Congregate living health facilities.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation by the State Department of Public Health of health facilities, including congregate living health facilities. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Under existing law, a congregate living health facility not operated by a city and county servicing persons who are terminally ill or persons who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, or both, that is located in a county with a population of 500,000 or more persons is prohibited from having more than 25 beds for the purpose of serving persons who are terminally ill. This bill would extend the above-described prohibition to a congregate living health facility that is located in the County of Santa Barbara. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Santa Barbara. By applying this limitation to additional congregate living health facilities, and thus changing the definition of an existing crime, this bill 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. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, proposed by SB 844, to be operative only if SB 844 and this bill are both chaptered and become operative before January 1, 2012, and this bill is chaptered last.