Residential care facilities: complaints.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, the licensing and administration of residential care facilities for the elderly. Existing law authorizes any person to request an investigation of a residential care facility for the elderly by making a complaint to the department, as specified. Existing law requires the department to make a preliminary review, except as specified, and make an onsite inspection within 10 days of receiving the complaint unless the visit would adversely affect the investigation, as specified. Existing law requires the department, upon receipt of a complaint, to make a good faith effort to contact and interview the complainant of the department's proposed course of action and relevant deadline for the department to complete the investigation. Existing law requires the department, within 10 days of completing that investigation, to notify the complainant of the department's determination as a result of the investigation. This bill would instead authorize any person to file a complaint with the department against a residential care facility for the elderly. The bill would require the department to conduct an onsite investigation within one business day of receipt of the complaint if the complaint involves a threat of imminent danger of death or serious harm. The bill would require the department to inform the complainant within 10 calendar days of receipt of the complaint if the department determines that an investigation is not warranted and the reason for that determination. The bill would require the department, prior to conducting an onsite investigation, to send a notification to the complainant notifying them of, among other things, the nature of the allegations to be investigated and the relevant deadline for the department to complete the investigation. The bill would require the department, for complaints received on or after July 1, 2025, to complete an investigation within a specified amount of time and would allow an extension of these time frames due to extenuating circumstances, as specified. The bill would require the department, when providing notification of the outcome of the investigation, to also provide notification of the right to seek an informal conference, and to provide a copy of any reports describing violations and enforcement actions resulting from the investigation, if applicable. The bill would authorize a complainant to appeal a determination made by the department, as specified.