Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act.

Existing law establishes the Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act (the act) , which provides, on and after January 1, 2016, for the licensure and regulation of home care organizations, as defined, by the State Department of Social Services, and for the registration of home care aides. Violation of the act is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires background clearances for home care aides and home care organizations, as specified. Existing law authorizes any individual that possesses, among other things, a valid Alien Registration Card, and who has submitted an application, to initiate a background examination to be either a registered home care aide or to be a licensed home care organization. This bill would make the provisions of the act applicable to domestic home care aide referral organizations, as defined, including licensure, fees, enforcement and fines, and regulation of registered home care aides having agreements with those organizations. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require a domestic home care aide referral organization to provide specified information to a person to whom a home care aide is referred, including specified information about the person's potential employer responsibilities. The bill would authorize any individual that possesses either a valid Alien Registration Receipt Card or valid Permanent Resident Card to initiate a background examination to be either a registered home care aide or to be a licensed home care organization or a domestic home care aide referral organization. This bill would also correct an erroneous cross-reference. 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.