SB 582: Health and care facilities: licensing during emergencies or disasters.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law provides for the licensure of clinics and various health facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law, the Long-Term Care, Health, Safety, and Security Act of 1973, generally requires the department to license, inspect, and regulate long-term health care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person to willfully or repeatedly violate the act, as specified. Existing regulations require skilled nursing facilities to adopt and follow a written external disaster and mass casualty program plan developed with the advice and assistance of county or regional and local planning offices.

This bill would require skilled nursing facilities to review the external disaster and mass casualty program plan at least once per year. The bill would require, in adopting and updating the plan, skilled nursing facilities to, among other things, seek input from county or regional and local planning offices, including the medical health operational area coordinator (MHOAC). By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Existing law provides for the licensure of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law requires an RCFE to have an emergency and disaster plan that includes specified information, including evacuation procedures. Under existing law, an RCFE is encouraged to have the plan be reviewed by local emergency authorities.

This bill would instead encourage an RCFE to provide a copy of its emergency and disaster plan to the MHOAC, as specified.

Existing law provides for the licensure of various facilities, including community care facilities, RCFEs, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illnesses, child daycare facilities, and home care organizations by the State Department of Social Services and makes a violation of those provisions a crime. Existing law provides for the licensure of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities and alcohol or other drug programs by the State Department of Health Care Services.

This bill would set forth provisions for the licensing status of the above-described entities, including medical foster homes for veterans, that are nonoperational due to its destruction, significant damage, or prolonged closure, during and as a result of an emergency or disaster proclaimed by the Governor, a federal emergency declaration, a federal major disaster declaration, or a federal fire management assistance declaration.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 10

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 10, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 546, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 10, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
4. September 10, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2819.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 8, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2996.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 2, 2025Ordered to third reading.
8. September 2, 2025Read third time and amended.
9. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).
11. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
12. July 16, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.