Today's Law As Amended


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SB-1319 Child welfare.(2011-2012)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 1516 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 519 of the Statutes of 2010, is amended to read:

1516.
 (a) A crisis nursery, as defined in paragraph (17) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, shall be For purposes of this chapter, “crisis nursery” means a facility  licensed by the department to operate a crisis residential overnight program. Notwithstanding Section 1596.80, a crisis nursery may also provide crisis day services. provide short-term, 24-hour nonmedical residential care and supervision for children under six years of age, who are voluntarily placed for temporary care by a parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation for no more than 30 days. 
(b) A crisis nursery shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis by either a private nonprofit corporation or a nonprofit public benefit corporation.
(c) “Voluntary placement,” for purposes of this section, means a child, who is not receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care, placed by a parent or legal guardian who retains physical custody of, and remains responsible for, the care of his or her children who are placed for temporary emergency care, as described in subdivision (a). Voluntary placement does not include placement of a child who has been removed from the care and custody of his or her parent or legal guardian and placed in foster care by a child welfare services agency.
(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the maximum licensed capacity for a crisis nursery program shall be 14 children.
(c) (2)  A facility licensed on or before January 1, 2004, as a group home for children under the age of  six years of age  with a licensed capacity greater than 14 children, but less than 21 children, that provides crisis nursery services shall be allowed to retain its capacity if issued a crisis nursery license until there is a change in the licensee’s program, location, or client population.
(d) (e)  Each crisis nursery shall collect and maintain information, in a format specified by the department, indicating the total number of children placed in the program, the length of stay for each child, the reasons given for the use of the crisis nursery, and the age of each child. This information shall be made available to the department upon request.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 1596.80, a crisis nursery may provide crisis day services for children under six years of age at the same site that it is providing crisis residential overnight services.
(1) (f)  A child shall not receive crisis day  Notwithstanding Section 1596.80, a crisis nursery may provide child day care services for children under the age of six years at the same site as the crisis nursery. A child may not receive child day care  services at a crisis nursery for more than 30 calendar days, maximum of 12 hours per day, or a total of 360 hours,  days  in a six-month period unless the department issues an exception to allow a child to receive additional crisis day services in a six-month period. exception. A child who is receiving child day care services shall be counted in the licensed capacity. 
(2) The department, upon receipt of an exception request pursuant to paragraph (1) and supporting documentation as required by the department, shall respond within five working days to approve or deny the request.
(3) No more than two exceptions, in seven-calendar day or 84-hour increments, may be granted per child in a six-month period.
(f) A crisis nursery license shall be issued for a specific capacity determined by the department.
(1) (A) The maximum licensed capacity for crisis day services shall be based on 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child. Bedrooms, bathrooms, halls, offices, isolation areas, food-preparation areas, and storage places shall not be included in the calculation of indoor activity space. Floor area under tables, desks, chairs, and other equipment intended for use as part of children’s activities shall be included in the calculation of indoor space.
(B) There shall be at least 75 square feet per child of outdoor activity space based on the total licensed capacity. Swimming pools, adjacent pool decking, and natural or man-made hazards shall not be included in the calculation of outdoor activity space.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (c), the maximum licensed capacity for a crisis residential overnight program shall be 14 children.
(3) A child who has been voluntarily placed in a crisis residential overnight program shall be included in the licensed capacity for crisis day services.
(g) Exceptions to group home licensing regulations pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 84200 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, in effect on August 1, 2004, for county-operated or county-contracted emergency shelter care facilities that care for children under the age of  six years of age  for no more than 30 days, shall be contained in regulations for crisis nurseries.
(h) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012. 
(1) “Crisis day services” means temporary, nonmedical care and supervision for children under six years of age who are voluntarily placed by a parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation for less than 24 hours per day. Crisis day services shall be provided during a time period defined by the crisis nursery in its plan of operation, but not to exceed a period of 14 hours per day. The plan of operation shall assure sleeping arrangements are available for children there after 7 p.m. A child may not receive crisis day services at a crisis nursery for more than 30 calendar days, or a total of 360 hours, in a six-month period unless the department issues an exception.
(2) “Crisis residential overnight program” means short-term, 24-hour nonmedical residential care and supervision, including overnight, for children under six years of age who are voluntarily placed by a parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation for no more than 30 days.
(3) “Voluntarily placed” means a child, who is not receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care, placed by a parent or legal guardian who retains physical custody of, and remains responsible for, the care of his or her children who are placed for temporary emergency care. “Voluntarily placed” does not include placement of a child who has been removed from the care and custody of his or her parent or legal guardian and placed in foster care by a child welfare services agency.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1526.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

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) (4)  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 eight  hours of initial training divided as follows:
(A) Two Four  hours of crisis nursery job shadowing.
(B) One hour Two hours  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) (5)  Within 90 days, volunteers who are included in the staff-to-child ratios shall do both of the following: complete at least 20 hours of training divided as follows: 
(A) Acquire a certification in  Twelve hours of  pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(B) Complete at least 11  Eight  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.  issues. 
(7) (6)  Volunteers who meet the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), but who have not completed the training specified in paragraph (4), (5),  (4)  or (6) (5)  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), (4),  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  paid caregiver 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.

SEC. 3.

 Section 1530.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1530.5.
 (a) The department, in establishing regulations, including provisions for periodic inspections, under this chapter for foster family homes,  homes and  certified family homes, and resource family  homes of foster family agencies, shall consider these homes as private residences, and shall establish regulations for these foster family homes,  homes and  certified family homes, and resource family  homes of foster family agencies as an entirely separate regulation package from regulations for all other community care facilities. Certified family homes of foster family agencies and foster family homes shall not be subject to civil penalties pursuant to this chapter, except for penalties imposed pursuant to Sections 1522 and 1547. Resource family homes of foster family agencies shall not be subject to civil penalties pursuant to this chapter, as specified in Section 16519.54 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.  The department, in adopting and amending regulations for these foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies, shall consult with foster parent and foster family agency organizations in order to ensure compliance with the requirement of this section.
(b) This section shall not apply to small family homes or foster family agencies as defined in Section 1502.

