1569.47.
(a) The following definitions shall apply to this section:(1) “Compensated referral” means a referral by a private, for-profit or nonprofit agency that is engaged in the business of referring persons to residential care facilities for the elderly in exchange for any consideration or thing of value, including a fee, commission, gift, or any reciprocal benefit.
(2) “Referral” means identifying and connecting a senior or that senior’s representative to a residential care facility for the elderly to facilitate the further evaluation, in consultation with the facility, of whether that facility is a suitable senior housing option for that senior.
(3) (A) “Referral source” means a person or entity that provides a referral to a residential care facility for the elderly on behalf of a county welfare department, county social service department, county mental health department, county public guardian, general acute care hospital discharge planner or coordinator, state-funded program or private, for-profit, or nonprofit agency providing referral services, conservator pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 1800) of Division 4 of the Probate Code, conservator pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and regional center for persons with developmental disabilities that is engaged in identifying senior housing options at residential care facilities for the elderly.
(B) A referral source does not include a licensee of a residential care
facility for the elderly, or any professional services staff member of a residential care facility for the elderly, who on behalf of that facility makes a referral, even if they have received a discount or other remuneration from the facility.
(b) (1) A referral source shall not knowingly refer a person to a facility providing care and supervision or protective supervision unless the facility is licensed as a residential care facility for the elderly or is exempt from licensing under Section 1569.145. Violation of this paragraph is a misdemeanor.
(2) A referral source shall not knowingly refer an individual to a residential care facility for the elderly if the individual, because of their health condition, cannot be cared for within the limits of the facility’s license or requires inpatient care in a health facility. Violation of this paragraph is a
misdemeanor.
(3) A referral source shall not refer a person to a residential care facility for the elderly in which the referral source, and an affiliated group under Section 1585 of the Financial Code or an immediate family member of the referral source, has an ownership or management interest or a common employee in an executive management position, unless the referral source obtains a written waiver from the senior or that senior’s representative before making the referral. Violation of this paragraph is a misdemeanor.
(4) (A) A referral source who knows, or reasonably suspects, that a facility that is not exempt from licensing is operating without a license shall report the name and address of the facility to the department. Failure to report as required by this subparagraph is a misdemeanor.
(B) The department shall investigate any report filed under subparagraph (A). If the department has probable cause to believe that the facility that is the subject of the report is operating without a license, the department shall investigate the facility within 10 days after receipt of the report.
(5) A referral source shall notify the appropriate licensing agency of any known or suspected incidents that would jeopardize the health or safety of residents in a residential care facility for the elderly. A violation of this paragraph is a misdemeanor. Reportable incidents include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Incidents of physical abuse.
(B) Any violation of personal rights.
(C) Any situation in which a facility is
unclean, unsafe, unsanitary, or in poor condition.
(D) Any situation in which a facility has insufficient personnel or incompetent personnel on duty.
(E) Any situation in which residents experience mental or verbal abuse.
(c) (1) Before sending a compensated referral to a residential care facility for the elderly located in California, a referral source shall provide the senior or their representative with information that includes all of the following disclosures:
(A) A description of the referral source’s service.
(B) The referral source’s contact information, including business address, email address, and telephone number.
(C) A referral source’s privacy policy, or if the referral source maintains an internet website, a link or URL to the privacy policy on the internet website.
(D) A statement regarding whether and under what circumstances the referral source will be paid a fee by residential care facilities for the elderly to which the senior is referred.
(E) A statement that the senior or representative may request in writing that the referral source cease contact with the senior or the senior’s representative at points of contact they designate, such as telephone numbers and email addresses, and that the referral source will cease contact in response to that request and also cease making additional referrals on behalf of the senior or the senior’s representative.
(F) The
following language: “Information regarding inspections, evaluations, complaints, and citations associated with any of California’s residential care facilities for the elderly, also known as assisted living facilities, can be viewed at the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing website at: www.cdss.ca.gov. Additionally, during a health-related state of emergency, information about the active cases within residential care facilities for the elderly may also be posted on this website.”
(2) The information and disclosures required by paragraph (1) shall be provided to the senior or their representative in a clear manner designed to give actual notice of its contents and may be provided, together or separately, in any the following methods:
(A) A written disclosure at least in 12-point bold font either in hardcopy form or by electronic means.
(B) A link to an electronic disclosure displayed on a web page in a larger font than the surrounding text.
(C) Verbally, if the verbal disclosure is given telephonically and recorded with the consent of the senior or the senior’s representative. At the time of the verbal disclosure, a senior or senior’s representative may verbally request a written or electronic disclosure be provided to them. If, in a subsequent phone conversation, the senior or their representative verbally requests a written disclosure, the referral agency shall inform them of the procedure for submitting the request in writing pursuant to paragraph (3).
(3) The referral source shall maintain records of the disclosures set forth pursuant to this subdivision for a period of three years and shall provide a copy of the disclosures provided to the
senior, representative, or the residential care facility for the elderly, upon written request.
(4) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), a compensated referral source shall comply with all of the following:
(A) Use a nationally accredited service provider to perform background checks on referral sources who have direct contact with seniors or their representatives.
(B) Maintain liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000) in total annual aggregate for negligent acts or omissions by the referral source or any of its employees.
(C) Accept remuneration only from residential care facilities for the elderly with which the referral source has a written
contract.
(D) Maintain and prominently display a privacy policy on every internet website it operates or, if the referral source does not maintain an internet website, then it shall provide the senior or the senior’s representative with a written copy of the privacy policy.
(E) Refrain from holding any power of attorney for a resident or potential resident or from holding that person’s property in any capacity.
(F) Cease making referrals on behalf of the senior or the senior’s representative within 15 days after receipt of a written request, pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1).
(G) Cease contacting a senior or senior’s representative within 15 days after receipt of a written request, pursuant to subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1).
(d) A referral source that violates subdivision (c) is subject to a civil penalty of between two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation, and Section 1569.40 shall not apply. A district attorney may institute a proceeding in superior court to recover the civil penalty under this subdivision and to restrain and enjoin a violation of subdivision (c).