
(ii) If the suspected abuse does not result in serious bodily
injury, a telephone report shall be made to the local law enforcement
agency within 24 hours of the mandated reporter observing, obtaining
knowledge of, or suspecting the physical abuse, and a written report
shall be made to the local ombudsman, the corresponding licensing
agency, and the local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the
mandated reporter observing, obtaining knowledge of, or suspecting
the physical abuse.
(iii) When the suspected abuse is allegedly caused by a resident
with a physician's diagnosis of dementia, and there is no serious
bodily injury, as reasonably
determined by the mandated reporter, drawing upon his or
her training or experience, the reporter shall report to the local
ombudsman or law enforcement agency by telephone, immediately or as
soon as practicably possible, and by written report, within 24 hours.
(iv) When applicable, reports made pursuant to clauses (i) and
(ii) shall be deemed to satisfy the reporting requirements of the
federal Elder Justice Act of 2009, as set out in Subtitle H of the
federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law
111-148), Section 1418.91 of the Health and Safety Code, and Section
72541 of Title 22 of California Code of Regulations. When a local law
enforcement agency receives an initial report of suspected abuse in
a long-term care facility pursuant to this subparagraph, the local
law enforcement agency may coordinate efforts with the local
ombudsman to provide the most immediate and appropriate response
warranted to investigate the mandated report. The local ombudsman and
local law enforcement agencies may collaborate to develop protocols
to implement this subparagraph.
(B) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code, or any other law, the department may implement
subparagraph (A), in whole or in part, by means of all-county
letters, provider bulletins, or other similar instructions without
taking regulatory action.
(C) If the suspected or alleged abuse is abuse other than physical
abuse, and the abuse occurred in a long-term care facility, except a
state mental health hospital or a state developmental center, a
telephone report and a written report shall be made to the local
ombudsman or the local law enforcement agency.
(D) With regard to abuse reported pursuant to subparagraph (C),
the local ombudsman and the local law enforcement agency shall, as
soon as practicable, except in the case of an emergency or pursuant
to a report required to be made pursuant to clause (v), in which case
these actions shall be taken immediately, do all of the following:
(i) Report to the State Department of Public Health any case of
known or suspected abuse occurring in a long-term health care
facility, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1418 of the Health
and Safety Code.
(ii) Report to the State Department of Social Services any case of
known or suspected abuse occurring in a residential care facility
for the elderly, as defined in Section 1569.2 of the Health and
Safety Code, or in an adult day program, as defined in paragraph (2)
of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.
(iii) Report to the State Department of Public Health and the
California Department of Aging any case of known or suspected abuse
occurring in an adult day health care center, as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 1570.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
(iv) Report to the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse any
case of known or suspected criminal activity.
(v) Report all cases of known or suspected physical abuse and
financial abuse to the local district attorney's office in the county
where the abuse occurred.
(E) (i) If the suspected or alleged abuse or neglect occurred in a
state mental hospital or a state developmental center, and the
suspected or alleged abuse or neglect resulted in any of the
following incidents, a report shall be made immediately, but no later
than within two hours of the mandated reporter observing, obtaining
knowledge of, or suspecting abuse, to designated investigators of the
State Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of
Developmental Services, and also to the local law enforcement agency:
(I) A death.
(II) A sexual assault, as defined in Section 15610.63.
(III) An assault with a deadly weapon, as described in Section 245
of the Penal Code, by a nonresident of the state mental hospital or
state developmental center.
(IV) An assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury,
as described in Section 245 of the Penal Code.
(V) An injury to the genitals when the cause of the injury is
undetermined.
(VI) A broken bone when the cause of the break is undetermined.
(ii) All other reports of suspected or alleged abuse or neglect
that occurred in a state mental hospital or a state developmental
center shall be made immediately, but no later than within two hours
of the mandated reporter observing, obtaining knowledge of, or
suspecting abuse, to designated investigators of the State Department
of State Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental
Services, or to the local law enforcement agency.