SEC. 4.

 Section 1596.792 of the Health and Safety Code, as amended by Section 4 of Chapter 519 of the Statutes of 2010, is amended to read:

1596.792.
 This chapter, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), and Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30) do not apply to any of the following:
(a) Any health facility, as defined by Section 1250.
(b) Any clinic, as defined by Section 1202.
(c) Any community care facility, as defined by Section 1502.
(d) Any family childcare  day care  home providing care for the children of only one family in addition to the operator’s own children.
(e) Any cooperative arrangement between parents for the care of their children when no payment is involved and the arrangement meets all of the following conditions:
(1) In a cooperative arrangement, parents shall combine their efforts so that each parent, or set of parents, rotates as the responsible caregiver with respect to all the children in the cooperative.
(2) Any person caring for children shall be a parent, legal guardian, stepparent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling of at least one of the children in the cooperative.
(3) There can be no payment of money or receipt of in-kind income in exchange for the provision of care. This does not prohibit in-kind contributions of snacks, games, toys, blankets for napping, pillows, and other materials parents deem appropriate for their children. It is not the intent of this paragraph to prohibit payment for outside activities, the amount of which may not exceed the actual cost of the activity.
(4) No more than 12 children are receiving care in the same place at the same time.
(f) Any arrangement for the receiving and care of children by a relative.
(g) Any public recreation program. “Public recreation program” means a program operated by the state, city, county, special district, school district, community college district, chartered city, or chartered city and county that meets either of the following criteria:
(1) The program is operated only during hours other than normal school hours for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the public school district where the program is located, or operated only during periods when students in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, are normally not in session in the public school district where the program is located, for either of the following periods:
(A) For under 20 hours per week.
(B) For a total of 14 weeks or less during a 12-month period. This total applies to any 14 weeks within any 12-month period, without regard to whether the weeks are consecutive.
In determining “normal school hours” or periods when students are “normally not in session,” the State Department of Social Services shall, when appropriate, consider the normal school hours or periods when students are normally not in session for students attending a year-round school.
(2) The program is provided to children who are over the age of four years and nine months and not yet enrolled in school and the program is operated during either of the following periods:
(A) For under 16 hours per week.
(B) For a total of 12 weeks or less during a 12-month period. This total applies to any 12 weeks within any 12-month period, without regard to whether the weeks are consecutive.
(3) The program is provided to children under the age of four years and nine months with sessions that run 12 hours per week or less and are 12 weeks or less in duration. A program subject to this paragraph may permit children to be enrolled in consecutive sessions throughout the year. However, the program shall not permit children to be enrolled in a combination of sessions that total more than 12 hours per week for each child.
(h) Extended daycare  day care  programs operated by public or private schools, including, but not limited to, expanded learning opportunity programs, as specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (b) of Section 46120 of the Education Code. schools. 
(i) Any school parenting program or adult education childcare  child care  program that satisfies both of the following:
(1) Is operated by a public school district or operated by an individual or organization pursuant to a contract with a public school district.
(2) Is not operated by an organization specified in Section 1596.793.
(j) Any child daycare  day care  program that operates only one day per week for no more than four hours on that one day.
(k) Any child daycare  day care  program that offers temporary childcare  child care  services to parents and that satisfies both of the following:
(1) The services are only provided to parents and guardians who are on the same premises as the site of the child daycare  day care  program.
(2) The child daycare  day care  program is not operated on the site of a ski facility, shopping mall, department store, or any other similar site identified by the department by regulation.
( (l) 
l
)  Any program that provides activities for children of an instructional nature in a classroom-like setting and satisfies both of the following:
(1) Is operated only during periods of the year when students in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, are normally not in session in the public school district where the program is located due to regularly scheduled vacations.
(2) Offers any number of sessions during the period specified in paragraph (1) that when added together do not exceed a total of 30 days when only schoolage children are enrolled in the program or 15 days when children younger than schoolage are enrolled in the program.
(m) A program facility administered by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that (1) houses both women and their children, and (2) is specifically designated for the purpose of providing substance abuse treatment and maintaining and strengthening the family unit pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3410) of Title 2 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, or Chapter 4.8 (commencing with Section 1174) of Title 7 of Part 2 of that code.
(n) Any crisis nursery, as defined in paragraph (17) of  subdivision (a) of Section 1502. 1516. 
(o) (1) Commencing with the adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to paragraph (3), or no later than July 1, 2019, whichever comes first, a California state preschool program operated by a local educational agency under contract with the State Department of Education and that operates in a school building, as defined by Section 17283 of the Education Code, that meets all of the following conditions:
(A) The program is operated in a local educational agency facility that meets the requirements of the Field Act, as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 17280) and Article 6 (commencing with Section 17365) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.5 of Division 1 of Title 1 of, and Article 7 (commencing with Section 81130) of Chapter 1 of Part 49 of Division 7 of Title 3 of, the Education Code.
(B) The local educational agency facility is constructed consistent with California Building Standards Code pursuant to Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
(C) The local educational agency facility meets the requirements for kindergarten classrooms in accordance with Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 14000) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(D) The program meets all other requirements of California state preschool programs pursuant to Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 17906) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(2) A California state preschool program exempt under this subdivision shall be considered licensed under Division 12 (commencing with Section 101151) of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for purposes of establishing a rating on an early learning quality rating and improvement system matrix pursuant to Section 8203.1 of the Education Code.
(3) (A) No later than October 1, 2017, the Legislative Analyst shall convene a stakeholder process for the purpose of ensuring state preschools operated by local educational agencies are maintaining all existing necessary health and safety requirements.
(B) The stakeholder process shall identify and make recommendations on any health and safety requirements currently required under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, but not included in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the Field Act, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the California Plumbing Code, the Education Code, or this code, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(i) Adequate outdoor shade structures.
(ii) Access to age and developmentally appropriate bathroom and drinking water facilities.
(iii) Appropriate processes for parent notification and resolution of code and regulation violations.
(C) The stakeholder process participants shall include experts on early childhood education health and safety issues from local educational agency and nonlocal educational agency state preschool program providers, and representatives from the State Department of Education, State Department of Social Services, Department of Finance, and legislative staff.
(D) No later than March 15, 2018, the Legislative Analyst shall report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the State Department of Education on recommendations or observations as a result of the stakeholder process. These recommendations or observations shall consider the fiscal impact on the state. No sooner than 30 days after the report is provided, the State Department of Education shall commence a process to adopt emergency regulations pursuant to Section 11346.1 of the Government Code to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph. The adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:
(A) “California state preschool program” means any classroom that is funded, in whole or in part, by funds received pursuant to Section 8207 of the Education Code.
(B) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

SEC. 5.

