Health facilities: security plans.

Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health licenses and regulates hospitals, as defined. Violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law requires hospitals to conduct a security and safety assessment and, using the assessment, develop a security plan with measures to protect personnel, patients, and visitors from aggressive or violent behavior. Existing law requires the plan to include specified security considerations. This bill would require hospitals to annually review and update the security and safety assessment and plan. The bill would permit the plan to include security considerations relating to efforts to cooperate with local law enforcement regarding violent acts in the facility and would require the hospital to consult with affected employees, including the recognized collective bargaining agent or agents, if any, and members of the medical staff. Because this bill expands the definition of a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.