BILL NUMBER: AB 2236 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 22, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Maienschein and Stone
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Chávez)
FEBRUARY 21, 2014
An act to amend , repeal, and add Sections
1569.48 and 1548, 1568.0822, 1569.49 ,
1596.99, and 1597.58 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to
residential care facilities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2236, as amended, Maienschein. Residential care
facilities for the elderly: Care facilities:
civil penalties.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services
and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to,
the licensing and administration of community care facilities,
residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening
illnesses, residential care facilities for the
elderly. elderly, child day care centers, and family
day care homes.
Existing law authorizes the department to impose various civil
penalties for licensing violations. Existing law sets the
minimum civil penalty at $25 and the maximum penalty at $150 per day
per violation, and permits additional civil penalties for repeat
violations within a 12-month period.
This bill would increase the civil penalties, including
the penalties for repeat offenses, and would vary the minimum and
maximum penalties depending upon the seriousness of the harm to the
resident. would, commencing July 1, 2015, increase the
amount of civil penalties that may be imposed for a violation that
the department determines results in the death of, or serious bodily
injury or physical injury to, a resident or child at the care
facility.
This bill would, in the case of citations imposing civil
penalties for violations that caused death or serious bodily injury
to the resident, those cases, require that the
decision to issue the citation be reviewed by the department'
s legal office and be approved by the deputy
director prior to the issuance of the citation.
This bill would require that the appeal procedure include notice
to the complainant, affected residents, and, if possible, their legal
representatives, and the opportunity to participate in the appeal,
and an option for review by an administrative law judge.
This bill would, in cases involving death or serious bodily injury
of a resident, require the department to prove that the violation
was a direct proximate cause of the death or serious bodily injury,
and that it resulted from an occurrence of a nature that the statute
or regulation was designed to prevent. The bill would require
dismissal of the citation if the licensee proves that the licensee
did what might reasonably be expected of a residential care facility
for the elderly licensee, acting under similar circumstances, to
comply with the statute or regulation.
The bill would specify that, in an enforcement action pursuant to
these provisions, a licensee is liable for the acts and omissions of
its officers and employees.
Existing law authorizes the establishment of a fund and authorizes
deposit of up to 50% of the revenue from these civil penalties into
this fund, to be utilized, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for
the purposes of relocation and care of residents when a facility's
license is revoked or temporarily suspended.
This bill would, instead, establish the Emergency Resident
Relocation Fund and would require deposit of 50% of the revenue from
these civil penalties into the fund to be used for these purposes,
upon appropriation by the Legislature.
This bill would require the department to adopt regulations
setting forth the appeal procedures for deficiencies. The bill would
require that a licensee has the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed for
the death of, or serious bodily injury or physical injury to, a
resident or child at the care facility within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the civil penalty assessment. The bill would require
the first review to be conducted by a regional manager of the
department's Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD), who can
uphold, amend, or dismiss the civil penalty and would require the
licensee to be notified of the regional manager's decision within 60
days of the licensee's request. The licensee may further appeal to
the CCLD's program administrator and deputy director, and to an
administrative law judge, as specified.
This bill would require the department, by January 1, 2016, to
amend its regulations to accommodate reflect
the changes in these provisions to law
made by this bill.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1548 of the Health
and Safety Code is amended to read:
1548. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department
may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event, shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1534, the department shall assess an
immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute or regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1533, 1534, or 1538.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 1534, any facility that is cited for
repeating the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the
first violation is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one
hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars ($50) for each day the
violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(e) Any facility that is assessed a civil penalty pursuant to
subdivision (d) which repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (d) is
subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(f) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(g) As provided in Section 11466.31 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, the department may offset civil penalties owed by
a group home against moneys to be paid by a county for the care of
minors after the group home has exhausted its appeal of the civil
penalty assessment. The department shall provide the group home a
reasonable opportunity to pay the civil penalty before instituting
the offset provision.
