BILL NUMBER: AB 1499	CHAPTERED  09/16/99

	CHAPTER   414
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 16, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 16, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 26, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 23, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 16, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 23, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 26, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Lowenthal and Shelley
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Aroner, Calderon, Correa, Firebaugh,
Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Machado, Romero, Strom-Martin,
Washington, and Wildman)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Escutia, Hughes, Polanco, Solis, and
Vasconcellos)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1499, Lowenthal.  Elder and dependent abuse reporting:
training.
   Existing law requires mandated reporters to report instances of
abuse of elder or dependent adults.
   This bill would specify that long-term health care facilities or
communitycare facilities that provide care to adults shall provide
training to their staff in recognizing and reporting elder and
dependent adult abuse.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 15655 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   15655.  (a) (1) Each long-term health care facility, as defined in
Section 1418 of the Health and Safety Code or community care
facility, as defined in Section 1502 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) Compliance with paragraph (1) shall be completed by January 1,
2001, or, if the facility begins 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.
   (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 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).