Published: 2015-07-10
Key Benefits:
(a) The Director of Health Care Services shall administer this part and shall adopt rules, regulations, and standards as necessary. In developing rules, regulations, and standards, the Director of Health Care Services shall consult with the California Mental Health Directors Association, the California Mental Health Planning Council, and the office of the Attorney General. Adoption of these standards, rules, and regulations shall require approval by the California Mental Health Directors Association by majority vote of those present at an official session.
(b) Wherever feasible and appropriate, rules, regulations, and standards adopted under this part shall correspond to comparable rules, regulations, and standards adopted under the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act. These corresponding rules, regulations, and standards shall include qualifications for professional personnel.
(c) Regulations adopted pursuant to this part may provide standards for services for persons with chronic alcoholism that differ from the standards for services for persons with mental health disorders.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 144, Sec. 96. Effective January 1, 2015.)
(a) The State Department of Health Care Services shall collect and publish annually quantitative information concerning the operation of this division including the number of persons admitted for 72-hour evaluation and treatment, 14-day and 30-day periods of intensive treatment, and 180-day postcertification intensive treatment, the number of persons transferred to mental health facilities pursuant to Section 4011.6 of the Penal Code, the number of persons for whom temporary conservatorships are established, and the number of persons for whom conservatorships are established in each county.
(b) Each local mental health director, and each facility providing services to persons pursuant to this division, shall provide the department, upon its request, with any information, records, and reports which the department deems necessary for the purposes of this section. The department shall not have access to any patient name identifiers.
(c) Information published pursuant to this section shall not contain patient name identifiers and shall contain statistical data only.
(d) The department shall make the reports available to medical, legal, and other professional groups involved in the implementation of this division.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 34, Sec. 102. Effective June 27, 2012.)
The Director of State Hospitals shall develop a master plan for the utilization of state hospital facilities identifying levels of care. The level of care shall be either general acute care, skilled nursing care, subacute, intermediate care, or residential care.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 24, Sec. 133. Effective June 27, 2012.)
(a) From July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1993, inclusive, regulations promulgated by the department shall not be subject to the approval of the California Conference of Local Mental Health Directors. The impact of this subdivision on regulatory timing shall be included in the department’s report to the Legislature on September 30, 1992.
(b) The department shall continue to involve the conference in the development of all regulations which affect local mental health programs prior to the promulgation of those regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
(Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 611, Sec. 34. Effective October 7, 1991.)
(a) Each county may designate facilities, which are not hospitals or clinics, as 72-hour evaluation and treatment facilities and as 14-day intensive treatment facilities if the facilities meet those requirements as the Director of Health Care Services may establish by regulation. The Director of Health Care Services shall encourage the use by counties of appropriate facilities, which are not hospitals or clinics, for the evaluation and treatment of patients pursuant to this part.
(b) All regulations relating to the approval of facilities designated by the county for 72-hour treatment and evaluation and 14-day intensive treatment facilities, heretofore adopted by the State Department of Mental Health, or a successor, shall remain in effect and shall be fully enforceable by the State Department of Health Care Services with respect to any facility or program required to be approved as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation and 14-day intensive treatment facilities, unless and until readopted, amended, or repealed by the Director of Health Care Services. The State Department of Health Care Services shall succeed to and be vested with all duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the State Department of Mental Health, or a successor, as they relate to approval of facilities for 72-hour treatment and evaluation and 14-day intensive treatment facilities.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 23, Sec. 38. Effective June 27, 2013.)
(a) This section shall apply to each facility licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services, or its delegated agent, on or after January 1, 2003. For purposes of this section, “facility” means psychiatric health facilities, as defined in Section 1250.2 of the Health and Safety Code, licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 77001) of Division 5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and mental health rehabilitation centers licensed pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 781.00) of Division 1 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.
(b) (1) (A) Prior to the initial licensure or first renewal of a license on or after January 1, 2003, of any person to operate or manage a facility specified in subdivision (a), the applicant or licensee shall submit fingerprint images and related information pertaining to the applicant or licensee to the Department of Justice for purposes of a criminal record check, as specified in paragraph (2), at the expense of the applicant or licensee. The Department of Justice shall provide the results of the criminal record check to the State Department of Health Care Services. The State Department of Health Care Services may take into consideration information obtained from or provided by other government agencies. The State Department of Health Care Services shall determine whether the applicant or licensee has ever been convicted of a crime specified in subdivision (c). The applicant or licensee shall submit fingerprint images and related information each time the position of administrator, manager, program director, or fiscal officer of a facility is filled and prior to actual employment for initial licensure or an individual who is initially hired on or after January 1, 2003. For purposes of this subdivision, “applicant” and “licensee” include the administrator, manager, program director, or fiscal officer of a facility.
(B) Commencing July 1, 2013, upon the employment of, or contract with or for, any direct care staff, the direct care staff person or licensee shall submit fingerprint images and related information pertaining to the direct care staff person to the Department of Justice for purposes of a criminal record check, as specified in paragraph (2), at the expense of the direct care staff person or licensee. The Department of Justice shall provide the results of the criminal record check to the State Department of Health Care Services. The State Department of Health Care Services shall determine whether the direct care staff person has ever been convicted of a crime specified in subdivision (c). The State Department of Health Care Services shall notify the licensee of these results. No direct client contact by the trainee or newly hired staff, or by any direct care contractor shall occur prior to clearance by the State Department of Health Care Services unless the trainee, newly hired employee, contractor, or employee of the contractor is constantly supervised.