 Section 1596.792 of the Health and Safety Code, as amended by Section 5 of Chapter 519 of the Statutes of 2010, is repealed.

1596.792.
 This chapter, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), and Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30) do not apply to any of the following:
(a) Any health facility, as defined by Section 1250.
(b) Any clinic, as defined by Section 1202.
(c) Any community care facility, as defined by Section 1502.
(d) Any family childcare home providing care for the children of only one family in addition to the operator’s own children.
(e) Any cooperative arrangement between parents for the care of their children when no payment is involved and the arrangement meets all of the following conditions:
(1) In a cooperative arrangement, parents shall combine their efforts so that each parent, or set of parents, rotates as the responsible caregiver with respect to all the children in the cooperative.
(2) Any person caring for children shall be a parent, legal guardian, stepparent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or adult sibling of at least one of the children in the cooperative.
(3) There can be no payment of money or receipt of in-kind income in exchange for the provision of care. This does not prohibit in-kind contributions of snacks, games, toys, blankets for napping, pillows, and other materials parents deem appropriate for their children. It is not the intent of this paragraph to prohibit payment for outside activities, the amount of which may not exceed the actual cost of the activity.
(4) No more than 12 children are receiving care in the same place at the same time.
(f) Any arrangement for the receiving and care of children by a relative.
(g) Any public recreation program. “Public recreation program” means a program operated by the state, city, county, special district, school district, community college district, chartered city, or chartered city and county that meets either of the following criteria:
(1) The program is operated only during hours other than normal school hours for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the public school district where the program is located, or operated only during periods when students in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, are normally not in session in the public school district where the program is located, for either of the following periods:
(A) For under 20 hours per week.
(B) For a total of 14 weeks or less during a 12-month period. This total applies to any 14 weeks within any 12-month period, without regard to whether the weeks are consecutive.
In determining “normal school hours” or periods when students are “normally not in session,” the State Department of Social Services shall, when appropriate, consider the normal school hours or periods when students are normally not in session for students attending a year-round school.
(2) The program is provided to children who are over the age of four years and nine months and not yet enrolled in school and the program is operated during either of the following periods:
(A) For under 16 hours per week.
(B) For a total of 12 weeks or less during a 12-month period. This total applies to any 12 weeks within any 12-month period, without regard to whether the weeks are consecutive.
(3) The program is provided to children under the age of four years and nine months with sessions that run 12 hours per week or less and are 12 weeks or less in duration. A program subject to this paragraph may permit children to be enrolled in consecutive sessions throughout the year. However, the program shall not permit children to be enrolled in a combination of sessions that total more than 12 hours per week for each child.
(h) Extended daycare programs operated by public or private schools, including, but not limited to, expanded learning opportunity programs, as specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (b) of Section 46120 of the Education Code.
(i) Any school parenting program or adult education childcare program that satisfies both of the following:
(1) Is operated by a public school district or operated by an individual or organization pursuant to a contract with a public school district.
(2) Is not operated by an organization specified in Section 1596.793.
(j) Any child daycare program that operates only one day per week for no more than four hours on that one day.
(k) Any child daycare program that offers temporary childcare services to parents and that satisfies both of the following:
(1) The services are only provided to parents and guardians who are on the same premises as the site of the child daycare program.
(2) The child daycare program is not operated on the site of a ski facility, shopping mall, department store, or any other similar site identified by the department by regulation.
(l) Any program that provides activities for children of an instructional nature in a classroom-like setting and satisfies both of the following:
(1) Is operated only during periods of the year when students in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, are normally not in session in the public school district where the program is located due to regularly scheduled vacations.
(2) Offers any number of sessions during the period specified in paragraph (1) that when added together do not exceed a total of 30 days when only schoolage children are enrolled in the program or 15 days when children younger than schoolage are enrolled in the program.
(m) A program facility administered by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that (1) houses both women and their children, and (2) is specifically designated for the purpose of providing substance abuse treatment and maintaining and strengthening the family unit pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3410) of Title 2 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, or Chapter 4.8 (commencing with Section 1174) of Title 7 of Part 2 of that code.
(n) Any crisis nursery, as defined in paragraph (17) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502.
(o) (1) Commencing with the adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to paragraph (3), or no later than July 1, 2019, whichever comes first, a California state preschool program operated by a local educational agency under contract with the State Department of Education and that operates in a school building, as defined by Section 17283 of the Education Code, that meets all of the following conditions:
(A) The program is operated in a local educational agency facility that meets the requirements of the Field Act, as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 17280) and Article 6 (commencing with Section 17365) of Chapter 3 of Part 10.5 of Division 1 of Title 1 of, and Article 7 (commencing with Section 81130) of Chapter 1 of Part 49 of Division 7 of Title 3 of, the Education Code.
(B) The local educational agency facility is constructed consistent with California Building Standards Code pursuant to Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
(C) The local educational agency facility meets the requirements for kindergarten classrooms in accordance with Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 14000) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(D) The program meets all other requirements of California state preschool programs pursuant to Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 17906) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
(2) A California state preschool program exempt under this subdivision shall be considered licensed under Division 12 (commencing with Section 101151) of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for purposes of establishing a rating on an early learning quality rating and improvement system matrix pursuant to Section 8203.1 of the Education Code.
(3) (A) No later than October 1, 2017, the Legislative Analyst shall convene a stakeholder process for the purpose of ensuring state preschools operated by local educational agencies are maintaining all existing necessary health and safety requirements.
(B) The stakeholder process shall identify and make recommendations on any health and safety requirements currently required under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, but not included in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the Field Act, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the California Plumbing Code, the Education Code, or this code, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(i) Adequate outdoor shade structures.
(ii) Access to age and developmentally appropriate bathroom and drinking water facilities.
(iii) Appropriate processes for parent notification and resolution of code and regulation violations.
(C) The stakeholder process participants shall include experts on early childhood education health and safety issues from local educational agency and nonlocal educational agency state preschool program providers, and representatives from the State Department of Education, State Department of Social Services, Department of Finance, and legislative staff.
(D) No later than March 15, 2018, the Legislative Analyst shall report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the State Department of Education on recommendations or observations as a result of the stakeholder process. These recommendations or observations shall consider the fiscal impact on the state. No sooner than 30 days after the report is provided, the State Department of Education shall commence a process to adopt emergency regulations pursuant to Section 11346.1 of the Government Code to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph. The adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:
(A) “California state preschool program” means any classroom that is funded, in whole or in part, by funds received pursuant to Section 8207 of the Education Code.
(B) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