(iii) When a local law enforcement agency receives an initial
report of suspected or alleged abuse or neglect in a state mental
hospital or a state developmental center pursuant to clause (i), the
local law enforcement agency shall coordinate efforts with the
designated investigators of the State Department of State Hospitals
or the State Department of Developmental Services to provide the most
immediate and appropriate response warranted to investigate the
mandated report. The designated investigators of the State Department
of State Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental Services
and local law enforcement agencies may collaborate to develop
protocols to implement this clause.
(iv) Except in an emergency, the local law enforcement agency
shall, as soon as practicable, report any case of known or suspected
criminal activity to the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.
(v) Notwithstanding any other law, a mandated reporter who is
required to report pursuant to Section 4427.5 shall not be required
to report under clause (i).
(F) If the abuse has occurred in any place other than a long-term
care facility, a state mental hospital, or a state developmental
center, the report shall be made to the adult protective services
agency or the local law enforcement agency.
(2) (A) A mandated reporter who is a clergy member who acquires
knowledge or reasonable suspicion of elder or dependent adult abuse
during a penitential communication is not subject to paragraph (1).
For purposes of this subdivision, "penitential communication" means a
communication that is intended to be in confidence, including, but
not limited to, a sacramental confession made to a clergy member who,
in the course of the discipline or practice of his or her church,
denomination, or organization is authorized or accustomed to hear
those communications and under the discipline tenets, customs, or
practices of his or her church, denomination, or organization, has a
duty to keep those communications secret.
(B) This subdivision shall not be construed to modify or limit a
clergy member's duty to report known or suspected elder and dependent
adult abuse if he or she is acting in the capacity of a care
custodian, health practitioner, or employee of an adult protective
services agency.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, a clergy
member who is not regularly employed on either a full-time or
part-time basis in a long-term care facility or does not have care or
custody of an elder or dependent adult shall not be responsible for
reporting abuse or neglect that is not reasonably observable or
discernible to a reasonably prudent person having no specialized
training or experience in elder or dependent care.
(3) (A) A mandated reporter who is a physician and surgeon, a
registered nurse, or a psychotherapist, as defined in Section 1010 of
the Evidence Code, shall not be required to report, pursuant to
paragraph (1), an incident if all of the following conditions exist:
(i) The mandated reporter has been told by an elder or dependent
adult that he or she has experienced behavior constituting physical
abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63, abandonment, abduction,
isolation, financial abuse, or neglect.
(ii) The mandated reporter is not aware of any independent
evidence that corroborates the statement that the abuse has occurred.
(iii) The elder or dependent adult has been diagnosed with a
mental illness or dementia, or is the subject of a court-ordered
conservatorship because of a mental illness or dementia.
(iv) In the exercise of clinical judgment, the physician and
surgeon, the registered nurse, or the psychotherapist, as defined in
Section 1010 of the Evidence Code, reasonably believes that the abuse
did not occur.
(B) This paragraph shall not be construed to impose upon mandated
reporters a duty to investigate a known or suspected incident of
abuse and shall not be construed to lessen or restrict any existing
duty of mandated reporters.
(4) (A) In a long-term care facility, a mandated reporter shall
not be required to report as a suspected incident of abuse, as
defined in Section 15610.07, an incident if all of the following
conditions exist:
(i) The mandated reporter is aware that there is a proper plan of
care.
(ii) The mandated reporter is aware that the plan of care was
properly provided or executed.
(iii) A physical, mental, or medical injury occurred as a result
of care provided pursuant to clause (i) or (ii).
(iv) The mandated reporter reasonably believes that the injury was
not the result of abuse.
(B) This paragraph shall not be construed to require a mandated
reporter to seek, nor to preclude a mandated reporter from seeking,
information regarding a known or suspected incident of abuse prior to
reporting. This paragraph shall apply only to those categories of
mandated reporters that the State Department of Public Health
determines, upon approval by the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder
Abuse and the state long-term care ombudsman, have access to plans of
care and have the training and experience necessary to determine
whether the conditions specified in this section have been met.
