ARTICLE 2. Administration [1520. - 1526.8.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 2.
in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520. Section 1520.

Any person desiring issuance of a license for a community care facility or a special permit for specialized services under this chapter shall file with the department, pursuant to regulations, an application on forms furnished by the department, which shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Evidence satisfactory to the department of the ability of the applicant to comply with this chapter and of rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter by the department. (b) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant is of reputable and responsible character. The evidence shall include, but not be limited to, a criminal record clearance pursuant to Section 1522, employment history, and character references. If the applicant is a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or company, like evidence shall be submitted as to the members or shareholders thereof, and the person in charge of the community care facility for which application for issuance of license or special permit is made. (c) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to maintain the standards of service required by regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. (d) Disclosure of the applicant’s prior or present service as an administrator, general partner, corporate officer, or director of, or as a person who has held or holds a beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more in, any community care facility or in any facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250). (e) Disclosure of any revocation or other disciplinary action taken, or in the process of being taken, against a license held or previously held by the entities specified in subdivision (d). (f) Disclosure of any revocation, rescission, or other disciplinary action taken, or in the process of being taken, against a certificate of approval held by the applicant pursuant to this chapter or Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (g) A signed statement that the person desiring issuance of a license or special permit has read and understood the community care facility licensure statute and regulations that pertain to the applicant’s category of licensure. (h) Any other information that may be required by the department for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter. (i) In implementing this section, the department shall give due consideration to the functions of each separate licensing category. (j) Failure of the applicant to cooperate with the licensing agency in the completion of the application shall result in the denial of the application. Failure to cooperate means that the information described in this section and in regulations of the department has not been provided, or not provided in the form requested by the licensing agency, or both.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.1. Section 1520.1.

In addition to Section 1520, applicants for a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program license shall meet the following requirements: (a) (1) During the first 12 months of operation, the facility shall operate with a provisional license. After eight months of operation, the department shall conduct a comprehensive review of the facility for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including progress of the facility toward obtaining mental health program approval, if applicable, and help develop a plan of correction with the provisional licensee, if appropriate. By the end of the 12th month of operation, the department shall determine if the permanent license should be issued. (2) If the department determines that the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program is in substantial compliance with licensing standards, notwithstanding Section 1525.5, the department may extend the provisional license for up to an additional six months for the reasons described in subparagraph (A) or (B), or up to an additional 12 months for the reason described in subparagraph (C): (A) The group home or short-term residential therapeutic program requires additional time to be in full compliance with licensing standards. (B) After 12 months of operation, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program is not operating at 50 percent of its licensed capacity. (C) The short-term residential therapeutic program requires additional time to complete the mental health program approval as set forth in Section 1562.01. The department may require ongoing documentation to ensure progress toward mental health program approval. The department may also require ongoing documentation that the provider is ensuring access to specialty mental health services during provisional licensure. (3) By no later than the first business day of the 17th month of operation, the department shall conduct an additional review of a facility for which a provisional license is extended pursuant to paragraph (2), in order to determine whether a permanent license should be issued. (4) The department may deny a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program license application at any time during the term of the provisional license to protect the health and safety of clients. If the department denies the application, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall cease operation immediately. Continued operation of the facility after the department denies the application or the provisional license expires shall constitute unlicensed operation. (5) When the department notifies a city or county planning authority pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1520.5, the department shall briefly describe the provisional licensing process and the timelines provided for under that process, as well as provide the name, address, and telephone number of the district office licensing the facility where a complaint or comment about the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation may be filed. (b) (1) After the production of the booklet provided for in paragraph (2), every member of the group home’s board of directors or governing body and every member of a short-term residential therapeutic program’s board of directors or governing body shall, prior to becoming a member of the board of directors or governing body sign a statement that they understand their legal duties and obligations as a member of the board of directors or governing body and that the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation is governed by laws and regulations that are enforced by the department, as set forth in the booklet. The applicant, provisional licensee, and licensee shall have this statement available for inspection by the department. For members of the board of directors or governing body when the booklet is produced, the licensee shall obtain this statement by the next scheduled meeting of the board of directors or governing body. Compliance with this paragraph shall be a condition of licensure. (2) The department shall distribute to every group home provider and short-term residential therapeutic program provider, respectively, detailed information designed to educate members of the group home provider’s or short-term residential therapeutic program provider’s board of directors or governing body of their roles and responsibilities as members of a public benefit corporation under the laws of this state. The information shall be included in a booklet, may be revised as deemed necessary by the department, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (A) The financial responsibilities of a member of the board of directors or governing body. (B) Disclosure requirements for self-dealing transactions. (C) Legal requirements pertaining to articles of incorporation, bylaws, length of member terms, voting procedures, board or governing body meetings, quorums, minutes of meetings, and, as provided for in subdivision (f), member duties. (D) A general overview of the laws and regulations governing the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation that are enforced by the department. (c) All financial records submitted by a facility to the department, or that are submitted as part of an audit of the facility, including, but not limited to, employee timecards and timesheets, shall be signed and dated by the employee and by the group home representative or short-term residential therapeutic program representative who is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the record, or when a time clock is used, the payroll register shall be signed and dated, and those financial records shall contain an affirmative statement that the signatories understand that the information contained in the document is correct to the best of their knowledge and that submission of false or misleading information may be prosecuted as a crime. (d) An applicant, provisional licensee, or licensee shall maintain, submit, and sign financial documents to verify the legitimacy and accuracy of these documents. These documents include, but are not limited to, the group home or short-term residential therapeutic program application, any financial documents and plans of corrections submitted to the department, and timesheets. (e) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program have either representatives on its board of directors, as listed in paragraph (2), or a community advisory board, that meets at least annually. (2) The representatives on the board of directors or the community advisory board members should consist of at least the following persons: (A) A member of the facility’s board of directors. (B) Members of the community where the facility is located. (C) Neighbors of the facility. (D) Current or former clients of the facility. (E) A representative from a local law enforcement or other city or county representative. (f) Each group home or short-term residential therapeutic program provider shall schedule and conduct quarterly meetings of its board of directors or governing body. During these quarterly meetings, the board of directors or governing body shall review and discuss licensing reports, financial and program audit reports of its group home or short-term residential therapeutic program operations, special incident reports, and any administrative action against the licensee or its employees. The minutes shall reflect the board’s or governing body’s discussion of these documents and the group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s operation. The licensee shall make available the minutes of group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s board of directors or governing body meetings to the department.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.2. Section 1520.2.

(a) Every licensed community care facility, at the request of a majority of its residents, shall assist its residents in establishing and maintaining a resident-oriented facility council. The council shall be composed of residents of the facility and may include family members of residents of the facility. The council may, among other things, make recommendations to facility administrators to improve the quality of daily living in the facility and may negotiate to protect residents’ rights with facility administrators. (b) A violation of subdivision (a) shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 1540 but shall be subject to the provisions of Section 1534 and any other provisions of this chapter. (c) This section shall not apply to a community care facility as defined in paragraphs (3), (5), and (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, or to a community care facility licensed to provide care for six or fewer individuals.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.3. Section 1520.3.

(a) (1) If an application for a license or special permit indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant previously was issued a license under this chapter or under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250), Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01), Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569), Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 1570), Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), or Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30), or that the applicant previously was approved as a resource family under Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and the prior license was revoked or prior approval was rescinded within the preceding two years, the department shall cease any further review of the application until two years shall have elapsed from the date of the revocation or rescission. The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of Section 1526 or any other provision of law. (2) If an application for a license or special permit indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant previously was issued a certificate of approval by a foster family agency that was revoked or rescinded by the department pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1517 or subdivision (b) of Section 1534 within the preceding two years, the department shall cease any further review of the application until two years shall have elapsed from the date of the revocation or rescission. (3) If an application for a license or special permit indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant was excluded from a facility licensed by the department, a certified family home or resource family home of a foster family agency pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or 1596.8897, or a resource family home of a county pursuant to Section 16519.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department shall cease any further review of the application unless the excluded individual has been reinstated by the department pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code or Section 16519.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as applicable. (b) If an application for a license or special permit indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant had previously applied for a license under any of the chapters listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or for resource family approval pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) of Chapter 5 of Part 5 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and the application was denied within the last year, the department shall cease further review of the application as follows: (1) In cases in which the applicant petitioned for a hearing, the department shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision and order of the department upholding a denial. (2) In cases in which the department or county informed the applicant of his or her right to petition for a hearing and the applicant did not petition for a hearing, the department shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the date of the notification of the denial and the right to petition for a hearing. (3) The department may continue to review the application if it has determined that the reasons for the denial of the application were due to circumstances and conditions which either have been corrected or are no longer in existence. (c) If an application for a license or special permit indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant had previously applied for a certificate of approval with a foster family agency and the department ordered the foster family agency to deny the application pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1517 or subdivision (b) of Section 1534, the department shall cease further review of the application as follows: (1) In cases in which the applicant petitioned for a hearing, the department shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision and order of the department upholding a denial. (2) In cases in which the department informed the applicant of his or her right to petition for a hearing and the applicant did not petition for a hearing, the department shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the date of the notification of the denial and the right to petition for a hearing. (3) The department may continue to review the application if it has determined that the reasons for the denial of the application were due to circumstances and conditions that either have been corrected or are no longer in existence. (d) The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of Section 1526 or any other law.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.5. Section 1520.5.

(a) The Legislature hereby declares it to be the policy of the state to prevent overconcentrations of residential facilities that impair the integrity of residential neighborhoods. Therefore, the department shall deny an application for a new residential facility license if the department determines that the location is in a proximity to an existing residential facility that would result in overconcentration. (b) As used in this section, “overconcentration” means that if a new license is issued, there will be residential facilities that are separated by a distance of 300 feet or less, as measured from any point upon the outside walls of the structures housing those facilities. Based on special local needs and conditions, the department may approve a separation distance of less than 300 feet with the approval of the city or county in which the proposed facility will be located. (c) At least 45 days prior to approving any application for a new residential facility, the department, or county licensing agency, shall notify, in writing, the planning agency of the city, if the facility is to be located in the city, or the planning agency of the county, if the facility is to be located in an unincorporated area, of the proposed location of the facility. (d) Any city or county may request denial of the license applied for on the basis of overconcentration of residential facilities. (e) Nothing in this section authorizes the department, on the basis of overconcentration, to refuse to grant a license upon a change of ownership of an existing residential facility when there is no change in the location of the facility. (f) Foster family homes and residential facilities for the elderly shall not be considered in determining overconcentration of residential facilities, and license applications for those facilities shall not be denied upon the basis of overconcentration. (g) Transitional shelter care facilities and temporary shelter care facilities shall not be considered in determining overconcentration of residential facilities, and license applications for those facilities shall not be denied upon the basis of overconcentration.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.7. Section 1520.7.

(a) Every community care facility that is licensed or has a special permit for specialized services pursuant to Section 1525 shall provide a copy of the disaster and mass casualty plan required pursuant to Section 80023 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations to any fire department, law enforcement agency, or civil defense or other disaster authority in the area or community in which the facility is located, upon request by the fire department, law enforcement agency, or civil defense or other disaster authority. Section 1540 shall not apply to this section. (b) The department is not required to monitor compliance with this section as part of its regulatory monitoring functions.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1520.11. Section 1520.11.

(a) A corporation that applies for licensure with the department shall list the facilities that any member of the board of directors, an executive director, or any officer has been licensed to operate, been employed in, or served as a member of the board of directors, the executive director, or an officer. (b) The department shall not issue a provisional license or license to any corporate applicant that has a member of the board of directors, an executive director, or an officer, who is not eligible for licensure pursuant to Section 1520.3 or Section 1558.1. (c) The department may revoke the license of any corporate licensee that has a member of the board of directors, an executive director, or an officer, who is not eligible for licensure pursuant to Section 1520.3 or Section 1558.1. (d) Prior to instituting an administrative action pursuant to either subdivision (b) or (c), the department shall notify the applicant or licensee of the person’s ineligibility to be a member of the board of directors, an executive director, or an officer of the applicant or licensee. The licensee shall remove the person from that position within 15 days or, if the person has client contact, he or she shall be removed immediately upon notification.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1521. Section 1521.