(h) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as
of January 1, 2016, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2016, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 2. Section 1548 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1548. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension, or
revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department
may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event, shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1534, the department shall assess an
immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute or regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1533, 1534, or 1538.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) (1) For a violation that the department determines resulted in
the death of a resident at an adult residential facility, social
rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral supports home, or
community crisis home, the civil penalty shall be fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000).
(2) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a person receiving care at an adult day program, the civil
penalty shall be assessed as follows:
(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 50 or
less persons.
(B) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.
(3) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a person receiving care at a therapeutic day services
facility, foster family agency, community treatment facility,
full-service adoption agency, noncustodial adoption agency,
transitional shelter care facility, transitional housing placement
provider, or group home, the civil penalty shall be assessed as
follows:
(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 40 or
less children.
(B) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive,
children.
(C) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a licensee licensed,
among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 100
children.
(4) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a resident at a runaway and homeless youth shelter, the
civil penalty shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(e) (1) (A) For a violation that the department determines
constitutes physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury,
as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident at an
adult residential facility, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced
behavioral supports home, or community crisis home, the civil penalty
shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(B) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined
in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person receiving care at an
adult day program, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:
(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 50 or
less persons.
(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.
(C) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in serious
bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a
person receiving care at a therapeutic day services facility, foster
family agency, community treatment facility, full-service adoption
agency, noncustodial adoption agency, transitional shelter care
facility, transitional housing placement provider, or group home, the
civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:
(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 40 or
less children.
(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive,
children.
(iii) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed,
among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 100
children.
(D) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in serious
bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a
resident at a runaway and homeless youth shelter, the civil penalty
shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(2) For purposes of subparagraphs (C) and (D), "physical abuse"
includes physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by
other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section
11165.1 of the Penal Code, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2 of
the Penal Code, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined
in Section 11165.4 of the Penal Code when the person responsible for
the child's welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any
facility licensed to care for children.
(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by
the director.
(g) Notwithstanding Section 1534, any facility that is cited for
repeating the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the
first violation is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one
hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars ($50) for each day the
violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(h) Any facility that is assessed a civil penalty pursuant to
subdivision (g) that repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g) is
subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(i) (1) The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the
appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(2) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted
by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If
the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not
assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The
licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager's
decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of
the civil penalty.
(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator
of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the regional manager's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the program administrator's decision within 60 days of
the request to review the regional manager's decision.
(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the
Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of the program director's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the deputy director's decision within 60 days of the
request to review the program administrator's decision.
(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may
appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to
an administrative law judge. 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
shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all
proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard
of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the
department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or
revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the
assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the
pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties
shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.
(j) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its
regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act
that added this subdivision.
(l) As provided in Section 11466.31 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, the department may offset civil penalties owed by
a group home against moneys to be paid by a county for the care of
minors after the group home has exhausted its appeal of the civil
penalty assessment. The department shall provide the group home a
reasonable opportunity to pay the civil penalty before instituting
the offset provision.
(m) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
SEC. 3. Section 1568.0822 of the Health
and Safety Code is amended to read:
1568.0822. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary
suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the
department may levy a civil penalty. The department shall adopt
regulations setting forth the appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter, except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1568.07, the department shall assess
an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per
day per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute and regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water, when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1568.07 or 1568.071.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 1568.07, any residential care facility
that is cited for repeating the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate
civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars
($50) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(e) Any residential care facility that is assessed a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) which repeats the same violation of this
chapter within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (d)
shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of one thousand dollars
($1,000) and one hundred dollars ($100) for each day the violation
continues until the deficiency is corrected, provided that the
violation is a serious violation.
(f) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as
of January 1, 2016, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2016, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 4. Section 1568.0822 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1568.0822. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary
suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the
department may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter, except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1568.07, the department shall assess
an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per
day per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute and regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water, when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1568.07 or 1568.071.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a resident, the civil penalty shall be fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000).
(e) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined
in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident, the civil penalty
shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by
the director.
