Residential care facilities for the elderly.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly by the State Department of Social Services. Violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires, as a requirement for licensure, that the applicant demonstrate that he or she has successfully completed a certification program approved by the department that includes, at a minimum, 40 hours of classroom instruction, and provides that successful completion of the certification program shall be demonstrated by passing a written test and submitting a $100 fee to the department for the issuance of a certificate of completion. Existing law also requires the department to adopt regulations to require staff members of residential care facilities for the elderly who assist residents with personal activities of daily living to receive appropriate training, which includes 10 hours within the first 4 weeks of employment and 4 hours annually thereafter. Existing law requires all residential care facilities for the elderly that advertise or promote special care, special programming, or a special environment for persons with dementia to meet additional training requirements for all direct staff. This bill would, effective January 1, 2016, instead, require the certification program for an applicant for licensure to consist of 80 hours of coursework and a state-administered examination of no less than 100 questions. The bill would require the examination to reflect the uniform core of knowledge required and would require the department, no later than July 1, 2016, and every other year thereafter, to review and revise the examination in order to ensure the rigor and quality of the examination. The bill would require staff members of residential care facilities for the elderly who assist residents with personal activities of daily living to receive 20 hours of training before working independently with residents, an additional 20 hours within the first 4 weeks of employment, and an additional 20 hours annually, as prescribed. The bill would also apply the training requirements specific to dementia care to all residential care facilities for the elderly. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 1569.625 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 2044 that would become operative if this bill and AB 2044 are both enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would become operative only if SB 911 is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2015.