Any person desiring a license for a community care facility under the provisions of this chapter which is required by other code provisions or rules or regulations of the state department pursuant to other code provisions to have a medical director, organized medical staff, or resident medical staff or to provide professional nursing services by a registered nurse or supervision of nursing services by a licensed registered nurse, a graduate nurse, a licensed vocational nurse, or a certified psychiatric technician shall comply with the health planning requirements contained in Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 437) of Division 1. All other community care facilities shall be exempt from the health planning requirements contained in Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 437) of Division 1.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1521.5. Section 1521.5.

(a) The county welfare director shall, prior to the issuance of any foster family home license, ensure that the county licensing staff, or the placement staff, conducts one or more in-home interviews with the prospective foster parent sufficient to collect information on caregiver qualifications that may be used by the placement agency to evaluate the ability, willingness, and readiness of the prospective foster parent to meet the varying needs of children. The inability of a prospective foster parent to meet the varying needs of children shall not, in and of itself, preclude a prospective foster parent from obtaining a foster family home license. (b) All in-home interviews required by this section shall be on an in-person basis. (c) If the in-home interview is conducted by the licensing agency, it shall be a part of the licensing record, and shall be shared with the placement agency pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 1798.24 of the Civil Code. (d) The in-home interview required by this section shall be completed no later than 120 days following notification by the licensing agency. (e) No license shall be issued unless an in-home interview has been conducted as required by this section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1521.6. Section 1521.6.

(a) The Legislature recognizes the importance of ensuring that prospective foster family homes meet specified health and safety requirements. Moreover, the Legislature acknowledges that there is a further need to evaluate a licensed foster parent’s ability, readiness, and willingness to meet the varying needs of children in order to ensure competent placement resources. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with county placement agencies, foster care providers, and other interested parties, develop and implement through regulations, a comprehensive home study process that integrates the decision outcome of the home study developed pursuant to Section 16518 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as a criteria for placement. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the date the regulations adopted pursuant to this section are filed with the Secretary of State.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522. Section 1522.