SEC. 6.

 Section 4094 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

4094.
 (a) The State Department of Mental Health shall establish, by regulations adopted at the earliest possible date, but no later than December 31, 1994, program standards for any facility licensed as a community treatment facility. This section shall apply only to community treatment facilities described in this subdivision.
(b) Commencing July 1, 2012, the State Department of Health Care Services may adopt or amend regulations pertaining to the program standards for any facility licensed as a community treatment facility.
(c) A certification of compliance issued by the State Department of Health Care Services shall be a condition of licensure for the community treatment facility by the State Department of Social Services. The department may, upon the request of a county, delegate the certification and supervision of a community treatment facility to the county department of mental health.
(d) The State Department of Health Care Services shall adopt regulations to include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Procedures by which the Director of Health Care Services shall certify that a facility requesting licensure as a community treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code is in compliance with program standards established pursuant to this section.
(2) Procedures by which the Director of Health Care Services shall deny a certification to a facility or decertify a facility that is licensed as a community treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, but no longer complying with program standards established pursuant to this section, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(3) Provisions for site visits by the State Department of Health Care Services for the purpose of reviewing a facility’s compliance with program standards established pursuant to this section.
(4) Provisions for the community care licensing staff of the State Department of Social Services to report to the State Department of Health Care Services when there is reasonable cause to believe that a community treatment facility is not in compliance with program standards established pursuant to this section.
(5) Provisions for the State Department of Health Care Services to provide consultation and documentation to the State Department of Social Services in any administrative proceeding regarding denial, suspension, or revocation of a community treatment facility license.
(e) The standards adopted by regulations pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall include, but not be limited to, standards for treatment, staffing, and for the use of psychotropic medication, discipline, and restraints in the facilities. The standards shall also meet the requirements of Section 4094.5.
(f) (1) A community treatment facility shall not be required by the State Department of Health Care Services to have 24-hour onsite licensed nursing staff, but shall retain at least one full-time, or full-time-equivalent, registered nurse onsite if all of the following are applicable:
(A) The facility does not use mechanical restraint.
(B) The facility only admits children who have been assessed, at the point of admission, by a licensed primary care provider and a licensed psychiatrist, who have concluded, with respect to each child, that the child does not require medical services that require 24-hour nursing coverage. For purposes of this section, a “primary care provider” includes a person defined in Section 14254, or a nurse practitioner who has the responsibility for providing initial and primary care to patients, for maintaining the continuity of care, and for initiating referral for specialist care.
(C) Other medical or nursing staff shall be available on call to provide appropriate services, when necessary, within one hour. In order for a placement in a community treatment facility to be funded with federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care on behalf of an eligible child, the facility shall maintain registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who are onsite, according to the facility’s treatment model, and who are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If consistent with the facility's treatment model, a community treatment facility may access the same nursing resources as those made available to a short-term residential therapeutic program pursuant to Section 4096.55. 
(D) All direct care staff shall be trained in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and in emergency intervention techniques and methods approved by the Community Care Licensing Division of the State Department of Social Services.
(2) The State Department of Health Care Services may adopt emergency regulations as necessary to implement this subdivision. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. The regulations shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law and shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. The regulations shall not remain in effect more than 180 days unless the adopting agency complies with all the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, as required by subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.
(g) During the initial public comment period for the adoption of the regulations required by this section, the community care facility licensing regulations proposed by the State Department of Social Services and the program standards proposed by the State Department of Health Care Services shall be presented simultaneously.
(h) A minor shall be admitted to a community treatment facility only if the requirements of Section 4094.5 of this code, Section 1530.9 of the Health and Safety Code, and  and  either of the following conditions are met:
(1) The minor is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, and has made voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to Section 6552.
(2) Informed consent is given by a parent, guardian, conservator, or other person having custody of the minor.
(i) Any minor admitted to a community treatment facility shall have the same due process rights afforded to a minor who may be admitted to a state hospital, pursuant to the holding in In re Roger S. (1977) 19 Cal.3d 921. Minors who are wards or dependents of the court and to whom this subdivision applies shall be afforded due process in accordance with Section 6552 and related case law, including In re Michael E. (1975) 15 Cal.3d 183. Regulations adopted pursuant to Section 4094 shall specify the procedures for ensuring these rights, including provisions for notification of rights and the time and place of hearings.
(j) (1)  Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), pursuant to Section 5963.05, the  Section 13340 of the Government Code, the sum of forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) is hereby appropriated annually from the General Fund to the  State Department of Health Care Services may develop and revise documentation standards for community treatment facilities to be consistent with the standards developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 14184.402. for one personnel year to carry out the provisions of this section. 
(2) The department or the department’s delegate shall require community treatment facilities to implement these documentation standards and shall monitor compliance with these standards as part of the program reviews required for certification pursuant to subdivision (c).

