HCAI opens automated seismic-compliance and AB 869 delay applications; new rules effective Mar. 29, 2025

The Department of Health Care Access and Information on Thursday rolled out an automated Seismic Compliance Plan application and a separate delay application tied to Assembly Bill 869, and published PIN 80 and accompanying regulations that HCAI says were filed with the Secretary of State Feb. 27 and become effective Mar. 29, 2025. Both the Seismic Compliance Plan and any AB 869 delay application must be submitted by Jan. 1, 2026, HCAI said during a webinar led by Ollie Sumer, supervisor of HCAI’s Seismic Compliance Unit.

HCAI framed the tools as a transparency and tracking upgrade: the compliance plan is implemented as two high-level tables that list a facility’s chosen compliance method for each building and a building-by-building milestone schedule. “Basically, it is a super simple, two brief tables that identify seismic scope and schedule to achieve compliance,” Sumer said on the webinar. The delay application is a single requested deadline date plus attachments verifying eligibility and supporting documentation.

Why it matters: the change centralizes previously paper or PDF submissions, lets HCAI monitor progress against critical milestones and activates accountability measures — including fines and, in extreme cases, blocking building permits for an entire facility — if milestones are missed. HCAI emphasized that a facility seeking a delay must submit both the Seismic Compliance Plan and the delay application; hospitals that are already compliant do not need to apply.

Who may seek a delay: AB 869 provides a delay mechanism for certain hospitals, HCAI said. Potentially eligible facilities include small hospitals (50 or fewer licensed beds), rural hospitals (as defined in the Health and Safety Code and MSSA classifications), critical access hospitals, recipients of the Distressed Hospital Loan…