The Legislature recognizes the need to generate timely and accurate positive fingerprint identification of applicants as a condition of issuing licenses, permits, or certificates of approval for persons to operate or provide direct care services in a community care facility, foster family home, certified family home or resource family of a licensed foster family agency, or a tribally approved home. Therefore, the Legislature supports the use of the fingerprint live-scan technology, as identified in the long-range plan of the Department of Justice for fully automating the processing of fingerprints and other data by the year 1999, otherwise known as the California Crime Information Intelligence System (CAL-CII), to be used for applicant fingerprints. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to require the fingerprints of those individuals whose contact with community care clients may pose a risk to the clients’ health and safety. An individual shall be required to obtain either a criminal record clearance or a criminal record exemption from the State Department of Social Services before their initial presence in a community care facility or certified family home. (a) (1) Before and, as applicable, subsequent to issuing a license or special permit to a person to operate or manage a community care facility, the State Department of Social Services shall secure from an appropriate law enforcement agency a criminal record to determine whether the applicant or any other person specified in subdivision (b) has been convicted of a crime other than an infraction or arrested for a crime specified in Section 290 of the Penal Code, or for violating Section 245, 273ab, or 273.5 of the Penal Code, subdivision (b) of Section 273a of the Penal Code, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (2) of Section 273a of the Penal Code, or for a crime for which the department is prohibited from granting a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (g). (2) The criminal history information shall include the full criminal record, if any, of those persons, and subsequent arrest information pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code. (3) The following shall apply to the criminal record information: (A) If the State Department of Social Services finds that the applicant, or any other person specified in subdivision (b), has been convicted of a crime other than an infraction, the application shall be denied, unless the department grants an exemption pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section or Section 1522.7. (B) If the State Department of Social Services finds that the applicant, or any other person specified in subdivision (b), is awaiting trial for a crime other than an infraction the State Department of Social Services may cease processing the criminal record information until the conclusion of the trial. (C) If no criminal record information has been recorded, the Department of Justice shall provide the applicant and the State Department of Social Services with a statement of that fact. (D) If the State Department of Social Services finds, after licensure, that the licensee, or any other person specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), has been convicted of a crime other than an infraction, the license may be revoked, unless the department grants an exemption pursuant to subdivision (g). (E) An applicant and any other person specified in subdivision (b) shall submit fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice for the purpose of searching the criminal records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in addition to the criminal records search required by this subdivision. If, after licensure, or the issuance of a certificate of approval of a certified family home by a foster family agency, the department determines that the licensee or any other person specified in subdivision (b) has a criminal record, the department may revoke the license, or require a foster family agency to revoke the certificate of approval, pursuant to Section 1550. The department may also suspend the license or require a foster family agency to suspend the certificate of approval pending an administrative hearing pursuant to Section 1550.5. (F) The State Department of Social Services shall develop procedures to provide the individual’s state and federal criminal history information with the written notification of the individual’s exemption denial or revocation based on the criminal record. Receipt of the criminal history information shall be optional on the part of the individual, as set forth in the agency’s procedures. The procedure shall protect the confidentiality and privacy of the individual’s record, and the criminal history information shall not be made available to the employer. (G) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may provide an individual with a copy of the individual’s state or federal level criminal offender record information search response as provided to that department by the Department of Justice if the department has denied a criminal background clearance based on this information and the individual makes a written request to the department for a copy specifying an address to which it is to be sent. The state or federal level criminal offender record information search response shall not be modified or altered from its form or content as provided by the Department of Justice and shall be provided to the address specified by the individual in the individual’s written request. The department shall retain a copy of the individual’s written request and the response and date provided. (b) (1) In addition to the applicant, this section is applicable to criminal record clearances and exemptions for the following persons: (A) Adults responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff. (B) Any adult, other than a client, residing in the facility, certified family home, resource family home, or tribally approved home. (C) Any person who provides client assistance in dressing, grooming, bathing, or personal hygiene. Any nurse assistant or home health aide meeting the requirements of Section 1338.5 or 1736.6, respectively, who is not employed, retained, or contracted by the licensee, and who has been certified or recertified on or after July 1, 1998, shall be deemed to meet the criminal record clearance requirements of this section. A certified nurse assistant and certified home health aide who will be providing client assistance and who falls under this exemption shall provide one copy of their current certification, prior to providing care, to the community care facility. The facility shall maintain the copy of the certification on file as long as care is being provided by the certified nurse assistant or certified home health aide at the facility or in a certified family home or resource family home of a foster family agency. This paragraph does not restrict the right of the department to exclude a certified nurse assistant or certified home health aide from a licensed community care facility or certified family home or resource family home of a foster family agency pursuant to Section 1558. (D) Any staff person, volunteer, or employee who has contact with the clients. (E) Any adult who works in a community care facility that is eligible to accept placement of a dependent child. (F) If the applicant is a firm, partnership, association, or corporation, the chief executive officer or other person serving in like capacity. (G) Additional officers of the governing body of the applicant, or other persons with a financial interest in the applicant, as determined necessary by the department by regulation. The criteria used in the development of these regulations shall be based on the person’s capability to exercise substantial influence over the operation of the facility. (2) The following persons are exempt from the requirements applicable under paragraph (1): (A) A medical professional, as defined in department regulations, who holds a valid license or certification from the person’s governing California medical care regulatory entity and who is not employed, retained, or contracted by the licensee if all of the following apply: (i) The criminal record of the person has been cleared as a condition of licensure or certification by the person’s governing California medical care regulatory entity. (ii) The person is providing time-limited specialized clinical care or services. (iii) The person is providing care or services within the person’s scope of practice. (iv) The person is not a community care facility licensee or an employee of the facility. (B) A third-party repair person or similar retained contractor if all of the following apply: (i) The person is hired for a defined, time-limited job. (ii) The person is not left alone with clients. (iii) When clients are present in the room in which the repair person or contractor is working, a staff person who has a criminal record clearance or exemption is also present. (C) Employees of a licensed home health agency and other members of licensed hospice interdisciplinary teams who have a contract with a client or resident of the facility, certified family home, or resource family home and are in the facility, certified family home, or resource family home at the request of that client or resident’s legal decisionmaker. The exemption does not apply to a person who is a community care facility licensee or an employee of the facility. (D) Clergy and other spiritual caregivers who are performing services in common areas of the community care facility, certified family home, resource family home, or tribally approved home or who are advising an individual client at the request of, or with the permission of, the client or legal decisionmaker, are exempt from fingerprint and criminal background check requirements imposed by community care licensing. This exemption does not apply to a person who is a community care licensee or employee of the facility. (E) Members of fraternal, service, or similar organizations who conduct group activities for clients if all of the following apply: (i) Members are not left alone with clients. (ii) Members do not transport clients off the facility, certified family home, or resource family home premises. (iii) The same organization does not conduct group activities for clients more often than defined by the department’s regulations. (3) In addition to the exemptions in paragraph (2), the following persons in foster family homes, resource family homes, certified family homes, tribally approved homes, and small family homes are exempt from the requirements applicable under paragraph (1): (A) Adult friends and family of the foster parent, who come into the home to visit for a length of time no longer than defined by the department in regulations, provided that the adult friends and family of the foster parent are not left alone with the foster children. However, the foster parent, acting as a reasonable and prudent parent, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, may allow their adult friends and family to provide short-term care to the foster child and act as an appropriate occasional short-term babysitter for the child. (B) Parents of a foster child’s friend when the foster child is visiting the friend’s home and the friend, foster parent, or both are also present. However, the foster parent, acting as a reasonable and prudent parent, may allow the parent of the foster child’s friend to act as an appropriate, occasional short-term babysitter for the child without the friend being present. (C) Individuals who are engaged by a foster parent to provide short-term care to the child for periods not to exceed 24 hours. Caregivers shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard in selecting appropriate individuals to act as appropriate occasional short-term babysitters. (4) In addition to the exemptions specified in paragraph (2), the following persons in adult day care and adult day support centers are exempt from the requirements applicable under paragraph (1): (A) Unless contraindicated by the client’s individualized program plan (IPP) or needs and service plan, a spouse, significant other, relative, or close friend of a client, or an attendant or a facilitator for a client with a developmental disability if the attendant or facilitator is not employed, retained, or contracted by the licensee. This exemption applies only if the person is visiting the client or providing direct care and supervision to the client. (B) A volunteer if all of the following apply: (i) The volunteer is supervised by the licensee or a facility employee with a criminal record clearance or exemption. (ii) The volunteer is never left alone with clients. (iii) The volunteer does not provide client assistance with dressing, grooming, bathing, or personal hygiene other than washing of hands. (5) (A) In addition to the exemptions specified in paragraph (2), the following persons in adult residential and social rehabilitation facilities, unless contraindicated by the client’s individualized program plan (IPP) or needs and services plan, are exempt from the requirements applicable under paragraph (1): a spouse, significant other, relative, or close friend of a client, or an attendant or a facilitator for a client with a developmental disability if the attendant or facilitator is not employed, retained, or contracted by the licensee. This exemption applies only if the person is visiting the client or providing direct care and supervision to that client. (B) This subdivision does not prevent a licensee from requiring a criminal record clearance of any individual exempt from the requirements of this section, provided that the individual has client contact. (6) Any person similar to those described in this subdivision, as defined by the department in regulations. (c) (1) Subsequent to initial licensure, a person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempted from fingerprinting shall obtain either a criminal record clearance or an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g) of this section or Section 1522.7 from the State Department of Social Services prior to employment, residence, or initial presence in the facility. A person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting shall be fingerprinted. The licensee shall submit fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, through the Department of Justice, for a state and federal level criminal offender record information search, or comply with paragraph (1) of subdivision (h). These fingerprint images and related information shall be sent by electronic transmission in a manner approved by the State Department of Social Services and the Department of Justice for the purpose of obtaining a permanent set of fingerprints, and shall be submitted to the Department of Justice by the licensee. A licensee’s failure to prohibit the employment, residence, or initial presence of a person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting and who has not received either a criminal record clearance or an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g) or to comply with paragraph (1) of subdivision (h), as required in this section, shall result in the citation of a deficiency and the immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550. The department may assess civil penalties for continued violations as permitted by Section 1548. The fingerprint images and related information shall then be submitted to the Department of Justice for processing. Upon request of the licensee, who shall enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard for this purpose, the Department of Justice shall verify receipt of the fingerprints. The department shall not require the person to disclose their criminal history information prior to receipt of the live scan results. (2) Within 14 calendar days of the receipt of the fingerprint images, the Department of Justice shall notify the State Department of Social Services of the criminal record information, as provided in subdivision (a). If no criminal record information has been recorded, the Department of Justice shall provide the licensee and the State Department of Social Services with a statement of that fact within 14 calendar days of receipt of the fingerprint images. Documentation of the individual’s clearance or exemption from disqualification shall be maintained by the licensee and be available for inspection. If new fingerprint images are required for processing, the Department of Justice shall, within 14 calendar days from the date of receipt of the fingerprints, notify the licensee that the fingerprints were illegible, the Department of Justice shall notify the State Department of Social Services, as required by Section 1522.04, and shall also notify the licensee by mail, within 14 days of electronic transmission of the fingerprints to the Department of Justice, if the person has no criminal history recorded. A violation of the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 1522.04 shall result in the citation of a deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550. The department may assess civil penalties for continued violations as permitted by Section 1548. (3) Except for persons specified in subdivision (b) who are exempt from fingerprinting, the licensee shall endeavor to ascertain the previous employment history of persons required to be fingerprinted. If it is determined by the State Department of Social Services, on the basis of the fingerprint images and related information submitted to the Department of Justice, that subsequent to obtaining a criminal record clearance or exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g), the person has been convicted of, or is awaiting trial for, a sex offense against a minor, or has been convicted for an offense specified in Section 243.4, 273a, 273ab, 273d, 273g, or 368 of the Penal Code, or a felony, the State Department of Social Services shall notify the licensee to act immediately to terminate the person’s employment, remove the person from the community care facility, or bar the person from entering the community care facility. The State Department of Social Services may subsequently grant an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). If the conviction or arrest was for another crime, except an infraction, the licensee shall, upon notification by the State Department of Social Services, act immediately to either (A) terminate the person’s employment, remove the person from the community care facility, or bar the person from entering the community care facility; or (B) seek an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). The State Department of Social Services shall determine if the person shall be allowed to remain in the facility until a decision on the exemption from disqualification is rendered. A licensee’s failure to comply with the department’s prohibition of employment, contact with clients, or presence in the facility as required by this paragraph shall result in a citation of deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550. (4) The department may issue an exemption from disqualification on its own motion pursuant to subdivision (g) if the person’s criminal history indicates that the person is of good character based on the age, seriousness, and frequency of the conviction or convictions. The department, in consultation with interested parties, shall develop regulations to establish the criteria to grant an exemption from disqualification pursuant to this paragraph. (5) Concurrently with notifying the licensee pursuant to paragraph (3), the department shall notify the affected individual of their right to seek an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). The individual may seek an exemption from disqualification only if the licensee terminates the person’s employment or removes the person from the facility after receiving notice from the department pursuant to paragraph (3). (d) (1) Before and, as applicable, subsequent to issuing a license or certificate of approval to a person or persons to operate a foster family home, certified family home as described in Section 1506, or resource family pursuant to Section 1517 of this code or Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the State Department of Social Services or other approving authority shall secure California and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history information to determine whether the applicant or any person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting has ever been convicted of a crime other than an infraction or arrested for a crime specified in subdivision (c) of Section 290 of the Penal Code, for violating Section 245, 273ab, or 273.5, subdivision (b) of Section 273a, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (2) of Section 273a, of the Penal Code, or for a crime for which the department is prohibited from granting a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (g). The State Department of Social Services or other approving authority shall not issue a license or certificate of approval to a foster family home, certified family home, or resource family applicant who has not obtained both a California and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal record clearance or exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). (2) The criminal history information shall include the full criminal record, if any, of those persons. (3) Neither the Department of Justice nor the State Department of Social Services may charge a fee for the fingerprinting of an applicant for a license, special permit, or certificate of approval described in this subdivision. The record, if any, shall be taken into consideration when evaluating a prospective applicant. (4) The following shall apply to the criminal record information: (A) If the applicant or other persons specified in subdivision (b) who are not exempt from fingerprinting have convictions that would make the applicant’s home unfit as a foster family home, a certified family home, or resource family, the license, special permit, certificate of approval, or presence shall be denied. (B) If the State Department of Social Services finds that the applicant, or any person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting, is awaiting trial for a crime other than an infraction, the State Department of Social Services or other approving authority may cease processing the criminal record information until the conclusion of the trial. (C) For purposes of this subdivision, a criminal record clearance provided under Section 8712 of the Family Code may be used by the department or other approving authority. (D) To the same extent required for federal funding, a person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting shall submit a set of fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, through the Department of Justice, for a state and federal level criminal offender record information search, in addition to the criminal records search required by subdivision (a). (5) Any person specified in this subdivision shall, as a part of the application, be fingerprinted and sign a declaration under penalty of perjury regarding any prior criminal convictions or arrests for any crime against a child, spousal or cohabitant abuse, or a crime for which the department cannot grant an exemption if the person was convicted and shall submit these fingerprints to the licensing agency or other approving authority. (6) (A) Subsequent to initial licensure, certification, or approval, a person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting shall obtain both a California and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal record clearance, or an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g), prior to employment, residence, or initial presence in the foster family home, certified family home, or resource family home. A foster family home licensee or foster family agency shall submit fingerprint images and related information of persons specified in subdivision (b) who are not exempt from fingerprinting to the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, through the Department of Justice, for a state and federal level criminal offender record information search, or to comply with paragraph (1) of subdivision (h). A foster family home licensee’s or a foster family agency’s failure to either prohibit the employment, residence, or initial presence of a person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting and who has not received either a criminal record clearance or an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g), or comply with paragraph (1) of subdivision (h), as required in this section, shall result in a citation of a deficiency, and the immediate civil penalties of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550. A violation of the regulation adopted pursuant to Section 1522.04 shall result in the citation of a deficiency and an immediate assessment of civil penalties in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation per day for a maximum of five days, unless the violation is a second or subsequent violation within a 12-month period in which case the civil penalties shall be in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) per violation for a maximum of 30 days, and shall be grounds for disciplining the foster family home licensee or the foster family agency pursuant to Section 1550. The State Department of Social Services may assess penalties for continued violations, as permitted by Section 1548. The fingerprint images shall then be submitted to the Department of Justice for processing. (B) Upon request of the licensee, who shall enclose a self-addressed envelope for this purpose, the Department of Justice shall verify receipt of the fingerprints. Within five working days of the receipt of the criminal record or information regarding criminal convictions from the Department of Justice, the department shall notify the applicant of any criminal arrests or convictions. If no arrests or convictions are recorded, the Department of Justice shall provide the foster family home licensee or the foster family agency with a statement of that fact concurrent with providing the information to the State Department of Social Services. (7) If the State Department of Social Services or other approving authority finds that the applicant, or any other person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting, has been convicted of a crime other than an infraction, the application or presence shall be denied, unless the department grants an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). (8) If the State Department of Social Services or other approving authority finds, after licensure or the granting of the certificate of approval, that the licensee, certified foster parent, resource family, or any other person specified in subdivision (b) who is not exempt from fingerprinting, has been convicted of a crime other than an infraction, the license or certificate of approval may be revoked or rescinded by the department or the foster family agency, whichever is applicable, unless the department grants an exemption from disqualification pursuant to subdivision (g). A licensee’s failure to comply with the department’s prohibition of employment, contact with clients, or presence in the facility as required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550. (e) (1) The State Department of Social Services shall not use a record of arrest to deny, revoke, rescind, or terminate an application, license, certificate of approval, employment, or residence unless the department investigates the incident and secures evidence, whether or not related to the incident of arrest, that is admissible in an administrative hearing to establish conduct by the person that may pose a risk to the health and safety of a person who is or may become a client. (2) The department shall not issue a criminal record clearance to a person who has been arrested for a crime specified in Section 290 of the Penal Code, or for violating Section 245, 273ab, or 273.5, or subdivision (b) of Section 273a, of the Penal Code, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (2) of Section 273a of the Penal Code, or for a crime for which the department is prohibited from granting a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (g), prior to the completion of an investigation pursuant to paragraph (1). (3) The State Department of Social Services is authorized to obtain arrest or conviction records or reports from any law enforcement agency as necessary to the performance of its duties to inspect, license, and investigate community care facilities and individuals associated with a community care facility. (f) (1) For purposes of this chapter, a conviction means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action that the State Department of Social Services is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, when the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, notwithstanding a subsequent order pursuant to Sections 1203.4 and 1203.4a of the Penal Code permitting the person to withdraw a plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment. For purposes of this chapter, the record of a conviction, or a copy thereof certified by the clerk of the court or by a judge of the court in which the conviction occurred, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction. For purposes of this chapter, the arrest disposition report certified by the Department of Justice, or documents admissible in a criminal action pursuant to Section 969b of the Penal Code, shall be prima facie evidence of the conviction, notwithstanding any other law prohibiting the admission of these documents in a civil or administrative action. (2) For purposes of this chapter, the department shall consider criminal convictions from another state or federal court as if the criminal offense was committed in this state. (g) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision with respect to a foster care provider applicant, including a relative caregiver, nonrelative extended family member, or resource family, after review of the record, the department may grant an exemption from disqualification for a license or special permit as specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), or for a license, special permit, or certificate of approval as specified in paragraphs (4), (7), and (8) of subdivision (d), or for employment, residence, or presence in a community care facility as specified in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (c), if the department has substantial and convincing evidence to support a reasonable belief that the applicant or the person convicted of the crime, if other than the applicant, is rehabilitated and is presently of such good character as to justify issuance of the license or special permit or granting an exemption for purposes of subdivision (c). Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, an exemption shall not be granted pursuant to this subdivision if the conviction was for any of the following offenses: (A) (i) An offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, or 264.1, subdivision (a) of Section 273a, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (1) of Section 273a, Section 273ab, 273d, 288, or 289, subdivision (c) of Section 290, or Section 368, of the Penal Code, or was a conviction of another crime against an individual specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code. (ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), the department may grant an exemption regarding the conviction for an offense described in paragraph (1), (2), (7), or (8) of subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code, if the employee or prospective employee has been rehabilitated as provided in Section 4852.03 of the Penal Code, has maintained the conduct required in Section 4852.05 of the Penal Code for at least 10 years, and has the recommendation of the district attorney representing the employee’s county of residence, or if the employee or prospective employee has received a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code. (B) A felony offense specified in Section 729 of the Business and Professions Code or Section 206 or 215, subdivision (a) of Section 347, subdivision (b) of Section 417, or subdivision (a) of Section 451 of the Penal Code. (C) (i) Notwithstanding clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), an exemption shall not be granted pursuant to this subdivision to any applicant for licensure of a community care facility eligible to accept placement of a dependent child if either that applicant or any other person specified in subdivision (b) who is associated with the facility has a felony conviction for either of the following offenses: (I) A felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against a child, including child pornography, or for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault and battery. For purposes of this subclause, a crime involving violence means a violent crime specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B). (II) A felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug- or alcohol-related offense that occurred within the last five years. (ii) This subparagraph shall be operative to the extent that compliance with these provisions is required by federal law as a condition for receiving funding under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.). (2) (A) For a foster care provider applicant, a resource family applicant, a tribally approved home applicant, or a prospective respite care provider, as described in Section 16501.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, except as specified in clause (iv), an exemption shall not be granted if that applicant, or any individual subject to the background check requirements of this section pursuant to foster care provider applicant, resource family approval, tribally approved home, or respite care provider standards, has a conviction within the past 10 years for any of the following offenses: (i) An offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, or 264.1, subdivision (a) of Section 273a, or, prior to January 1, 1994, paragraph (1) of Section 273a, Section 273ab, 273d, 288, or 289, subdivision (c) of Section 290, or Section 368, of the Penal Code, or was a conviction of another crime against an individual specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code. (ii) A felony offense specified in Section 729 of the Business and Professions Code or Section 206 or 215, subdivision (a) of Section 347, subdivision (b) of Section 417, or subdivision (a) of Section 451 of the Penal Code. (iii) Except as specified in clause (iv), an exemption shall not be granted pursuant to this subdivision to any foster care provider applicant, including a tribally approved home applicant, if that applicant, or any other person specified in subdivision (b) in those homes, has a felony conviction for either of the following offenses: (I) A felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against a child, including child pornography, or for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault and battery. For purposes of this subparagraph, a crime involving violence means a violent crime specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A), or clause (ii) of this subparagraph. (II) A felony conviction, within the last five years, for physical assault, battery, or a drug- or alcohol-related offense. (III) This clause does not apply to licenses or approvals when a caregiver was granted an exemption to a criminal conviction described in clause (i) prior to the enactment of this clause. (IV) This clause shall remain operative only to the extent that compliance with its provisions is required by federal law as a condition for receiving funding under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.). (iv) For the sole purpose of approving a home pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department or other approving entity may grant an exemption for a relative or any other adult living in the home, who has been convicted of an offense described in this subparagraph if the applicant is seeking placement of a specific child or children with whom the applicant is related, the applicant or other adult living in the home is of present good character necessary to justify granting the exemption pursuant to the factors described in subparagraph (C), and the applicant or other adult living in the home does not have a felony conviction within the last five years for child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, rape, sexual assault, homicide, or any other crime against a child, including child pornography. An exemption granted pursuant to this clause shall only be valid for purposes of the relative’s child-specific resource family approval and shall not be transferrable to any other setting pursuant to subdivision (h). (B) The department or other approving entity may grant an exemption from disqualification to a foster care provider, resource family applicant, tribally approved home applicant, or any individual subject to the background check requirements of this section pursuant to foster care provider applicant, resource family approval, tribally approved home, or respite care provider standards, if the department or other approving entity has substantial and convincing evidence to support a reasonable belief that the applicant or the person convicted of the crime, if other than the applicant, is of present good character necessary to justify the granting of an exemption and the conviction is for one of the following offenses: (i) (I) Any misdemeanor conviction within the last three years that is not otherwise prohibited by subparagraph (A). (II) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a misdemeanor conviction for statutory rape, as defined in Section 261.5 of the Penal Code, a misdemeanor conviction for indecent exposure, as defined in Section 314 of the Penal Code, or a misdemeanor conviction for financial abuse against an elder, as defined in Section 368 of the Penal Code, shall be eligible for the consideration of an exemption as set forth in subparagraph (C). (ii) Any felony conviction within the last five years that is not otherwise prohibited by subparagraph (A). (C) When granting an exemption for a crime listed in subparagraph (B), the department or other approving entity shall consider all reasonably available information, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) The nature of the crime or crimes. (ii) The period of time since the crime was committed. (iii) Any longstanding pattern of criminal conduct. (iv) Circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime indicating the likelihood of future criminal activity. (v) Activities since conviction, including employment, participation in therapy, education, or treatment. (vi) Whether the person convicted has successfully completed probation or parole, obtained a certificate of rehabilitation, or been granted a pardon by the Governor. (vii) Any character references or other evidence submitted by the applicant. (viii) Whether the person convicted demonstrated honesty and truthfulness concerning the crime or crimes during the application and approval process. (D) (i) The department or other approving entity shall grant an exemption from disqualification to a foster care provider applicant, resource family applicant, tribally approved home applicant, or any person subject to the background check requirements of this section pursuant to foster care provider applicant, resource family approval, tribally approved home, or respite care provider standards, who has been convicted of an offense not listed in subparagraph (A) or (B), if the individual’s state and federal criminal history information received from the Department of Justice independently supports a reasonable belief that the applicant or the person convicted of the crime, if other than the applicant, is of present good character necessary to justify the granting of an exemption. (ii) Notwithstanding the fact that an individual meets the criteria described in clause (i), the department or other approving entity, at its discretion, as necessary to protect the health and safety of a child, may evaluate a person described in clause (i), for purposes of making an exemption decision, pursuant to the criteria described in subparagraphs (B) and (C). (E) This paragraph does not apply to licenses or approvals for which a caregiver was granted an exemption for a criminal conviction prior to January 1, 2018. (3) The department shall not prohibit a person from being employed or having contact with clients in a facility, certified family home, or resource family home on the basis of a denied criminal record exemption request or arrest information unless the department complies with the requirements of Section 1558 of this code or Section 16519.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as applicable. (h) (1) For purposes of compliance with this section, the department may permit an individual to transfer a current criminal record clearance, as defined in subdivision (a), from one facility to another, as long as the criminal record clearance has been processed through a state licensing district office, and is being transferred to another facility licensed by a state licensing district office. The request shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department or submitted via the department’s secure online portal. Upon request of the licensee, who shall verify the individual’s identity, the State Department of Social Services shall verify whether the individual has a clearance that can be transferred. (2) The State Department of Social Services shall hold criminal record clearances in its active files for a minimum of three years after an employee is no longer employed at a licensed facility in order for the criminal record clearance to be transferred. (3) A criminal record clearance or exemption processed by the department, a county office with clearance and exemption authority pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or a county office with department-delegated licensing authority shall be accepted by the department or county upon notification of transfer. (4) With respect to notifications issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code and Section 1522.1 concerning an individual whose criminal record clearance was originally processed by the department, a county office with clearance and exemption authority pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or a county office with department-delegated licensing authority, all of the following shall apply: (A) The Department of Justice shall process a request from the department or a county to receive the notice only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) The request shall be submitted to the Department of Justice by the agency to be substituted to receive the notification. (ii) The request shall be for the same applicant type as the type for which the original clearance was obtained. (iii) The request shall contain all prescribed data elements and format protocols pursuant to a written agreement between the department and the Department of Justice. (B) (i) On or before January 7, 2005, the department shall notify the Department of Justice of all county offices that have department-delegated licensing authority. (ii) The department shall notify the Department of Justice within 15 calendar days of the date on which a new county office receives department-delegated licensing authority or a county’s delegated licensing authority is rescinded. (C) The Department of Justice shall charge the department, a county office with department-delegated licensing authority, or a county child welfare agency with criminal record clearance and exemption authority, a fee for each time a request to substitute the recipient agency is received for purposes of this paragraph. This fee shall not exceed the cost of providing the service. (i) The full criminal record obtained for purposes of this section may be used by the department or by a licensed adoption agency as a clearance required for adoption purposes. (j) If a licensee or facility is required by law to deny employment or to terminate employment of any employee based on written notification from the department that the employee has a prior criminal conviction or is determined unsuitable for employment under Section 1558, the licensee or facility shall not incur civil liability or unemployment insurance liability as a result of that denial or termination. (k) The State Department of Social Services may charge a fee for the costs of processing electronic fingerprint images and related information.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.1. Section 1522.1.