SEC. 7.

 Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11462.
 (a) The department shall commence development of a new payment structure for short-term residential therapeutic program placements claiming Title IV-E funding, in consultation with county placing agencies and providers.
(b) The department shall develop a rate system that includes consideration of all of the following factors:
(1) Core services, made available to children and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through formal agreements with other agencies, which are trauma informed and culturally relevant and include:
(A) Specialty mental health services for children who meet medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program.
(B) Transition support services for children, youth, and families upon initial entry and placement changes and for families who assume permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship.
(C) Educational and physical, behavioral, and mental health supports, including extracurricular activities and social supports.
(D) Activities designed to support transition-age youth and nonminor dependents in achieving a successful adulthood.
(E) Services to achieve permanency, including supporting efforts to reunify or achieve adoption or guardianship and efforts to maintain or establish relationships with parents, siblings, extended family members, tribes, or others important to the child or youth, as appropriate.
(F) When serving Indian children, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224.1, the core services described in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, which shall be provided to eligible children consistent with active efforts pursuant to Section 361.7.
(G) (i) Facilitating the identification and, as needed, the approval of resource families pursuant to Section 16519.5, for the purpose of transitioning children and youth to family-based care.
(ii) If a short-term residential therapeutic program elects to approve and monitor resource families directly, the program shall comply with all laws applicable to foster family agencies, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code).
(iii) (a)  For (1)   short-term residential therapeutic programs that elect to approve and monitor resource families directly, the department shall have all the same duties and responsibilities as those programs have for licensed foster family agencies, as set forth in applicable law, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code). Effective July 1, 1990, foster care providers licensed as group homes, as defined in departmental regulations, including public child care institutions, as defined in Section 11402.5, shall have rates established by classifying each group home program and applying the standardized schedule of rates. The department shall collect information from group providers beginning January 1, 1990, in order to classify each group home program. 
(2) The core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, of paragraph (1) are not intended to duplicate services already available to foster children in the community, but to support access to those services and supports to the extent they are already available. Those services and supports may include, but are not limited to, foster youth services available through county offices of education, Indian Health Services, or school-based extracurricular activities. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), foster care providers licensed as group homes shall have rates established only if the group home is organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of Section 11400. The department shall terminate the rate effective January 1, 1993, of any group home not organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of Section 11400. 
(3) Specialized and intensive treatment supports that encompass the elements of nonmedical care and supervision necessary to meet a child’s or youth’s safety and other needs that cannot be met in a family-based setting.
(4) Staff training.
(5) Health and Safety Code requirements.
(6) Accreditation that includes:
(3)  (A) Provision for all licensed short-term residential therapeutic programs to obtain and maintain in good standing accreditation from a nationally recognized accreditation agency, as identified by the department, with expertise in programs for children or youth group care facilities, as  The department shall determine, consistent with the requirements of this chapter and other relevant requirements under law, the rate classification level (RCL) for each group home program on a biennial basis. Submission of the biennial rate application shall be made according to a schedule  determined by the department.
(B) Promulgation by the department of information identifying that agency or agencies from which accreditation shall be required. The department shall adopt regulations to implement this paragraph. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this paragraph is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement to describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action. 
(C) Provision for timely reporting to the department of any change in accreditation status.
(D) Provision for reduction or revocation of the rate in the event of the suspension, lapse, revocation, or other loss of accreditation, or failure to provide proof of that accreditation to the department upon request.
(7) Mental health certification, including a requirement to timely report to the department any change in mental health certificate status.
(8) (b)  Maximization of federal financial participation under Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social Security Act. A group home program shall be initially classified, for purposes of emergency regulations, according to the level of care and services to be provided using a point system developed by the department and described in the report, “The Classification of Group Home Programs under the Standardized Schedule of Rates System,” prepared by the State Department of Social Services, August 30, 1989. 
(c) The department shall establish rates pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) commencing January 1, 2017. The rate structure shall include an interim rate, a provisional rate for new short-term residential therapeutic programs, and a probationary rate. The department may issue a one-time reimbursement for accreditation fees incurred after August 1, 2016, in an amount and manner determined by the department in written directives. rate for each RCL has been determined by the department with data from the AFDC-FC Group Home Rate Classification Pilot Study. The rates effective July 1, 1990, were developed using 1985 calendar year costs and reflect adjustments to the costs for each fiscal year, starting with the 1986–87 fiscal year, by the amount of the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to the methodology described in Section 11453. The data obtained by the department using 1985 calendar year costs shall be updated and revised by January 1, 1993. 
(d) As used in this section, “standardized schedule of rates” means a listing of the 14 rate classification levels, and the single rate established for each RCL.
(e) Except as specified in paragraph (1), the department shall determine the RCL for each group home program on a prospective basis, according to the level of care and services that the group home operator projects will be provided during the period of time for which the rate is being established.
(1) (A) (i) For new and existing providers requesting the establishment of an RCL, and for existing group home programs requesting an RCL increase, the department shall determine the RCL no later than 13 months after the effective date of the provisional rate. The determination of the RCL shall be based on a program audit of documentation and other information that verifies the level of care and supervision provided by the group home program during a period of the two full calendar months or 60 consecutive days, whichever is longer, preceding the date of the program audit, unless the group home program requests a lower RCL. The program audit shall not cover the first six months of operation under the provisional rate.
(ii) For audit purposes, if the group home program serves a mixture of AFDC-FC eligible and ineligible children, the weighted hours for child care and social work services provided and the capacity of the group home shall be adjusted by the ratio of AFDC-FC eligible children to all children in placement.
(iii) Pending the department’s issuance of the program audit report that determines the RCL for the group home program, the group home program shall be eligible to receive a provisional rate that shall be based on the level of care and service that the group home program proposes it will provide. The group home program shall be eligible to receive only the RCL determined by the department during the pendency of any appeal of the department’s RCL determination.