(c) (1) Any mandated reporter who has knowledge, or reasonably
suspects, that types of elder or dependent adult abuse for which
reports are not mandated have been inflicted upon an elder or
dependent adult, or that his or her emotional well-being is
endangered in any other way, may report the known or suspected
instance of abuse.
(2) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a long-term care
facility other than a state mental health hospital or a state
developmental center, the report may be made to the long-term care
ombudsman program. Except in an emergency, the local ombudsman shall
report any case of known or suspected abuse to the State Department
of Public Health and any case of known or suspected criminal activity
to the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, as soon as is
practicable.
(3) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a state mental
health hospital or a state developmental center, the report may be
made to the designated investigator of the State Department of State
Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental Services or to a
local law enforcement agency. Except in an emergency, the local law
enforcement agency shall report any case of known or suspected
criminal activity to the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, as
soon as is practicable.
(4) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a place other
than a place described in paragraph (2) or (3), the report may be
made to the county adult protective services agency.
(5) If the conduct involves criminal activity not covered in
subdivision (b), it may be immediately reported to the appropriate
law enforcement agency.
(d) If two or more mandated reporters are present and jointly have
knowledge or reasonably suspect that types of abuse of an elder or a
dependent adult for which a report is or is not mandated have
occurred, and there is agreement among them, the telephone report or
Internet report, as authorized by Section 15658, may be made by a
member of the team selected by mutual agreement, and a single report
may be made and signed by the selected member of the reporting team.
Any member who has knowledge that the member designated to report has
failed to do so shall thereafter make the report.
(e) A telephone report or Internet report, as authorized by
Section 15658, of a known or suspected instance of elder or dependent
adult abuse shall include, if known, the name of the person making
the report, the name and age of the elder or dependent adult, the
present location of the elder or dependent adult, the names and
addresses of family members or any other adult responsible for the
elder's or dependent adult's care, the nature and extent of the elder'
s or dependent adult's condition, the date of the incident, and any
other information, including information that led that person to
suspect elder or dependent adult abuse, as requested by the agency
receiving the report.
(f) The reporting duties under this section are individual, and no
supervisor or administrator shall impede or inhibit the reporting
duties, and no person making the report shall be subject to any
sanction for making the report. However, internal procedures to
facilitate reporting, ensure confidentiality, and apprise supervisors
and administrators of reports may be established, provided they are
not inconsistent with this chapter.
(g) (1) Whenever this section requires a county adult protective
services agency to report to a law enforcement agency, the law
enforcement agency shall, immediately upon request, provide a copy of
its investigative report concerning the reported matter to that
county adult protective services agency.
(2) Whenever this section requires a law enforcement agency to
report to a county adult protective services agency, the county adult
protective services agency shall, immediately upon request, provide
to that law enforcement agency a copy of its investigative report
concerning the reported matter.
(3) The requirement to disclose investigative reports pursuant to
this subdivision shall not include the disclosure of social services
records or case files that are confidential, nor shall this
subdivision be construed to allow disclosure of any reports or
records if the disclosure would be prohibited by any other provision
of state or federal law.
(h) Failure to report, or impeding or inhibiting a report of,
physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63, abandonment,
abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect of an elder or
dependent adult, in violation of this section, is a misdemeanor,
punishable by not more than six months in the county jail, by a fine
of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine
and imprisonment. Any mandated reporter who willfully fails to
report, or impedes or inhibits a report of, physical abuse, as
defined in Section 15610.63, abandonment, abduction, isolation,
financial abuse, or neglect of an elder or dependent adult, in
violation of this section, if that abuse results in death or great
bodily injury, shall be punished by not more than one year in a
county jail, by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars
($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. If a mandated
reporter intentionally conceals his or her failure to report an
incident known by the mandated reporter to be abuse or severe neglect
under this section, the failure to report is a continuing offense
until a law enforcement agency specified in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (b) of Section 15630 discovers the offense.
(i) For purposes of this section, "dependent adult" shall have the
same meaning as in Section 15610.23.
SEC. 18. 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.