(a) Prior to granting a license to, or otherwise approving, any individual to care for or reside with children, the department shall check the Child Abuse Central Index pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 11170 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall maintain and continually update an index of reports of child abuse by providers and shall inform the department of subsequent reports received from the Child Abuse Central Index pursuant to Section 11170 of the Penal Code and the criminal history. The department shall investigate any reports received from the Child Abuse Central Index. The investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the review of the investigation report and file prepared by the child protective agency which investigated the child abuse report. Licensure or approval shall not be denied based upon a report from the Child Abuse Central Index unless child abuse or severe neglect is substantiated. (b) For any application received on or after January 1, 2008, if any prospective foster parent, or adoptive parent, or any person 18 years of age or older residing in their household, has lived in another state in the preceding five years, the licensing agency or licensed adoption agency shall check that state’s child abuse and neglect registry, in addition to checking the Child Abuse Central Index as provided for in subdivision (a). The department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop and promulgate the process and criteria to be used to review and consider other states’ findings of child abuse or neglect. (c) If any person in the household is 18 years of age or older and has lived in another state in the preceding five years, the department or its designated representative shall check the other state’s child abuse and neglect registry to the same extent required for federal funding, in addition to checking the Child Abuse Central Index as provided for in subdivision (a), prior to granting a license to, or otherwise approving, any foster family home, certified family home, resource family, or person for whom an adoption home study is conducted or who has filed to adopt. (d) If any licensee of a community care facility that is eligible to accept placement of a dependent child or any associated individual, as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1522, has lived in another state in the preceding five years, the department shall check that state’s child abuse and neglect registry, in addition to the Child Abuse Central Index as specified in subdivision (a). The department shall develop and promulgate the process and criteria to be used to review and consider other states’ findings of child abuse or neglect.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.01. Section 1522.01.

(a) Any person required to be registered as a sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code shall disclose this fact to the licensee of a community care facility before becoming a client of that facility. A community care facility client who fails to disclose to the licensee his or her status as a registered sex offender shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1540. The community care facility licensee shall not be liable if the client who is required to register as a sex offender fails to disclose this fact to the community care facility licensee. However, this immunity does not apply if the community care facility licensee knew that the client was required to register as a sex offender. (b) Any person or persons operating, pursuant to this chapter, a community care facility that accepts as a client an individual who is required to be registered as a sex offender under Section 290 of the Penal Code shall confirm or deny whether any client of the facility is a registered sex offender in response to any person who inquires whether any client of the facility is a registered sex offender and who meets any of the following criteria: (1) The person is the parent, family member, or guardian of a child residing within a one-mile radius of the facility. (2) The person occupies a personal residence within a one-mile radius of the facility. (3) The person operates a business within a one-mile radius of the facility. (4) The person is currently a client within the facility or a family member of a client within the facility. (5) The person is applying for placement in the facility, or placement of a family member in the facility. (6) The person is arranging for a client to be placed in the facility. (7) The person is a law enforcement officer. If the community care facility licensee indicates a client is a registered sex offender, the interested person may describe physical characteristics of a client and the facility shall disclose that client’s name upon request, if the physical description matches the client. The facility shall also advise the interested person that information about registered sex offenders is available to the public via the Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 290.46 of the Penal Code. (c) Any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to this section to commit a felony shall be punished, in addition and consecutive to, any other punishment, by a five-year term of imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code. (d) Any person who uses information disclosed pursuant to this section to commit a misdemeanor shall be subject to, in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). (e) Except as authorized under another provision of law, or to protect a child, use of any of the information disclosed pursuant to this section for the purpose of applying for, obtaining, or denying any of the following, is prohibited: (1) Health insurance. (2) Insurance. (3) Loans. (4) Credit. (5) Employment. (6) Education, scholarships, or fellowships. (7) Benefits, privileges, or services provided by any business establishment. (8) Housing or accommodations. (f) Any use of information disclosed pursuant to this section for purposes other than those provided by subdivisions (a) and (b) shall make the user liable for the actual damages, and any amount that may be determined by a jury or a court sitting without a jury, not exceeding three times the amount of actual damage, and not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), and attorney’s fees, exemplary damages, or a civil penalty not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). (g) Whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of misuse of the information disclosed pursuant to this section, the Attorney General, any district attorney, or city attorney, or any person aggrieved by the misuse of that information is authorized to bring a civil action in the appropriate court requesting preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order against the person or group of persons responsible for the pattern or practice of misuse. The foregoing remedies shall be independent of any other remedies or procedures that may be available to an aggrieved party under other provisions of law, including Part 2 (commencing with Section 43) of Division 1 of the Civil Code. (h) The civil and criminal penalty moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the Community Care Licensing Division of the State Department of Social Services, upon appropriation by the Legislature.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.02. Section 1522.02.

(a) The department may adopt regulations to create substitute employee registries for persons working at more than one facility licensed pursuant to this chapter, Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01), Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569), Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1569.70), Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), or Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30), in order to permit these registries to submit fingerprint cards, and child abuse index information for child care registries so that these facilities have available cleared care staff. (b) The department may operate a substitute child care employee registry pilot program for the purposes of subdivision (a) and may charge participating registry facilities an administrative fee. The pilot program is subject to all of the following: (1) The pilot program shall be limited to screening employees for facilities licensed as child care facilities. (2) Registries shall not hire any child care worker for employment at a child care facility who requires an exemption from the criminal background clearance requirements of law. (3) The department shall only guarantee the authenticity of criminal background and child abuse index information that registries provide to child care facilities. Any other information provided by registries may be verified by child care facility operators. (4) The department may limit the operation of the pilot program to the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Ventura.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.2. Section 1522.2.

If a local law enforcement agency, a probation officer, or a local department or agency that provides social services becomes aware that an employee of a community treatment facility, a day treatment facility, a group home, a short-term residential therapeutic program, or a foster family agency has been arrested for child abuse, as defined in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, after determining that the potential for abuse is present and that the employee is free to return to the facility where children are present, the local law enforcement agency, probation officer, or local department or agency shall notify the licensee of the charge of abuse.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.03. Section 1522.03.