(g) Notwithstanding Section 1568.07, any residential care facility
that is cited for repeating the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate
civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars
($50) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(h) Any residential care facility that is assessed a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (g) that repeats the same violation of this
chapter within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g)
shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of one thousand dollars
($1,000) and one hundred dollars ($100) for each day the violation
continues until the deficiency is corrected, provided that the
violation is a serious violation.
(i) (1) The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the
appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(2) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted
by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If
the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not
assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The
licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager's
decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of
the civil penalty.
(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator
of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the regional manager's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the program administrator's decision within 60 days of
the request to review the regional manager's decision.
(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the
Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of the program director's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the deputy director's decision within 60 days of the
request to review the program administrator's decision.
(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may
appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to
an administrative law judge. 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
shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all
proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard
of proof shall be by a
preponderance of the evidence.
(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the
department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or
revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the
assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the
pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties
shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.
(j) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its
regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act
that added this subdivision.
(l) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
SEC. 5. Section 1569.49 of the Health
and Safety Code is amended to read:
1569.49. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary
suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the
department may levy a civil penalty. The department shall adopt
regulations setting forth the appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event, shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, the department shall assess
an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per
day per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision as required by statute or regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water, when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1569.32, 1569.33, or 1569.35.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, any residential care facility
for the elderly that is cited for repeating the same violation of
this chapter within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an
immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and
fifty dollars ($50) for each day the violation continues until the
deficiency is corrected.
(e) Any residential care facility for the elderly that is assessed
a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (d) which repeats the same
violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject
to subdivision (d) shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of
one thousand dollars ($1,000) and one hundred dollars ($100) for each
day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(f) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as
of January 1, 2016, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2016, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 6. Section 1569.49 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1569.49. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department
may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event, shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, the department shall assess
an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per
day per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision as required by statute or regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water, when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1569.32, 1569.33, or 1569.35.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a resident, the civil penalty shall be fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000).
(e) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined
in Section 15610.67 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to a
resident, the civil penalty shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by
the director.
(g) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, any residential care facility
for the elderly that is cited for repeating the same violation of
this chapter within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an
immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and
fifty dollars ($50) for each day the violation continues until the
deficiency is corrected.
(h) Any residential care facility for the elderly that is assessed
a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (g) that repeats the same
violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject
to subdivision (g) shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of
one thousand dollars ($1,000) and one hundred dollars ($100) for each
day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(i) (1) The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the
appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(2) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted
by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If
the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not
assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The
licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager's
decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of
the civil penalty.
(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator
of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the regional manager's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the program administrator's decision within 60 days of
the request to review the regional manager's decision.
(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the
Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of the program director's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the deputy director's decision within 60 days of the
request to review the program administrator's decision.
(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may
appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to
an administrative law judge. 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
shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all
proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard
of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the
department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or
revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the
assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the
pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties
shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.
(j) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its
regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act
that added this subdivision.
(l) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
SEC. 7. Section 1596.99 of the Health
and Safety Code is amended to read:
1596.99. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter or Chapter 3.4
(commencing with Section 1596.70), the department may levy a civil
penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98,
the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one hundred
fifty ($150) per day per violation for any of the following serious
violations:
(1) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, inoperable smoke alarms, and inoperable fire alarm
systems.
(2) Absence of supervision, including, but not limited to, a child
left unattended, supervision of a child by a person under 18 years
of age, and lack of supervision resulting in a child wandering away.