(1) (B)  (A) A  Unless the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461 applies to a child or nonminor dependent, initial interim rates developed pursuant to this section shall be effective January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2028, inclusive, or 24 months from the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later.  group home program may apply for an increase in its RCL no earlier than two years from the date the department has determined the group home program’s rate, unless the host county, the primary placing county, or a regional consortium of counties submits to the department in writing that the program is needed in that county, that the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the proposed program, and that the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program. 
(C) To ensure efficient administration of the department’s audit responsibilities, and to avoid the fraudulent creation of records, group home programs shall make records that are relevant to the RCL determination available to the department in a timely manner. Except as provided in this section, the department may refuse to consider, for purposes of determining the rate, any documents that are relevant to the determination of the RCL that are not made available by the group home provider by the date the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination. The department may refuse to consider, for purposes of determining the rate, the following records, unless the group home provider makes the records available to the department during the fieldwork portion of the department’s program audit:
(i) Records of each employee’s full name, home address, occupation, and social security number.
(ii) Time records showing when the employee begins and ends each work period, meal periods, split shift intervals, and total daily hours worked.
(iii) Total wages paid each payroll period.
(iv) Records required to be maintained by licensed group home providers under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations that are relevant to the RCL determination.
(B) (D)  The initial interim rates developed  To minimize financial abuse in the startup of group home programs, when the department’s RCL determination is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, and the group home provider does not appeal the department’s RCL determination, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program 45 days after issuance of its program audit report. When the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination, and the RCL determined by the director under subparagraph (E) is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program within 30 days of issuance of the director’s decision. Notwithstanding the reapplication provisions in subparagraph (B), the department shall deny any request for a new or increased RCL from a group home provider whose RCL is terminated  pursuant to this paragraph shall not be lower than the rates proposed as part of the Governor’s 2016 May Revision. subparagraph, for a period of no greater than two years from the effective date of the RCL termination. 
(C) (E)  The initial interim rates set forth in written directives or regulations pursuant to paragraph (3) shall become inoperative on January 1, 2029, inclusive, or 24 months  A group home provider may request a hearing of the department’s RCL determination under subparagraph (A) no later than 30 days  after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, whichever is later. the department issues its RCL determination. The department’s RCL determination shall be final if the group home provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the RCL determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The director shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the director takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law. 
(2) Consistent with Section 11466.01, for provisional and probationary rates, the following shall be established:
(A) Terms and conditions, including the duration of the rate.
(B) An administrative review process for rate determinations, including denials, reductions, and terminations.
(C) An administrative review process that includes a departmental review, corrective action, and a protest with the department. 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), this process shall be disseminated by written directive pending the promulgation of regulations.
(3) 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 initial interim rates, provisional rates, and probationary rates and the manner in which they are determined shall be set forth in written directives until regulations are adopted.
(d) (2)  Group home programs that fail to maintain at least the level of care and services associated with the RCL upon which their rate was established shall inform the department.  The department shall develop a system of governmental monitoring and oversight that shall be carried out in coordination with the State Department of Health Care Services. Oversight responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring conformity with federal and state law, including program, fiscal, and health and safety audits and reviews. The state agencies shall attempt to minimize duplicative audits and reviews to reduce the administrative burden on providers. regulations specifying procedures to be applied when a group home fails to maintain the level of services projected, including, but not limited to, rate reduction and recovery of overpayments. 
(e) (1) Notwithstanding the rates established pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, the care and supervision rate paid on behalf of a child or nonminor dependent placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program on or after the date required by paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461 shall be based on the Tiered Rate Structure established in subdivision (h) of Section 11461.
(2) (3)  Provided all federal and state rate and licensing requirements are met, the per child per month care and supervision rate, as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 11461, for a child or nonminor dependent placed in a short-term residential therapeutic program shall include a rate, according to the child’s or nonminor dependent’s tier, as determined by the child’s or nonminor dependent’s periodic IP-CANS assessment, for administrative and other activities described in paragraphs (1) and  The department shall not reduce the rate, establish an overpayment, or take other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) for any period that a group home program maintains the level of care and services associated with the RCL for children actually residing in the facility. Determinations of levels of care and services shall be made in the same way as modifications of overpayments are made pursuant to paragraph  (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11460, according to the following tiered schedule: 11466.2. 
(4) A group home program that substantially changes its staffing pattern from that reported in the group home program statement shall provide notification of this change to all counties that have placed children currently in care. This notification shall be provided whether or not the RCL for the program may change as a result of the change in staffing pattern.
Tier (f)  (1)   1: $1610 The standardized schedule of rates for the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, and 2007–08 fiscal years is: 
Point Ranges
Rate
FY 2002–03, 2003–04,
Classification
_____
2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, and 2007–08
Level
_____
Standard Rate
1
Under 60
$1,454
2
 60– 89
 1,835
3
 90–119
 2,210
4
120–149
 2,589
5
150–179
 2,966
6
180–209
 3,344
7
210–239
 3,723
8
240–269
 4,102
9
270–299
 4,479
10 
300–329
 4,858
11 
330–359
 5,234
12 
360–389
 5,613
13 
390–419
 5,994
14 
420 & Up 
 6,371
Tier (2)  (A)   2: $2634 For group home programs that receive AFDC-FC payments for services performed during the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years, the adjusted RCL point ranges below shall be used for establishing the biennial rates for existing programs, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and in performing program audits and in determining any resulting rate reduction, overpayment assessment, or other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e): 
Adjusted Point Ranges
Rate
Classification
for the 2002–03, 2003–04,
Level
2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 Fiscal Years
1
Under 54 
2
 54– 81
3
 82–110
4
111–138
5
139–167
6
168–195
7
196–224
8
225–253
9
254–281
10
282–310
11
311–338
12
339–367
13
368–395
14
 396 & Up
Tier (B)   3: $2634 [Ages 0-5] Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), foster care providers operating group homes during the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years shall remain responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the children placed in their programs in accordance with existing applicable provisions of the Health and Safety Code and community care licensing regulations, as contained in Title 22 of the Code of California Regulations. 