The Department of Justice may charge a fee sufficient to cover its cost in providing services in accordance with Section 1522 to comply with the 14-day requirement for provision to the department of the criminal record information, as contained in subdivision (c) of Section 1522.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.04. Section 1522.04.

(a) The Legislature recognizes the need to generate timely and accurate positive fingerprint identification of applicants as a condition of issuing licenses, permits, or certificates of approval for persons to operate or provide direct care services in a community care facility, or a residential care facility, child day care facility, or foster family agency, licensed by the department pursuant to this chapter, Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01), Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569), Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), or Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30), or certified family home. Therefore, the Legislature supports the use of the fingerprint live-scan technology, as identified in the long-range plan of the Department of Justice, for fully automating the processing of fingerprints and other data by the year 1999, otherwise known as the California Crime Information Intelligence System (CAL-CII) to be used for applicant fingerprints. Therefore, when live-scan technology is operational, individuals shall be required to obtain either a criminal record clearance from the Department of Justice or a criminal record exemption from the State Department of Social Services, before their initial presence in a community care facility. The regulations shall also cover the submission of fingerprint information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (b) Upon implementation of an electronic fingerprinting system with terminals located statewide and managed by the Department of Justice, the Department of Justice shall ascertain the criminal history information required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1522.04. If the Department of Justice cannot ascertain the information required pursuant to that subdivision within three working days, the Department of Justice shall notify the State Department of Social Services, or county licensing agencies, either by telephone and by subsequent confirmation in writing by first-class mail, or by electronic or facsimile transmission. At its discretion, the Department of Justice may forward one copy of the fingerprint cards to any other bureau of investigation it may deem necessary in order to verify any record of previous arrests or convictions of the fingerprinted individual. (c) For purposes of this section, live-scan technology is operational when the Department of Justice and the district offices of the Community Care Licensing Division of the department live-scan sites are operational and the department is receiving 95 percent of its total responses indicating either no evidence of recorded criminal information or evidence of recorded criminal information from the Department of Justice within three business days.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.4. Section 1522.4.

(a) In addition to any other requirements of this chapter and except for foster family homes, small family homes, and certified family homes and resource families of foster family agencies, all of the following apply to any community care facility providing 24-hour care for children: (1) The facility shall have one or more facility managers. “Facility manager,” as used in this section, means a person on the premises with the authority and responsibility necessary to manage and control the day-to-day operation of a community care facility and supervise the clients. The facility manager, licensee, and administrator, or any combination thereof, may be the same person provided he or she meets all applicable requirements. If the administrator is also the facility manager for the same facility, this person shall be limited to the administration and management of only one facility. (2) The facility manager shall have at least one year of experience working with the client group served, or equivalent education or experience, as determined by the department. (3) A facility manager shall be at the facility at all times when one or more clients are present. To ensure adequate supervision of clients when clients are at the facility outside of their normal schedule, a current telephone number where the facility manager can be reached shall be provided to the clients, licensing agency, school, and any other agency or person as the department determines is necessary. The facility manager shall instruct these agencies and individuals to notify him or her when clients will be returning to the facility outside of the normal hours. (4) The Legislature intends to upgrade the quality of care in licensed facilities. For the purposes of Sections 1533 and 1534, the licensed facility shall be inspected and evaluated for quality of care at least once each year, without advance notice and as often as necessary, without advance notice, to ensure the quality of care being provided. Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply only to new facilities licensed for six or fewer children which apply for a license after January 1, 1985, and all other new facilities licensed for seven or more children which apply for a license after January 1, 1988. Existing facilities licensed for seven or more children shall comply by January 1, 1989. (b) An employee of the state or county employed in the administration of this chapter or employed in a position that is in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter shall not hold a license or have a direct or indirect financial interest in a facility described in subdivision (a). The department, by regulation, shall make the determination pursuant to the purposes of this section and chapter, as to what employment is in the administration of this chapter or in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter and what financial interest is direct or indirect. This subdivision does not prohibit the state or county from securing a license for, or operating, a facility that is otherwise required to be licensed under this chapter. (c) (1) No group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee, or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee, shall offer gifts or other remuneration of any type to any employee of the State Department of Social Services or placement agency that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California pursuant to Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission. (2) No employee of the department or a placement agency shall accept any gift or other remuneration of any type from a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential therapeutic program, or foster family agency licensee that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California in Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission. (3) Violation of this subdivision is punishable as a misdemeanor.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.5. Section 1522.5.

The State Department of Social Services, in processing fingerprint clearances, shall give expeditious treatment to employees of, and applicants for employment with, community care facilities, as defined in Section 1502, which provide services to children, and child day care facilities, as defined in Section 1596.750.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.06. Section 1522.06.

(a) Individuals who are volunteer candidates for mentoring children in foster care settings, as defined by the department, in private alternative boarding schools, or in private alternative outdoor programs, shall be subject to a criminal background investigation prior to having unsupervised contact with the children. The criminal background check shall be initiated and conducted pursuant to either Sections 1522 and 1522.1 or Section 1596.603, as applicable. Sections 1522 and 1522.1 may be utilized by a county social services agency in cooperation with, or as a component of, a licensed foster family agency. (b) (1) The Department of Justice shall not charge a processing fee with respect to any individual to whom subdivision (a) applies for a state-level criminal offender record information search pursuant to Section 1522. (2) The State Department of Social Services shall not charge a fee for the cost of a criminal background investigation under Section 1522 with respect to any individual to whom subdivision (a) applies.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.07. Section 1522.07.

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (d) of Section 1522, foster family agencies shall submit fingerprints of their certified foster parent applicants to the Department of Justice using a card provided by the State Department of Social Services for that purpose. (b) Within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the fingerprints, the Department of Justice shall notify the State Department of Social Services of the criminal record information, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 1522. If no criminal record information has been recorded, the Department of Justice shall provide the foster family agency and the State Department of Social Services with a statement of that fact within 15 calendar days of receipt of the fingerprints. If new fingerprints are required for processing, the Department of Justice shall, within 15 calendar days from the date of receipt of the fingerprints, notify the licensee that the fingerprints were illegible.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.7. Section 1522.7.

(a) This section shall not apply to individuals who are subject to paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 1522. (b) The criteria described in this section shall apply to a person subject to the criminal record clearance provisions of Section 1522, Section 1568.09, Section 1569.17, or Section 1596.871. (c) The department may grant a simplified criminal record exemption if an individual meets all of the following criteria: (1) The individual has not been convicted of a violent crime. (2) The individual has not been convicted of a crime within the last five years. (3) The individual has not been convicted of a felony within the last 10 years. (4) The individual has five or fewer misdemeanor convictions. (5) The individual has no more than one felony conviction. (6) The individual has not been convicted of a crime for which the department is prohibited from granting an exemption. (d) The department may require, in its discretion, an individual who is otherwise eligible for a simplified exemption pursuant to this subdivision to complete the standard exemption process if the department determines completing the standard exemption process will protect the health and safety of any person who is a client of a community care facility. (e) A simplified criminal record exemption granted pursuant to this section does not relieve the person from compliance with other applicable background check provisions. (f) For purposes of this section “simplified exemption” means an exemption issued on the department’s own motion pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 1522.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.08. Section 1522.08.

(a) In order to protect the health and safety of persons receiving care or services from individuals or facilities licensed by the state or from individuals certified or approved by a foster family agency, the following information may be shared: (1) The California Department of Aging, State Department of Public Health, State Department of Health Care Services, State Department of Social Services, and the Emergency Medical Services Authority may share information with respect to applicants, licensees, certificate holders, or individuals who have been the subject of any administrative action resulting in the denial, suspension, probation, revocation, or rescission of a license, permit, or certificate of approval, or in the exclusion of any person from a facility, certified family home, or resource family home who is subject to a background check, as otherwise provided by law. (2) The State Department of Social Services and county child welfare agencies may share information with respect to applicants, licensees, certificate holders, or individuals who have been the subject of any administrative action resulting in the denial, suspension, probation, revocation, or rescission of a license, permit, or certificate of approval, or in the exclusion of any person from a facility, certified family home, or resource family home who is subject to a background check, as otherwise provided by law. (b) The State Department of Social Services shall maintain a centralized system for the monitoring and tracking of final administrative actions, to be used by the California Department of Aging, State Department of Public Health, State Department of Health Care Services, State Department of Social Services, the Emergency Medical Services Authority, and county child welfare agencies as a part of the background check process. The State Department of Social Services may charge a fee to departments under the jurisdiction of the California Health and Human Services Agency and to county child welfare agencies sufficient to cover the cost of providing those departments with the final administrative action specified in subdivision (a). To the extent that additional funds are needed for this purpose, implementation of this subdivision shall be contingent upon a specific appropriation provided for this purpose in the annual Budget Act. (c) The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the other departments under the jurisdiction of the California Health and Human Services Agency, may adopt regulations to implement this section. (d) For the purposes of this section and Section 1499, “administrative action” means any proceeding initiated by the California Department of Aging, State Department of Public Health, State Department of Health Care Services, State Department of Social Services, Emergency Medical Services Authority, and county child welfare agencies to determine the rights and duties of an applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or other individual or entity over which the department has jurisdiction. “Administrative action” may include, but is not limited to, action involving the denial of an application for, or the suspension, revocation, or rescission of, any license, special permit, certificate of approval, administrator certificate, criminal record clearance, exemption, or exclusion.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.09. Section 1522.09.

(a) The department shall, no later than July 1, 2017, develop a notice that does all of the following: (1) Contains the telephone number to make a complaint regarding a community care facility or child care facility. (2) Includes information about the prohibition of impeding mandated reports. (3) Includes information about the option to make a confidential complaint. (b) The notice developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be posted conspicuously in a prominent area in all foster family agencies.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.41. Section 1522.41.

