Health and care facilities: licensing during emergencies or disasters.

Senator Stern's legislation establishes new protocols for health and care facilities during declared emergencies, creating a framework for maintaining operational licenses when facilities are damaged or destroyed by disasters. The bill enables skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities, treatment centers, and childcare providers to obtain temporary license suspensions while rebuilding or relocating after emergencies.

The measure requires skilled nursing facilities to conduct annual updates of their emergency response plans in consultation with local emergency coordinators. Residential care facilities for the elderly must enhance their disaster preparedness by maintaining detailed evacuation procedures, 72-hour self-sufficiency plans, and arrangements with emergency shelter locations. These facilities must provide their emergency plans to medical health operational area coordinators for local disaster coordination.

For facilities rendered nonoperational by disasters, the Department of Public Health and Department of Social Services may grant disaster suspensions of active licenses if facilities notify the departments within six months of their intent to rebuild or reopen. The departments may waive annual licensing fees for destroyed facilities being rebuilt for the same purpose. When facilities hold multiple state licenses, the relevant departments must coordinate to streamline the restoration of operations.

The bill also modifies certain program requirements during declared emergencies. Medi-Cal managed care plans must presume eligibility for remote adult day services during the first 30 days after a disaster declaration. Childcare programs receive 90-day waivers of in-person attendance requirements. The Department of Social Services must work with local building, planning and fire officials to expedite inspection and licensing processes for affected facilities resuming operations.