Tier (C)   3+: $7213 [Ages 6+] Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to program audits of group home programs with provisional rates established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). For those program audits, the RCL point ranges in paragraph (1) shall be used. 
(D) Rates applicable for the 2009–10 fiscal year pursuant to the act that adds this subparagraph shall be effective October 1, 2009.
(3) (A) For group home programs that receive AFDC-FC payments for services performed during the 2009–10 fiscal year the adjusted RCL point ranges below shall be used for establishing the biennial rates for existing programs, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and in performing program audits and in determining any resulting rate reduction, overpayment assessment, or other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e):
Adjusted Point Ranges
Rate
Classification
for the 2009–10
Level
Fiscal Years
1
Under 39 
2
 39–64
3
 65–90
4
  91–115
5
116–141
6
142–167
7
168–192
8
193–218
9
219–244
10
245–270
11
271–295
12
296–321
13
322–347
14
 348 & Up
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), foster care providers operating group homes during the 2009–10 fiscal year shall remain responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the children placed in their programs in accordance with existing applicable provisions of the Health and Safety Code and community care licensing regulations as contained in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to program audits of group home programs with provisional rates established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). For those program audits, the RCL point ranges in paragraph (1) shall be used.
(3) (g)  Beginning (1)  (A)   July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the rate set forth in paragraph (2),  For the 1999–2000 fiscal year, the standardized rate for each RCL  shall be adjusted by the annual percentage change in the  an amount equal to the  California Necessities Index applicable to the calendar year within which each July 1 occurs. computed pursuant to the methodology described in Section 11453. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates, subject to further adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (B). 
(B) In addition to the adjustment in subparagraph (A), commencing January 1, 2000, the standardized rate for each RCL shall be increased by 2.36 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.
(2) Beginning with the 2000–01 fiscal year, the standardized schedule of rates shall be adjusted annually by an amount equal to the CNI computed pursuant to Section 11453, subject to the availability of funds. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.
(4) (3)  In addition to the  Effective January 1, 2001, the amount included in the standard rate for each Rate Classification Level (RCL) for the salaries, wages, and benefits for staff providing child  care and supervision rate, provided a short-term residential therapeutic program is certified by the department as an immediate needs provider, a presumption exists that the placing agency will contract with the short-term therapeutic residential program to provide services and supports using the Immediate Needs Funding for a child who is eligible for the Immediate Needs Program established in Section 16562, and who is placed in the short-term residential therapeutic residential program, unless the placing agency determines it is in the best interest of the child to receive services and supports from another certified Immediate Needs Provider. or performing social work activities, or both, shall be increased by 10 percent. This additional funding shall be used by group home programs solely to supplement staffing, salaries, wages, and benefit levels of staff specified in this paragraph. The standard rate for each RCL shall be recomputed using this adjusted amount and the resultant rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates. The department may require a group home receiving this additional funding to certify that the funding was utilized in accordance with the provisions of this section. 
(4) Effective January 1, 2008, the amount included in the standard rate for each RCL for the wages for staff providing child care and supervision or performing social work activities, or both, shall be increased by 5 percent, and the amount included for the payroll taxes and other employer-paid benefits for these staff shall be increased from 20.325 percent to 24 percent. The standard rate for each RCL shall be recomputed using these adjusted amounts, and the resulting rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.
(5) The new standardized schedule of rates as provided for in paragraph (4) shall be reduced by 10 percent, effective October 1, 2009, and the resulting rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.
(6) The rates of licensed group home providers, whose rates are not established under the standardized schedule of rates, shall be reduced by 10 percent, effective October 1, 2009.
(h) The standardized schedule of rates pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) shall be implemented as follows:
(1) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year at or above the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall continue to receive that rate.
(2) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year below the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall receive the RCL rate for the current year.
(i) (1) The department shall not establish a rate for a new program of a new or existing provider, or for an existing program at a new location of an existing provider, unless the provider submits a letter of recommendation from the host county, the primary placing county, or a regional consortium of counties that includes all of the following:
(A) That the program is needed by that county.
(B) That the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program.
(C) That the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.
(D) That, if the letter of recommendation is not being issued by the host county, the primary placing county has notified the host county of its intention to issue the letter and the host county was given the opportunity of 30 days to respond to this notification and to discuss options with the primary placing county.
(2) The department shall encourage the establishment of consortia of county placing agencies on a regional basis for the purpose of making decisions and recommendations about the need for, and use of, group home programs and other foster care providers within the regions.
(3) The department shall annually conduct a county-by-county survey to determine the unmet placement needs of children placed pursuant to Section 300 and Section 601 or 602, and shall publish its findings by November 1 of each year.
(j) The department shall develop regulations specifying ratesetting procedures for program expansions, reductions, or modifications, including increases or decreases in licensed capacity, or increases or decreases in level of care or services.
(k) For the purpose of this subdivision, “program change” means any alteration to an existing group home program planned by a provider that will increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate. An increase in the licensed capacity or other alteration to an existing group home program that does not increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate shall not constitute a program change.
(l) General unrestricted or undesignated private charitable donations and contributions made to charitable or nonprofit organizations shall not be deducted from the cost of providing services pursuant to this section. The donations and contributions shall not be considered in any determination of maximum expenditures made by the department.
(5) (m)  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 subdivision by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions, which shall be exempt from submission to or review by the Office of Administrative Law. These all-county letters or similar instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations no later than January 1, 2030. The department shall, by October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 1992, provide the Joint Legislative Budget Committee with a list of any new departmental requirements established during the previous fiscal year concerning the operation of group homes, and of any unusual, industrywide increase in costs associated with the provision of group care that may have significant fiscal impact on providers of group homes care. The committee may, in fiscal year 1993–94 and beyond, use the list to determine whether an appropriation for rate adjustments is needed in the subsequent fiscal year. 