(a) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, group home provider organizations, the Director of Health Care Services, and the Director of Developmental Services, shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of group homes have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued. (2) The department shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of short-term residential therapeutic programs have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued. (b) (1) In addition to any other requirements or qualifications required by the department, an administrator of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall successfully complete a department-approved administrator certification training program, pursuant to subdivision (c), prior to employment. (2) If an individual is both the licensee and the administrator of a licensed facility, the individual shall comply with all of the licensee and administrator requirements of this section. (3) Failure to comply with this section shall constitute cause for revocation of the license of the facility. (4) The licensee shall notify the department within 10 days of any change in administrators. (c) (1) An administrator certification training program for group homes shall require a minimum of 40 hours of instruction conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor, and that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas: (A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a group home. (B) Business operations. (C) Management and supervision of staff. (D) Psychosocial and educational needs of the children, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (E) Community and support services. (F) Physical needs of the children. (G) Assistance with self-administration, storage, misuse, and interaction of medication used by the children. (H) Resident admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status. (I) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. (J) Nonviolent emergency intervention and reporting requirements. (K) Basic instruction on existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment. (L) The information described in subdivision (i) of Section 16521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The program may use the curriculum created pursuant to subdivision (h), and described in subdivision (i), of Section 16521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (2) An administrator certification training program for short-term residential therapeutic programs shall require a minimum of 40 hours of instruction conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor, and that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas: (A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a short-term residential therapeutic program. (B) Business operations and management and supervision of staff, including staff training. (C) Physical and psychosocial needs of the children, including behavior management, de-escalation techniques, and trauma informed crisis management planning. (D) Permanence, well-being, and educational needs of the children. (E) Community and support services, including accessing local behavioral and mental health supports and interventions, substance use disorder treatments, and culturally relevant services, as appropriate. (F) Understanding the requirements and best practices regarding psychotropic medications, including, but not limited to, court authorization, uses, benefits, side effects, interactions, assistance with self-administration, misuse, documentation, storage, and metabolic monitoring of children prescribed psychotropic medications. (G) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status. (H) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions. (I) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. (J) Nonviolent emergency intervention and reporting requirements. (K) Basic instruction on existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment. (L) The information described in subdivision (i) of Section 16521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The program may use the curriculum created pursuant to subdivision (h), and described in subdivision (i), of Section 16521.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (d) A group home administrator who possesses a group home license, issued by the department, is exempt from completing an approved administrator certification training program and taking an examination, provided the individual completes 12 hours of instruction conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor, in the following uniform core of knowledge areas: (1) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a short-term residential therapeutic program. (2) (A) Authorization, uses, benefits, side effects, interactions, assistance with self-administration, misuse, documentation, and storage of medications. (B) Metabolic monitoring of children prescribed psychotropic medications. (3) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status. (4) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions. (5) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. (6) Physical and psychosocial needs of children, including behavior management, de-escalation techniques, and trauma informed crisis management planning. (e) Individuals applying for administrator certification under this section shall successfully complete an approved administrator certification training program, pass an examination administered by the department within 60 days of completing the program, submit to the department an administrator certification application, and submit to the department the documentation required by subdivision (f) within 30 days after being notified of having passed the examination. The department may extend these time deadlines for good cause. The department shall notify the applicant of their examination results within 30 days of administering the examination. (f) The department shall not begin the process of issuing an administrator certificate until receipt of all of the following: (1) An administrator certification application. (2) A certificate of completion of the administrator certification training program required pursuant to this section. (3) The fee for processing an administrator certification application, including the issuance of the administrator certificate, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision ( l ). (4) Documentation that the applicant has passed the examination. (5) Submission of fingerprints pursuant to Section 1522. The department may waive the submission for those persons who have a current criminal record clearance or exemption on file. (6) Proof that the person is at least 21 years of age. (g) It is unlawful for a person not certified under this section to hold themselves out as a certified administrator of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program. A person willfully making a false representation as being a certified administrator or facility manager is guilty of a misdemeanor. (h) (1) Administrator certificates issued under this section shall be renewed every two years and renewal shall be conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of completion of 40 hours of continuing education related to the uniform core of knowledge specified in subdivision (c). No more than one-half of the required 40 hours of continuing education necessary to renew the certificate may be satisfied through self-paced courses. All other continuing education hours shall be completed in an instructional setting conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor. For purposes of this section, an individual who is a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program administrator and who is required to complete the continuing education hours required by the regulations of the State Department of Developmental Services, and approved by the regional center, may have up to 24 of the required continuing education course hours credited toward the 40-hour continuing education requirement of this section. The department shall accept for certification, community college course hours approved by the regional centers. (2) Every administrator of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall complete the continuing education requirements described in this subdivision. (3) An administrator certificate issued under this section shall expire every two years on the anniversary date of the initial issuance of the certificate, except that an administrator receiving an initial certification on or after July 1, 1999, shall make an irrevocable election to have their recertification date for a subsequent recertification either on the date two years from the date of issuance of the certificate or on the individual’s birthday during the second calendar year following certification. The department shall send a renewal notice to the certificate holder 90 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate. If the certificate is not renewed prior to its expiration date, reinstatement shall be permitted only after the certificate holder has paid a delinquency fee, as specified in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision ( l ), has submitted to the department an administrator certification renewal application, and has provided evidence of completion of the continuing education required. (4) To renew an administrator certificate, the certificate holder shall, on or before the certificate expiration date, submit to the department an administrator certification renewal application and documentation of completion of the required continuing education courses and pay the renewal fee, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision ( l ), irrespective of receipt of the department’s notification of the renewal. A renewal request postmarked on or before the expiration of the certificate shall be proof of compliance with this paragraph. (5) A suspended or revoked administrator certificate shall be subject to expiration as provided for in this section. If reinstatement of the certificate is approved by the department, the certificate holder, as a condition precedent to reinstatement, shall submit proof of compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision, and shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee, plus the delinquency fee, if any, as specified in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (l), accrued at the time of its revocation or suspension. Delinquency fees, if any, accrued subsequent to the time of its revocation or suspension and prior to an order for reinstatement, shall be waived for a period of 12 months to allow the individual sufficient time to complete the required continuing education units and to submit the required documentation. Individuals whose certificates will expire within 90 days after the order for reinstatement may be granted a three-month extension to renew their certificates during which time the delinquency fees shall not accrue. (6) An administrator certificate that is not renewed within four years after its expiration shall not be renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated except upon completion of an administrator certification training program, passing any examination that may be required of an applicant for a new certificate at that time, and paying the fee specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision ( l ). (7) The department shall charge a fee for the reissuance of a lost administrator certificate, as specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision ( l ). (8) A certificate holder shall inform the department of their employment status and change of mailing address within 30 days of any change. (i) Unless otherwise ordered by the department, an administrator certificate shall be considered forfeited under either of the following conditions: (1) The administrator has had a license revoked, suspended, or denied as authorized under Section 1550. (2) The department has issued an exclusion order against the administrator pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or 1596.8897, after the department issued the certificate, and the administrator did not appeal the exclusion order or, after the appeal, the department issued a decision and order that upheld the exclusion order. (j) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, provider organizations, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Developmental Services, shall establish, by regulation, the program content, the testing instrument, the process for approving administrator certification training programs, and criteria to be used in authorizing individuals, organizations, or educational institutions as vendors to conduct administrator certification training programs and continuing education courses. The department may also grant continuing education hours for courses offered by accredited educational institutions that are consistent with the requirements in this section. The department may deny vendor approval to any agency or person in any of the following circumstances: (A) The applicant has not provided the department with evidence satisfactory to the department of the ability of the applicant to satisfy the requirements of vendorization set out in the regulations adopted by the department. (B) The applicant person or agency has a conflict of interest in that the person or agency places its clients in group homes or short-term residential therapeutic programs. (C) The applicant public or private agency has a conflict of interest in that the agency is mandated to place clients in group homes or short-term residential therapeutic programs and to pay directly for the services. The department may deny vendorization to this type of agency only as long as there are other vendor programs available to conduct the administrator certification training programs and continuing education courses. (2) The department may authorize vendors to conduct administrator certification training programs and continuing education courses pursuant to this section. The department shall conduct the examination pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. (3) The department shall prepare and maintain an updated list of approved training vendors. (4) The department may inspect administrator certification training programs and continuing education courses, including online courses, at no charge to the department, to determine if content and teaching methods comply with this section and applicable regulations. If the department determines that any vendor is not complying with the requirements of this section, the department shall take appropriate action to bring the program into compliance, which may include removing the vendor from the approved training vendors list. (5) The department shall establish reasonable procedures and timeframes, not to exceed 30 days, for the approval of vendor training programs. (6) The department shall charge a fee for an administrator certification training program vendor application or renewal, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision ( l ). (7) (A) A vendor of a self-paced online course shall ensure that each course contains all of the following: (i) An interactive portion in which the participant receives feedback, through online communication, based on input from the participant. (ii) Required use of a personal identification number or personal identification information to confirm the identity of the participant. (iii) A final screen displaying a printable statement, to be signed by the participant, certifying that the identified participant completed the course. The vendor shall obtain a copy of the final screen statement with the original signature of the participant prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion. The signed statement of completion shall be maintained by the vendor for a period of three years and be available to the department upon demand. A person who certifies as true any material matter pursuant to this clause that the person knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor. (B) This subdivision does not prohibit the department from approving online programs that do not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) if the vendor demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that, through advanced technology, the course and the course delivery meet the requirements of this section. (8) The department shall charge a fee for processing a continuing education training program vendor application or renewal, as specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision ( l ). (9) The department shall charge a fee for processing a continuing education course, as specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision ( l ). (k) The department shall establish a registry for certificate holders that shall include, at a minimum, information on employment status and criminal record clearance. ( l ) The department shall charge nonrefundable fees, as follows: (1) Commencing July 1, 2021, the fee amount in subparagraph (A) shall be incrementally increased by 10 percent each year, not to exceed 40 percent, over a four-year period. The current fee specified in subparagraph (A) shall be the base for each yearly increase, which shall be effective July 1 of each year. (A) The fee for processing an administrator certification application or renewal, including the issuance of the administrator certificate, is one hundred dollars ($100). (B) The fee for the reissuance of a lost administrator certificate is twenty-five dollars ($25). (C) The delinquency fee for processing a late administrator certification renewal application is three hundred dollars ($300), which shall be charged in addition to the fee specified in subparagraph (A). (2) Commencing July 1, 2021, the fee for the administrator certification examination is one hundred dollars ($100), for up to three attempts. (3) Commencing July 1, 2021, fee amounts in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be incrementally increased by 10 percent each year, not to exceed 40 percent, over a four-year period. The current fee specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be the base for each yearly increase and each increase shall be effective July 1 of each year. (A) The fee for processing an administrator certification training program vendor application or renewal is one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each licensed facility type. (B) The fee for processing a continuing education training program vendor application or renewal is one hundred dollars ($100) for each licensed facility type. (4) Commencing July 1, 2021, the fee for processing a continuing education course is ten dollars ($10) per continuing education unit for each licensed facility type. (5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, a fee charged pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed the reasonable costs to the department of conducting the certification training program. (m) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a vendor approved by the department who exclusively provides continuing education courses for administrators of a group home or short-term residential therapeutic program, as defined in Section 1502, shall be regulated solely by the department pursuant to this chapter. No other state or local governmental entity shall be responsible for regulating the activity of those vendors.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.42. Section 1522.42.

(a) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, provider organizations, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Developmental Services, shall adopt regulations that establish standardized training and continuing education curricula for facility managers and direct child care workers in group homes. (b) The regulations required by subdivision (a) shall specify the date by which new and current employees shall be required to meet the standardized training and continuing education requirements. For persons employed as child care staff and facility managers on the effective date of the regulations, the department shall provide adequate time for these persons to comply with the regulatory requirements.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.43. Section 1522.43.

(a) (1) For the duties the department imposes on a group home administrator or short-term residential therapeutic program administrator in this chapter and in regulations adopted by the department, every group home and short-term residential therapeutic program shall state in its plan of operation, the number of hours per week that the administrator shall spend completing those duties and how the group home administrator or short-term residential therapeutic program administrator shall accomplish those duties, including use of support personnel. (2) For initial applicants, the information in paragraph (1) shall be contained in the plan of operation submitted to the department in the application. (3) For current licensees, the licensee shall submit an amended plan of operation that contains the information required by paragraph (1) within six months of the effective date of this section. For changes in the group home administrator duties imposed by the department in this chapter or in regulations, a current licensee shall have six months after the effective date of those duties to submit an amended plan of operation to reflect the new administrator duties. (b) (1) The department may review a group home’s or short-term residential therapeutic program’s plan of operation to determine if the plan of operation is sufficient to ensure that the facility will operate in compliance with applicable licensing laws and regulations. As part of the review, the department may request that a peer review panel review the plan of operation for a group home as prescribed in paragraph (2), or for a short-term residential therapeutic program as prescribed in paragraph (3). (2) The peer review panel shall consist of two representatives from the department, including one from the unit that governs programs and one from the unit that governs licensing, a qualified group home administrator, an experienced group home provider in good standing, and a member or members from the placement agency or agencies that place children in group homes, and may also include the local county behavioral health department, as appropriate. (3) The peer review panel shall consist of two representatives from the department, including one from the unit that governs programs and one from the unit that governs licensing, a qualified short-term residential therapeutic program administrator, a short-term residential therapeutic program provider in good standing, and a member or members from the placement agency or agencies that place children in short-term residential therapeutic programs, and may also include the local county behavioral health department, as appropriate. (c) A group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall develop a daily schedule of activities for the children at the facility. The facility shall have this schedule available for inspection by the department. The activities in which the children are scheduled to participate shall be designed to meet the needs of the individual child, and shall be based on that child’s needs and services plan. (d) The department shall establish a process, no later than January 1, 2017, for convening the peer review panel as set forth in subdivision (b) for review of the plans of operation for short-term residential therapeutic programs, and shall develop this process in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, Chief Probation Officers of California, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, and stakeholders.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.44. Section 1522.44.

(a) It is the policy of the state that caregivers of children in foster care possess knowledge and skills relating to the reasonable and prudent parent standard, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 362.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. (b) Except for licensed foster family homes, certified family homes, and resource families approved by a foster family agency, each licensed community care facility that provides care and supervision to children and operates with staff shall designate at least one onsite staff member to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions involving the participation of a child who is placed in the facility in age or developmentally appropriate activities in accordance with the requirements of Section 362.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 671(a)(10) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter. (c) A licensed and certified foster parent, resource family, or facility staff member, as described in subdivision (b), shall receive training related to the reasonable and prudent parent standard that is consistent with Section 671(a)(24) of Title 42 of the United States Code. This training shall include knowledge and skills relating to the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the child in age or developmentally appropriate activities, including knowledge and skills relating to the developmental stages of the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of a child, and knowledge and skills relating to applying the standard to decisions such as whether to allow the child to engage in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities, including sports, field trips, and overnight activities lasting one or more days, and to decisions involving the signing of permission slips and arranging of transportation for the child to and from extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities. (d) This section does not apply to a youth homelessness prevention center, a private alternative boarding school, or a private alternative outdoor program, as those terms are defined, respectively, in subdivision (a) of Section 1502.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.45. Section 1522.45.