(C) Commencing July 1, 2013, any contract for services provided directly to patients or residents shall contain provisions to ensure that the direct services contractor submits to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information pertaining to the direct services contractor for submission to the State Department of Health Care Services for purposes of a criminal record check, as specified in paragraph (2), at the expense of the direct services contractor or licensee. The Department of Justice shall provide the results of the criminal record check to the State Department of Health Care Services. The State Department of Health Care Services shall determine whether the direct services contractor has ever been convicted of a crime specified in subdivision (c). The State Department of Health Care Services shall notify the licensee of these results.
(2) If the applicant, licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor specified in paragraph (1) has resided in California for at least the previous seven years, the applicant, licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor shall only submit one set of fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of processing the fingerprint submission. Fingerprints and related information submitted pursuant to this subdivision include fingerprint images captured and transmitted electronically. When requested, the Department of Justice shall forward one set of fingerprint images to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining any record of previous convictions or arrests pending adjudication of the applicant, licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor. The results of a criminal record check provided by the Department of Justice shall contain every conviction rendered against an applicant, licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor, and every offense for which the applicant, licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor is presently awaiting trial, whether the person is incarcerated or has been released on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial. The State Department of the Health Care Services shall request subsequent arrest notification from the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code.
(3) An applicant and any other person specified in this subdivision, as part of the background clearance process, shall provide information as to whether or not the person has any prior criminal convictions, has had any arrests within the past 12-month period, or has any active arrests, and shall certify that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the information provided is true. This requirement is not intended to duplicate existing requirements for individuals who are required to submit fingerprint images as part of a criminal background clearance process. Every applicant shall provide information on any prior administrative action taken against him or her by any federal, state, or local government agency and shall certify that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the information provided is true. An applicant or other person required to provide information pursuant to this section that knowingly or willfully makes false statements, representations, or omissions may be subject to administrative action, including, but not limited to, denial of his or her application or exemption or revocation of any exemption previously granted.
(c) (1) The State Department of Health Care Services shall deny any application for any license, suspend or revoke any existing license, and disapprove or revoke any employment or contract for direct services, if the applicant, licensee, employee, or direct services contractor has been convicted of, or incarcerated for, a felony defined in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of, or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of, the Penal Code, within the preceding 10 years.
(2) The application for licensure or renewal of any license shall be denied, and any employment or contract to provide direct services shall be disapproved or revoked, if the criminal record of the person includes a conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that, if committed or attempted in this state, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses referred to in paragraph (1).
(d) (1) The State Department of Health Care Services may approve an application for, or renewal of, a license, or continue any employment or contract for direct services, if the person has been convicted of a misdemeanor offense that is not a crime upon the person of another, the nature of which has no bearing upon the duties for which the person will perform as a licensee, direct care staff person, or direct services contractor. In determining whether to approve the application, employment, or contract for direct services, the department shall take into consideration the factors enumerated in paragraph (2).
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), if the criminal record of a person indicates any conviction other than a minor traffic violation, the State Department of Health Care Services may deny the application for license or renewal, and may disapprove or revoke any employment or contract for direct services. In determining whether or not to deny the application for licensure or renewal, or to disapprove or revoke any employment or contract for direct services, the department shall take into consideration the following factors:
(A) The nature and seriousness of the offense under consideration and its relationship to the person’s employment, duties, and responsibilities.
(B) Activities since conviction, including employment or participation in therapy or education, that would indicate changed behavior.
(C) The time that has elapsed since the commission of the conduct or offense and the number of offenses.
(D) The extent to which the person has complied with any terms of parole, probation, restitution, or any other sanction lawfully imposed against the person.
(E) Any rehabilitation evidence, including character references, submitted by the person.
(F) Employment history and current employer recommendations.
(G) Circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense that would demonstrate the unlikelihood of repetition.
(H) The granting by the Governor of a full and unconditional pardon.
(I) A certificate of rehabilitation from a superior court.
(e) Denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, or disapproval or revocation of any employment or contract for direct services specified in subdivision (c) and paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) are not subject to appeal, except as provided in subdivision (f).
(f) After a review of the record, the director may grant an exemption from denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, or disapproval of any employment or contract for direct services, if the crime for which the person was convicted was a property crime that did not involve injury to any person and the director has substantial and convincing evidence to support a reasonable belief that the person is of such good character as to justify issuance or renewal of the license or approval of the employment or contract.
(g) A plea or verdict of guilty, or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere shall be deemed a conviction within the meaning of this section. The State Department of Health Care Services may deny any application, or deny, suspend, or revoke a license, or disapprove or revoke any employment or contract for direct services based on a conviction specified in subdivision (c) when the judgment of conviction is entered or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence.
(h) (1) For purposes of this section, “direct care staff” means any person who is an employee, contractor, or volunteer who has contact with other patients or residents in the provision of services. Administrative and licensed personnel shall be considered direct care staff when directly providing program services to participants.
(2) An additional background check shall not be required pursuant to this section if the direct care staff or licensee has received a prior criminal history background check while working in a mental health rehabilitation center or psychiatric health facility licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services, and provided the department has maintained continuous subsequent arrest notification on the individual from the Department of Justice since the prior criminal background check was initiated.
(3) When an application is denied on the basis of a conviction pursuant to this section, the State Department of Health Care Services shall provide the individual whose application was denied with notice, in writing, of the specific grounds for the proposed denial.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 23, Sec. 39. Effective June 27, 2013.)