(3) Accessible bodies of water.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1596.852, 1596.853, or 1597.09.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98,
any day care center that is cited for repeating the same violation of
this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70),
within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate
civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the
violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(e) Any day care center that is assessed a civil penalty under
subdivision (d) and that repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (d) shall be
assessed an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
revenues received by the state from the payment of civil penalties
imposed on licensed child care centers pursuant to this chapter or
Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), shall be deposited in
the Child Health and Safety Fund, created pursuant to Chapter 4.6
(commencing with Section 18285) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code, and shall be expended, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, pursuant to subdivision (f) of
Section 18285 of the Welfare and Institutions Code exclusively for
the technical assistance, orientation, training, and education of
licensed day care center providers.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as
of January 1, 2016, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2016, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 8. Section 1596.99 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1596.99. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter or Chapter 3.4
(commencing with Section 1596.70), the department may levy a civil
penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment,
or both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98,
the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one hundred
fifty ($150) per day per violation for any of the following serious
violations:
(1) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, inoperable smoke alarms, and inoperable fire alarm
systems.
(2) Absence of supervision, including, but not limited to, a child
left unattended, supervision of a child by a person under 18 years
of age, and lack of supervision resulting in a child wandering away.
(3) Accessible bodies of water.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1596.852, 1596.853, or 1597.09.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a child, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:
(1) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 30 or
less children.
(2) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 31 to 100, inclusive,
children.
(3) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a licensee licensed,
among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 100
children.
(e) (1) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse or resulted in serious injury, as defined in Section
1596.8865, to a child, the civil penalty shall be assessed as
follows:
(A) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee
licensed, among all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 30 or
less children.
(B) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for 31 to 100, inclusive,
children.
(C) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among
all of the licensee's facilities, to care for more than 100 children.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, "physical abuse" includes
physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by other
than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1 of
the Penal Code, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2 of the Penal
Code, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section
11165.4 of the Penal Code when the person responsible for the child'
s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility
licensed to care for children, or an administrator or employee of a
public or private school or other institution or agency.
(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by
the director.
(g) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98,
any day care center that is cited for repeating the same violation of
this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70),
within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate
civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the
violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(h) Any day care center that is assessed a civil penalty under
subdivision (g) and that repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g) shall be
assessed an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(i) Notwithstanding any other law, revenues received by the state
from the payment of civil penalties imposed on licensed child care
centers pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with
Section 1596.70), shall be deposited in the Child Health and Safety
Fund, created pursuant to Chapter 4.6 (commencing with Section 18285)
of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and
shall be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 18285 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code exclusively for the technical assistance, orientation, training,
and education of licensed day care center providers, and to assist
families with the identification, transportation, and enrollment of
children to another day care center when a family's day care center's
license is revoked or temporarily suspended.
(j) (1) The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the
appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(2) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted
by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If
the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not
assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The
licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager's
decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of
the civil penalty.
(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator
of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the regional manager's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the program administrator's decision within 60 days of
the request to review the regional manager's decision.
(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the
Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of the program director's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the deputy director's decision within 60 days of the
request to review the program administrator's decision.
(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may
appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to
an administrative law judge. 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
shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all
proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard
of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the
department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or
revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the
assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the
pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties
shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.
(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its
regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act
that added this subdivision.
(l) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
SEC. 9. Section 1597.58 of the Health
and Safety Code is amended to read:
1597.58. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department
may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment or
both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, 1597.56, and
1597.62 the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one
hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation for any of the
following serious violations:
(1) Any violation that results in the injury, illness, or death of
a child.
(2) Absence of supervision, including, but not limited to, a child
left unattended, a child left alone with a person under 18 years of
age, and lack of supervision resulting in a child wandering away.
(3) Accessible bodies of water.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Sections 1596.852, 1596.853, 1597.55a , and
1597.55b.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, 1597.56 and
1597.62, any family day care home that is cited for repeating the
same violation of this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with
Section 1596.70), within 12 months of the first violation is subject
to an immediate civil penalty assessment of up to one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) and may
be assessed up to fifty dollars ($50) for each day the violation
continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(e) Any family day care home that is assessed a civil penalty
under subdivision (d) that repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (d) shall
be assessed an immediate assessment of up to one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) and may be assessed up to one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
revenues received by the state from the payment of civil penalties
imposed on licensed family day care homes pursuant to this chapter or
Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), shall be deposited in
the Child Health and Safety Fund, created pursuant to Chapter 4.6
(commencing with Section 18285) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code, and shall be expended, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, pursuant to subdivision (f) of
Section 18285 of the Welfare and Institutions Code exclusively for
the technical assistance, orientation, training, and education of
licensed family day care home providers.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2015, and, as
of January 1, 2016, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2016, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
SEC. 10. Section 1597.58 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
1597.58. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension,
or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department
may levy a civil penalty.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than
twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day
for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or
seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation
warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment or
both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil
penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day
per violation.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, 1597.56, and
1597.62 the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one
hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation for any of the
following serious violations:
(1) Any violation that results in the injury, illness, or death of
a child.