(a) All licensed community care facilities serving children shall provide trauma-informed care and utilize trauma-informed practices, as defined and set forth in standards and regulations adopted by the department. (b) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this section. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer this section through interim licensing standards until regulations are adopted.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1523.1. Section 1523.1.

(a) (1) An application fee adjusted by facility and capacity shall be charged by the department for the issuance of a license. After initial licensure, a fee shall be charged by the department annually on each anniversary of the effective date of the license. The fees are for the purpose of financing the activities specified in this chapter. Fees shall be assessed as follows, subject to paragraph (2): Fee Schedule Facility Type Capacity Initial Application Annual Foster Family and Adoption Agencies $3,025 $1,513 Adult Day Programs 1–15 $182 $91 16–30 $303 $152 31–60 $605 $303 61–75 $758 $378 76–90 $908 $454 91–120 $1,210 $605 121+ $1,513 $757 Other Community Care Facilities 1–3 $454 $454 4–6 $908 $454 7–15 $1,363 $681 16–30 $1,815 $908 31–49 $2,270 $1,135 50–74 $2,725 $1,363 75–100 $3,180 $1,590 101–150 $3,634 $1,817 151–200 $4,237 $2,119 201–250 $4,840 $2,420 251–300 $5,445 $2,723 301–350 $6,050 $3,025 351–400 $6,655 $3,328 401–500 $7,865 $3,933 501–600 $9,075 $4,538 601–700 $10,285 $5,143 701+ $12,100 $6,050 (2) (A) The Legislature finds that all revenues generated by fees for licenses computed under this section and used for the purposes for which they were imposed are not subject to Article XIII B of the California Constitution. (B) The department, at least every five years, shall analyze initial application fees and annual fees issued by it to ensure the appropriate fee amounts are charged. The department shall recommend to the Legislature that fees established by the Legislature be adjusted as necessary to ensure that the amounts are appropriate. (b) (1) In addition to fees set forth in subdivision (a), the department shall charge the following fees: (A) A fee that represents 50 percent of an established application fee when an existing licensee moves the facility to a new physical address. (B) A fee that represents 50 percent of the established application fee when a corporate licensee changes who has the authority to select a majority of the board of directors. (C) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) when an existing licensee seeks to either increase or decrease the licensed capacity of the facility. (D) An orientation fee of fifty dollars ($50) for attendance by any individual at a department-sponsored orientation session. (E) A probation monitoring fee equal to the current annual fee, in addition to the current annual fee for that category and capacity for each year a license has been placed on probation as a result of a stipulation or decision and order pursuant to the administrative adjudication procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). (F) A late fee that represents an additional 50 percent of the established current annual fee when any licensee fails to pay the current annual licensing fee on or before the due date as indicated by postmark on the payment. (G) A fee to cover any costs incurred by the department for processing payments including, but not limited to, bounced check charges, charges for credit and debit transactions, and postage due charges. (H) A plan of correction fee of two hundred dollars ($200) when any licensee does not implement a plan of correction on or prior to the date specified in the plan. (I) Additional fees established by the department by regulation for private alternative boarding schools and private alternative outdoor programs, as necessary to regulate those licensees. (2) Foster family homes and resource families approved by a foster family agency shall be exempt from the fees imposed pursuant to this subdivision. (3) (A) Foster family agencies shall be annually assessed eighty-eight dollars ($88) for each certified family home and resource family certified or approved by the agency. (B) A foster family agency shall not be annually assessed the fee described in subparagraph (A) for a resource family placed on inactive status in accordance with Section 1517.4 if the period of inactivity exceeds one year. (4) A local jurisdiction shall not impose a business license, fee, or tax for the privilege of operating a facility licensed under this chapter that serves six or fewer persons. (c) (1) The revenues collected from licensing fees pursuant to this section shall be utilized by the department for the purpose of ensuring the health and safety of all individuals provided care and supervision by licensees and to support activities of the licensing program, including, but not limited to, monitoring facilities for compliance with licensing laws and regulations pursuant to this chapter, and other administrative activities in support of the licensing program, when appropriated for these purposes. The revenues collected shall be used in addition to any other funds appropriated in the Budget Act in support of the licensing program. The department shall adjust the fees collected pursuant to this section as necessary to ensure that they do not exceed the costs described in this paragraph. (2) The department shall not utilize any portion of these revenues sooner than 30 days after notification in writing of the purpose and use of this revenue, as approved by the Director of Finance, to the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the chairpersons of the committee in each house that considers appropriations for each fiscal year. The department shall submit a budget change proposal to justify any positions or any other related support costs on an ongoing basis. (d) A facility may use a bona fide business check to pay the license fee required under this section. (e) The failure of an applicant or licensee to pay all applicable and accrued fees and civil penalties shall constitute grounds for denial or forfeiture of a license.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1523.2. Section 1523.2.

(a) Beginning with the 1996–97 fiscal year, there is hereby created in the State Treasury the Technical Assistance Fund, from which money, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act, shall be expended by the department to fund administrative and other activities in support of the licensing program. (b) In each fiscal year, fees collected by the department pursuant to Sections 1523.1, 1568.05, 1569.185, and 1596.803 shall be deposited into the Technical Assistance Fund created pursuant to subdivision (a) and shall be expended by the department for the purpose of ensuring the health and safety of all individuals provided care and supervision by licensees and to support activities of the licensing program, including, but not limited to, monitoring facilities for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, revenues received by the department from payment of civil penalties imposed on licensed facilities pursuant to Sections 1522, 1536, 1547, 1548, 1568.0821, 1568.0822, 1568.09, 1569.17, 1569.485, and 1569.49 shall be deposited into the Technical Assistance Fund created pursuant to subdivision (a), and may be expended by the department for the technical assistance, training, and education of licensees.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524. Section 1524.

A license shall be forfeited by operation of law if one of the following occurs: (a) The licensee sells or otherwise transfers the facility or facility property, except if change of ownership applies to transferring of stock if the facility is owned by a corporation, and if the transfer of stock does not constitute a majority change of ownership. (b) The licensee surrenders the license to the department. (c) (1) The licensee moves a facility from one location to another. The department shall develop regulations to ensure that the facilities are not charged a full licensing fee and do not have to complete the entire application process if applying for a license for the new location. (2) This subdivision does not apply to a licensed foster family or a home certified by a licensed foster family agency. If a foster family home licensee or certified home parent moves to a new location, the existing license or certification may be transferred to the new location. All caregivers to whom this paragraph applies shall be required to meet all applicable licensing laws and regulations at the new location. (d) The licensee dies. If an adult relative notifies the department of the relative’s desire to continue operation of the facility and submits an application, the department shall expedite the application. The department shall promulgate regulations for expediting applications submitted pursuant to this subdivision. (e) The licensee abandons the facility. (f) If the certification issued by the State Department of Developmental Services to a licensee of an Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs or a Group Home for Children with Special Health Care Needs, licensed pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 1567.50), is rescinded. (g) If the certification issued by the State Department of Developmental Services to a licensee of an enhanced behavioral supports home, licensed pursuant to Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 1567.61), is rescinded. (h) If the certificate of program approval issued by the State Department of Developmental Services, pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 4698) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to a licensee of a community crisis home, licensed pursuant to Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 1567.80), is rescinded. (i) (1) A group home license shall be forfeited by operation of law if the licensee transitions the entire group home facility to a short-term residential therapeutic program and receives a permanent short-term residential therapeutic program license. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a group home license shall not be forfeited if the department approves the licensee to operate a short-term residential therapeutic program in an identifiable and physically separate unit on the same grounds. (j) A group home license issued to a county shall be forfeited by operation of law if the county receives a license to operate a temporary shelter care facility in accordance with Section 1530.8. (k) A temporary shelter care facility license issued to a private, nonprofit organization under contract with a county shall be forfeited by operation of law upon termination of the contract in accordance with Section 1530.8. ( l ) A foster family home license is forfeited by operation of law, as provided in Section 1517.1 of this code or Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.01. Section 1524.01.

A resource family approval shall be forfeited by operation of law when one of the following occurs: (a) The resource family surrenders the approval to the licensed foster family agency. (b) The sole resource family parent dies. (c) The resource family abandons the approved home. (d) The resource family fails to cooperate with a biennial update, as described in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1517, within 30 days of the date of written notice by the licensed foster family agency. (e) A resource family approval is forfeited by operation of law, as provided in Section 1517.5 of this code or Section 16519.58 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.1. Section 1524.1.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 1524, in the event of a sale of a licensed community care facility, except foster family homes and small family homes, where the sale will result in a new license being issued, the sale and transfer of property and business shall be subject to both of the following: (1) The licensee shall provide written notice to the department and to each resident or client or his or her legal representative of the licensee’s intent to sell the facility at least 60 days prior to the transfer of property or business, or at the time that a bona fide offer is made, whichever period is longer. (2) The licensee shall, prior to entering into an admission agreement, inform all residents/clients, or their legal representatives, admitted to the facility after notification to the department, of the licensee’s intent to sell the property or business. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (e), the property and business shall not be transferred until the buyer qualifies for a license or provisional license pursuant to this chapter. (1) The seller shall notify, in writing, a prospective buyer of the necessity to obtain a license, as required by this chapter, if the buyer’s intent is to continue operating the facility as a community care facility. The seller shall send a copy of this written notice to the licensing agency. (2) The prospective buyer shall submit an application for a license, as specified in Section 1520, within five days of the acceptance of the offer by the seller. (c) No transfer of the property or business shall be permitted until 60 days have elapsed from the date when notice has been provided to the department pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (d) The department shall give priority to applications for licensure that are submitted pursuant to this section in order to ensure timely transfer of the property and business. The department shall make a decision within 60 days after a complete application is submitted on whether to issue a license pursuant to Section 1520. (e) If the parties involved in the transfer of the property and business fully comply with this section, then the transfer may be completed and the buyer shall not be considered to be operating an unlicensed facility while the department makes a final determination on the application for licensure.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.2. Section 1524.2.

(a) This section shall apply to any community care facility that serves children, as specified in this chapter. (b) A licensee of a facility described in subdivision (a) may request inactive license status if the facility is nonoperational due to its destruction, significant damage, or prolonged closure due to an emergency or disaster pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 1796.80) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (c) A license shall not be valid, for the purposes of Section 1508, during any period of inactive license status. A licensee shall be responsible for complying with all licensing standards when inactive license status ends. The department’s timeframe for required site visits may be adjusted during the period of inactive license status. However, if the department believes the licensee is operating during a period in which the department has granted inactive license status to the licensee, the department may enter the facility for any inspection permitted by law. (d) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of interim licensing standards, which shall have the same force and effect as regulations, until regulations are adopted.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.3. Section 1524.3.

(a) This section shall apply to any community care facility that serves adults, as specified in this chapter. (b) A licensee of a facility described in subdivision (a) may request inactive license status for either of the following: (1) If the facility is nonoperational due to its destruction, significant damage, or prolonged closure due to an emergency or disaster pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 1796.80) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. (2) For any other period of inactivity in the operation of the facility. (c) For a period of inactivity, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), the following shall apply: (1) A licensee shall submit a written request for inactive license status, on a form approved by the department, to the department for review and approval. (2) The department may impose time limitations on inactive license status and identify situations in which inactive license status is not permitted. (3) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may waive, in whole or in part, on a year-by-year basis, the annual fee specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1523.1 during the period of inactive license status. (4) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) shall become operative on January 1, 2028. (d) A license shall not be valid, for the purposes of Section 1508, during any period of inactive license status. A licensee shall be responsible for complying with all licensing standards when inactive license status ends. The department’s timeframe for required site visits may be adjusted during the period of inactive license status. However, if the department believes the licensee is operating during a period in which the department has granted inactive license status to the licensee, the department may enter the facility for any inspection permitted by law. (e) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of interim licensing standards, which shall have the same force and effect as regulations, until regulations are adopted.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.5. Section 1524.5.