SEC. 8.

 Section 11466.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.2.
 (a) (1) The department shall perform or have performed provider  group home  program and fiscal audits as needed. Provider  Group home  programs shall maintain all child-specific, programmatic, personnel, fiscal, and other information or records affecting affecting group home  ratesetting and AFDC-FC payments for a period of  not less than five years, except that information and records shall be kept for a longer period of time if otherwise required by law. years. 
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the department shall not establish an overpayment based upon a nonprovisional program audit conducted on less than a one-year audit period.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the department may conduct audits covering a period of less than 12 months. Based upon the findings of these audits, the department may reduce a group home program’s AFDC-FC rate or RCL pursuant to this paragraph.
(A) In an audit of a period of less than 12 months, if a provider’s audited RCL is no more than three levels below the paid RCL, the provider’s rate and RCL will be reduced to the audited RCL. The provider will be allowed the opportunity to bring a program into compliance with the paid RCL.
(B) In an audit of a period of less than 12 months, if the provider’s audited RCL is more than three levels below the paid RCL, the department shall conduct an audit as identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11466.2. The provider will be allowed the opportunity to bring a program into compliance with the paid RCL.
(2) (C)  Provider fiscal audits shall be conducted pursuant to Part 200 (commencing with Section 200.0) of Chapter II of Subtitle A of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as implemented by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Part 75 (commencing with Section 75.1) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements, as specifically implemented in Section 75.106 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. For audit purposes, when the group home program serves a mixture of AFDC-FC eligible and ineligible children, the weighted hours for child care and social work services provided and the capacity of the group home shall be adjusted by the ratio of AFDC-FC eligible children to all children in placement. 
(3) (D)  A group home  provider may request a hearing of the department’s program or fiscal audit  RCL  determination under this section subparagraph (A)  no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its audit determination. A provider may request a hearing to examine any disputed audit determination, including, but not limited to, an audit finding regarding the provider’s internal controls, board of directors oversight, program operation, or a finding that results in an overpayment. The department’s audit RCL determination. The department’s RCL  determination shall be final if the group home  provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the audit RCL  determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The department director  shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the department director  takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law.
(b) (1) The department shall develop regulations to require corrective action to a program’s or provider’s operation as a result of program or fiscal audit findings,  correct a group home program’s RCL, and  to adjust the rate, rate  and to recover any overpayments resulting from an overstatement of the projected level of care and services or overpayments or disallowed costs resulting from other audit findings. services. 
(2) Any repeat fiscal audit findings may result in a monetary penalty or rate reduction, suspension, or termination of the provider’s rate in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letters, or similar written instructions. The department shall modify the amount of the overpayment pursuant to paragraph (1) in cases where the level of care and services provided per child in placement equals or exceeds the level associated with the program’s RCL. In making this modification, the department shall determine whether services other than child care supervision were provided to children in placement in an amount that is at least proportionate, on a per child basis, to the amount projected in the group home’s rate application. In cases where these services are provided in less than a proportionate amount, staffing for child care supervision in excess of its proportionate share shall not be substituted for nonchild care supervision staff hours. 
(c) (1) In any audit conducted by the department, the department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall coordinate with the department’s licensing and ratesetting entities so that a consistent set of standards, rules, and auditing protocols are maintained. The department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall make available to all group home  providers, in writing, any standards, rules, and auditing protocols to be used in those audits.
(2) The department shall provide exit interviews with providers, providers  whenever deficiencies found  are found, explained  and shall explain the deficiencies and permit providers an opportunity  the opportunity exists for providers  to respond. The department shall adopt regulations, all-county letters, or similar written directives  regulations  specifying the procedure for the appeal of program and fiscal  audit findings.
(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude the department from revoking the license of, or initiating legal proceedings against, a provider that has violated relevant laws and regulations.

SEC. 9.

 Section 18987.62 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18987.62.
 (a) Upon request from a county, the director may waive regulations governing foster care payments or the operation of group homes to enable counties to implement the agreements established pursuant to Section 18987.61. Waivers granted by the director shall be applicable only to services provided under the terms of the agreement and for the duration of the agreement, whichever is earlier, unless the director authorizes an extension of the waiver pursuant to subdivision (f). A waiver shall only be granted when all of the following apply:
(1) The agreement promises to offer a worthwhile test of an innovative approach or to encourage the development of a new service for which there is a recognized need.
(2) The regulatory requirement prevents the implementation of the agreement.
(3) The requesting county proposes to monitor the agreement through performance measures that ensure that the purposes of the waived regulation will be achieved.
(b) The director shall take steps that are necessary to prevent the loss of any substantial amounts of federal funds as a result of the waivers granted under this section. The waiver may specify the extent to which the requesting county shall share in any cost resulting from any loss of federal funding.
(c) The director shall not waive regulations that apply to the health and safety of children served by participating private nonprofit agencies.
(d) The director shall notify the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature whenever waivers are granted and when a waiver of regulations was required for the implementation of the county’s proposed agreement. The director shall identify the reason why the development of the services outlined by the agreement between the county and the service provider are hindered by the regulations to be waived.
(e) The county or private nonprofit agency shall fund an independent evaluation of the waiver as described in subdivision (f) of Section 18987.61.
(f) The director may grant a county’s request to extend the waiver, in increments of three years, based upon a review and analysis of all of the following information:
(1) The results of the report, if required under subdivision (e) of Section 18987.61.
(2) The results of the independent evaluation of the waiver pursuant to subdivision (e) of this section.
(3) Justification for the extension, and verification of continued compliance with this section.
(g) (1) For any waiver approved on or before January 1, 2010, an extension of the waiver for up to an additional three years may be based upon the department’s review and analysis of the information required to be submitted in subdivision (f).
(2) If an independent evaluation has not yet been completed, the department may grant an extension based upon its review of available information. However, an independent evaluation shall be required to be completed within one year prior to the end of the waiver.
SEC. 10.
 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), until regulations are filed with the Secretary of State, the State Department of Social Services may implement the amendments made to Sections 11462 and 11466.2 of the Health and Safety Code by this act through all-county letters or similar instructions from the Director of Social Services.
SEC. 11.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.