(2) Absence of supervision, including, but not limited to, a child
left unattended, a child left alone with a person under 18 years of
age, and lack of supervision resulting in a child wandering away.
(3) Accessible bodies of water.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Sections 1596.852, 1596.853, 1597.55a, and 1597.55b.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the
death of a child, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:
(1) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a small family day care
home, as described in Section 1597.44.
(2) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a large
family day care home, as described in Section 1597.465.
(e) (1) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
physical abuse or resulted in serious injury, as defined in Section
1596.8865, to a child, the civil penalty shall be assessed as
follows:
(A) One thousand dollars ($1,000) for a small family day care
home, as described in Section 1597.44.
(B) Two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a large family day care
home, as described in Section 1597.465.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, "physical abuse" includes
physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by other
than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1 of
the Penal Code, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2 of the Penal
Code, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section
11165.4 of the Penal Code when the person responsible for the child'
s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility
licensed to care for children, or an administrator or employee of a
public or private school or other institution or agency.
(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by
the director.
(g) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, 1597.56, and
1597.62, any family day care home that is cited for repeating the
same violation of this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with
Section 1596.70), within 12 months of the first violation is subject
to an immediate civil penalty assessment of up to one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) and may be assessed up to fifty dollars ($50) for each
day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.
(h) Any family day care home that is assessed a civil penalty
under subdivision (g) that repeats the same violation of this chapter
within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g) shall
be assessed an immediate assessment of up to one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) and may be assessed up to one hundred fifty dollars
($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is
corrected.
(i) Notwithstanding any other law, revenues received by the state
from the payment of civil penalties imposed on licensed family day
care homes pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with
Section 1596.70), shall be deposited in the Child Health and Safety
Fund, created pursuant to Chapter 4.6 (commencing with Section 18285)
of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and
shall be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 18285 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code exclusively for the technical assistance, orientation, training,
and education of licensed family day care home providers, and to
assist families with the identification, transportation, and
enrollment of children to another family day care home when a family'
s family day care home's license is revoked or temporarily suspended.
(j) (1) The department shall adopt regulations setting forth the
appeal procedures for deficiencies.
(2) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a
written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed
pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted
by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If
the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not
assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The
licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager's
decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of
the civil penalty.
(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator
of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of
the notice of the regional manager's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the program administrator's decision within 60 days of
the request to review the regional manager's decision.
(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the
Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the
notice of the program director's decision and shall provide all
supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director
determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with
applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may
amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in
writing of the deputy director's decision within 60 days of the
request to review the program administrator's decision.
(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may
appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to
an administrative law judge. 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
shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all
proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard
of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.
(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the
department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or
revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the
assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the
pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties
shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.
(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its
regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act
that added this subdivision.
(l) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.
SECTION 1. Section 1569.48 of the Health and
Safety Code is amended to read:
1569.48. The Emergency Resident Relocation Fund is hereby
established within the State Treasury. The department shall deposit
into the fund 50 percent of each penalty assessed pursuant to Section
1569.49. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the fund
shall be used by the Community Care Licensing Division of the
department to fund emergency resident relocation and care of
residents when a facility's license is revoked or temporarily
suspended. The money in the fund shall cover costs, including, but
not limited to, transportation expenses, expenses incurred in
notifying family members, and any other costs directly associated
with providing continuous care to the residents. The department shall
seek the advice of providers in developing a state plan for
emergency resident relocation.