(a) In addition to any other requirements of this chapter, any community care facility providing residential care for six or fewer persons, except family homes certified by foster family agencies, foster family homes, and small family homes, shall provide a procedure approved by the licensing agency for immediate response to incidents and complaints. This procedure shall include a method of assuring that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee is notified of the incident, that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee has personally investigated the matter, and that the person making the complaint or reporting the incident has received a written response of action taken or a reason why no action needs to be taken. (b) In order to assure the opportunity for complaints to be made directly to the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee, and to provide the opportunity for the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee to meet residents and learn of problems in the neighborhood, any facility, except family homes certified by foster family agencies, foster family homes, and small family homes, shall establish a fixed time on a weekly basis when the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee will be present. (c) Facilities shall establish procedures to comply with the requirements of this section on or before July 1, 1996.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.6. Section 1524.6.

(a) In addition to any other requirement of this chapter, any group home or short-term residential therapeutic program, as defined by regulations of the department, providing care for any number of persons, that is not already subject to the requirements of Section 1524.5, shall provide a procedure approved by the licensing agency for immediate response to incidents and complaints, as defined by regulations of the department. This procedure shall include a method of ensuring that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee is notified of the incident or complaint, that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee has personally investigated the matter, and that the person making the complaint or reporting the incident has received a written response, within 30 days of receiving the complaint, of action taken, or a reason why no action needs to be taken. (b) In order to ensure the opportunity for complaints to be made directly to the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee, and to provide the opportunity for the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee to meet neighborhood residents and learn of problems in the neighborhood, any group home or short-term residential therapeutic program shall establish a fixed time on a periodic basis when the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee will be present. At this fixed time, information shall be provided to neighborhood residents of the complaint procedure pursuant to Section 1538. (c) Facilities shall establish procedures to comply with the requirements of this section on or before July 1, 2005. (d) This section shall not apply to family homes certified by foster family agencies, foster family homes, and small family homes. It is not the intent of the Legislature that this section be applied in a way that is contrary to the child’s best interests.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1524.7. Section 1524.7.

The State Department of Social Services shall provide to residential care facilities a form, which the residential care facility shall attach to each resident admission agreement, notifying the resident that he or she is entitled to obtain services and equipment from the telephone company. The form shall include the following information: “Any hearing or speech impaired, or otherwise disabled resident of any residential care facility is entitled to equipment and service by the telephone company, pursuant to Section 2881 of the Public Utilities Code, to improve the quality of their telecommunications. Any resident who has a declaration from a licensed professional or a state or federal agency pursuant to Section 2881 of the Public Utilities Code that he or she is hearing or speech impaired, or otherwise disabled should contact the local telephone company and ask for assistance in obtaining this equipment and service.” This section shall not be construed to require, in any way, the licensee to provide a separate telephone line for any resident.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1525. Section 1525.

Upon the filing of the application for issuance of a license or for a special permit and substantial compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations of the department, the director shall issue to the applicant the license or special permit. If the director finds that the applicant is not in compliance with the laws or regulations of this chapter, the director shall deny the applicant a license or special permit.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1525.3. Section 1525.3.

Prior to the issuance of any new license or special permit pursuant to this chapter, the applicant shall attend an orientation given by the department. The orientation given by the department shall outline all of the following: (a) The rules and regulations of the department applicable to a community care facility. (b) The scope of operation of a community care facility. (c) The responsibility entailed in operating a community care facility.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1525.5. Section 1525.5.

(a) The department may issue provisional licenses to operate community care facilities for facilities that it determines are in substantial compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, provided that no life safety risks are involved, as determined by the department. In determining whether any life safety risks are involved, the department shall require completion of all applicable fire clearances and criminal record clearances as otherwise required by the department’s rules and regulations. The provisional license shall expire six months from the date of issuance, or at any earlier time as the department may determine, and may not be renewed. However, the department may extend the term of a provisional license for an additional six months at time of application, if it is determined that more than six months will be required to achieve full compliance with licensing standards due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, provided all other requirements for a license have been met. (b) This section shall not apply to foster family homes.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1525.25. Section 1525.25.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide for proper case management and orderly transition in placement when family home licensing or family home certification changes occur. Placing, licensing, and foster family agencies shall be advised in a timely manner that a licensed foster family home or certified home intends to change its licensing or certification status. (b) Upon receiving notification that a licensed foster family home is forfeiting its license, the county shall evaluate the needs of any child still placed in the home and determine whether the child requires the level of care to be provided when the home has been certified by a foster family agency. Any child not requiring that level of care shall be moved to a home that provides the appropriate level of care.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1526. Section 1526.

Immediately upon the denial of any application for a license or for a special permit, the state department shall notify the applicant in writing. Within 15 days after the state department mails the notice, the applicant may present his written petition for a hearing to the state department. Upon receipt by the state department of the petition in proper form, such petition shall be set for hearing. The 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 state department has all the powers granted therein.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1526.5. Section 1526.5.

(a) Within 90 days after a facility accepts its first client for placement following the issuance of a license or special permit pursuant to Section 1525, the department shall inspect the facility. The licensee shall, within five business days after accepting its first client for placement, notify the department that the facility has commenced operating. Foster family homes are exempt from the provisions of this subdivision. (b) The inspection required by subdivision (a) shall be conducted to evaluate compliance with rules and regulations and to assess the facility’s continuing ability to meet regulatory requirements. The department may take appropriate remedial action as authorized by this chapter.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1526.8. Section 1526.8.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department develop modified staffing levels and requirements for crisis nurseries, provided that the health, safety, and well-being of the children in care are protected and maintained. (1) All caregivers shall be certified in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid. Certification shall be demonstrated by current and valid pediatric CPR and pediatric first aid cards issued by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, by a training program that has been approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority pursuant to Section 1797.191, or from an accredited college or university. (2) The licensee shall develop, maintain, and implement a written staff training plan for the orientation, continuing education, on-the-job training and development, supervision, and evaluation of all lead caregivers, caregivers, and volunteers. The licensee shall incorporate the training plan in the crisis nursery plan of operation. (3) The licensee shall designate at least one lead caregiver to be present at the crisis nursery at all times when children are present. The lead caregiver shall have one of the following education and experience qualifications: (A) Completion of 12 postsecondary semester units or equivalent quarter units, with a passing grade, as determined by the institution, in classes with a focus on early childhood education, child development, or child health at an accredited college or university, as determined by the department, and six months of work experience in a licensed group home, licensed infant care center, or comparable group child care program or family day care. At least three semester units, or equivalent quarter units, or equivalent experience shall include coursework or experience in the care of infants. (B) A current and valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, with the appropriate age level endorsement issued by the CDA National Credentialing Program, and at least six months of on-the-job training or work experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program. (C) A current and valid Child Development Associate Teacher Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing pursuant to Sections 80105 to 80116, inclusive, of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. (4) Lead caregivers shall have a minimum of 24 hours of training and orientation before working with children. One year experience in a supervisory position in a child care or group care facility may substitute for 16 hours of training and orientation. The written staff training plan shall require the lead caregiver to receive and document a minimum of 20 hours of annual training directly related to the functions of his or her position. (5) Caregiver staff shall complete a minimum of 24 hours of initial training within the first 90 days of employment. Eight hours of training shall be completed before the caregiver staff are responsible for children, left alone with children, and counted in the staff-to-child ratios described in subdivision (c). A maximum of four hours of training may be satisfied by job shadowing. (b) The department shall allow the use of fully trained and qualified volunteers as caregivers in a crisis nursery, subject to the following conditions: (1) Volunteers shall be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting a criminal record review as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1522. (2) Volunteers shall complete a child abuse central index check as specified in Section 1522.1. (3) Volunteers shall be in good physical health and be tested for tuberculosis not more than one year prior to, or seven days after, initial presence in the facility. (4) Volunteers shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of training as specified in paragraphs (5) and (6). (5) Prior to assuming the duties and responsibilities of a crisis caregiver or being counted in the staff-to-child ratio, volunteers shall complete at least five hours of initial training divided as follows: (A) Two hours of crisis nursery job shadowing. (B) One hour of review of community care licensing regulations. (C) Two hours of review of the crisis nursery program, including the facility mission statement, goals and objectives, child guidance techniques, and special needs of the client population they serve. (6) Within 90 days, volunteers who are included in the staff-to-child ratios shall do both of the following: (A) Acquire a certification in pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (B) Complete at least 11 hours of training covering child care health and safety issues, trauma informed care, the importance of family and sibling relationships, temperaments of children, self-regulation skills and techniques, and program child guidance techniques. (7) Volunteers who meet the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), but who have not completed the training specified in paragraph (4), (5), or (6) may assist a fully trained and qualified staff person in performing child care duties. However, these volunteers shall not be left alone with children, shall always be under the direct supervision and observation of a fully trained and qualified staff person, and shall not be counted in meeting the minimum staff-to-child ratio requirements. (c) The department shall allow the use of fully trained and qualified volunteers to be counted in the staff-to-child ratio in a crisis nursery subject to the following conditions: (1) The volunteers have fulfilled the requirements in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b). (2) There shall be at least one fully qualified and employed staff person on site at all times. (3) (A) There shall be at least one employed staff person or volunteer caregiver for each group of six children, or fraction thereof, who are 18 months of age or older, and one employed staff person or volunteer caregiver for each group of three children, or fraction thereof, who are under 18 months of age from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (B) There shall be at least one employed staff person or volunteer caregiver for each group of six children, or fraction thereof, who are 18 months of age or older, and one employed staff person or volunteer caregiver for each group of four children, or fraction thereof, who are under 18 months of age from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (C) There shall be at least one employed staff person present for every volunteer caregiver used by the crisis nursery for the purpose of meeting the minimum caregiver staffing requirements. (D) The crisis nursery’s plan of operation shall address how it will deal with unexpected circumstances related to staffing and ensure that additional caregivers are available when needed. (d) There shall be at least one staff person or volunteer caregiver awake at all times from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (e) (1) When a child has a health condition that requires prescription medication, the licensee shall ensure that the caregiver does all of the following: (A) Assists children with the taking of the medication as needed. (B) Ensures that instructions are followed as outlined by the appropriate medical professional. (C) Stores the medication in accordance with the label instructions in the original container with the original unaltered label in a locked and safe area that is not accessible to children. (D) Administers the medication as directed on the label and prescribed by the physician in writing. (i) The licensee shall obtain, in writing, approval and instructions from the child’s authorized representative for administration of the prescription medication for the child. This documentation shall be kept in the child’s record. (ii) The licensee shall not administer prescription medication to a child in accordance with instructions from the child’s authorized representative if the authorized representative’s instructions conflict with the physician’s written instructions or the label directions as prescribed by the child’s physician. (2) Nonprescription medications may be administered without approval or instructions from the child’s physician if all of the following conditions are met: (A) Nonprescription medications shall be administered in accordance with the product label directions on the nonprescription medication container or containers. (B) (i) For each nonprescription medication, the licensee shall obtain, in writing, approval and instructions from the child’s authorized representative for administration of the nonprescription medication to the child. This documentation shall be kept in the child’s record. (ii) The licensee shall not administer nonprescription medication to a child in accordance with instructions from the child’s authorized representative if the authorized representative’s instructions conflict with the product label directions on the nonprescription medication container or containers. (3) The licensee shall develop and implement a written plan to record the administration of the prescription and nonprescription medications and to inform the child’s authorized representative daily, for crisis day services, and upon discharge for overnight care, when the medications have been given. (4) When no longer needed by the child, or when the child is removed or discharged from the crisis nursery, all medications shall be returned to the child’s authorized representative or disposed of after an attempt to reach the authorized representative.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1526.75. Section 1526.75.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to maintain quality resources for children needing placement away from their families. If, during a periodic inspection or an inspection pursuant to Section 1526.5, a facility is found out of compliance with one or more of the licensing standards of the department, the department shall, unless an ongoing investigation precludes it, advise the provider of the noncompliance as soon as possible. The provider shall be given the opportunity to correct the deficiency. (b) The department shall implement a procedure whereby citations for noncompliance may be appealed and reviewed. (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the department from taking any action it may deem necessary to ensure the safety of children and adults placed in any facility.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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