SEC. 2. Section 1569.49 of the Health and
Safety Code is amended to read:
1569.49. (a) In addition to the suspension, temporary
suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the
department may levy a civil penalty. The department shall adopt
regulations setting forth the appeal procedures for deficiencies. The
appeal procedure shall include notice to the complainant, affected
residents, and, if possible, their legal representatives, and the
opportunity to participate in the appeal. The appeal procedure shall
include an option for review by an administrative law judge.
(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than one
hundred dollars ($100) or more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250)
per day for each violation of this chapter, or of any regulations
adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter. When assessed,
the per-day civil penalty shall end once the licensee submits
documentation of correction, if the correction is verified by the
department.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, the department shall assess
an immediate civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day
per violation for any of the following serious violations:
(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to,
overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and
inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be
assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:
(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory,
nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.
(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.
(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may
appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may
subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and
shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final
appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the
citation, whichever is earlier.
(2) Absence of supervision as required by statute or regulation.
(3) Accessible bodies of water, when prohibited in this chapter or
regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.
(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in
violation of Section 1569.32, 1569.33, or 1569.35.
(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.
(d) For a violation that the department determines was the direct
proximate cause of death to a resident, the minimum civil penalty
shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000) and the maximum civil penalty
shall be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
(e) For a violation that the department determines was the direct
proximate cause of "serious bodily injury" as defined in Section
15610.67 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the minimum civil
penalty shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000) and the maximum civil
penalty shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(f) For a violation that the department determines constitutes
"physical abuse" as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, but does not result in "serious bodily injury" as
defined in Section 15610.67 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and
it is determined by the department that the abuse was committed by
the licensee or an employee of the licensee, the minimum civil
penalty shall be five hundred dollars ($500) and the maximum civil
penalty shall be two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).
(g) (1) In any action to enforce a citation issued under
subdivision (d) or (e), the department shall have the burden of
proving both of the following:
(A) The violation was a direct proximate cause of the death or
serious bodily injury of a resident.
(B) The death or serious bodily injury resulted from an occurrence
of a nature that the statute or regulation was designed to prevent.
(2) If the department meets its burden of proof, the licensee
shall have the burden of proving that the licensee did what might
reasonably be expected of a residential care facility for the elderly
licensee, acting under similar circumstances, to comply with the
statute or regulation. If the licensee sustains this burden, then the
citation shall be dismissed.
(h) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty
under subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be reviewed by the
department's legal division and approved by the deputy director.
(i) Notwithstanding Section 1569.33, any residential care facility
for the elderly that is cited for repeating the same violation of
this chapter within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an
immediate civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and,
thereafter, an ongoing civil penalty of two hundred dollars ($200)
for each day the violation continues until the licensee submits
documentation demonstrating that the deficiency is corrected, if the
correction is verified by the department.
(j) Any residential care facility for the elderly that is assessed
a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (i) that repeats the same
violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject
to subdivision (i) shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of
two thousand dollars ($2,000) and, thereafter, an ongoing civil
penalty of two hundred dollars ($200) for each day the violation
continues until the licensee submits documentation demonstrating that
the deficiency is corrected, if the correction is verified by the
department.
(k) In assessing a civil penalty for a violation under this
section, the department shall consider all relevant information,
including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(1) The probability and severity of the risk of harm that the
violation presents to the residents' mental and physical condition.
(2) The good faith efforts of the facility to prevent the
violation from occurring.
( l ) In any enforcement action taken by the
department, the licensee shall be liable for the acts and omissions
of its officers and employees.
(m) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this
section.
(n) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, adopt amendments to
its regulations adopted pursuant to this section in order to
incorporate changes necessary to accommodate amendments to this
section made by the act that added this subdivision. The regulations
adopted or amended by the department pursuant to subdivision (m)
shall remain in effect until amended by the department pursuant to
this subdivision.