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Committee clears SB 582 to allow disaster suspension of licenses for damaged care and child‑care facilities
Summary
SB 582, presented on behalf of Senator Stern, would let state departments issue disaster suspensions of active licenses for facilities that become inoperable in state or federally declared emergencies and allow temporary waivers of attendance and fee rules; the committee passed the bill unanimously
The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee passed SB 582, a measure presented on behalf of Senator Richard Stern that allows the Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Department of Public Health (CDPH) to issue a disaster suspension of an active license when a licensed facility becomes inoperable due to significant damage or destruction during a state or federally declared emergency.
As presented by the committee's floor, SB 582 would let departments avoid a lengthy relicensing process for facilities that need to rebuild, relocate or make extensive repairs after a disaster. The bill also authorizes departments to waive all or part of licensing fees for disaster‑suspended facilities and to place disaster‑impacted community‑based adult services programs on emergency remote services for the first 30 days of a declared disaster. For disaster‑impacted child care programs, the bill permits waiver of in‑person or daily attendance requirements for up to 90 days. The measure also adds local coordinating entities into evacuation planning for skilled nursing and residential care facilities for the elderly.
"Any assistance that can break down a barrier to rebuilding an RCFE is very helpful," said Danielle Parsons, legislative advocate for the California Assisted Living Association, who testified in support. Parsons said RCFEs have sustained total losses in natural disasters and that regulatory relief during rebuilding helps preserve assisted living capacity without compromising consumer protections.
Supporters who registered for the hearing included LeadingAge California; Childcare Resource Center; the California Commission on Aging; the California Long Term Care Ombudsman Association; and California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. No organizations registered opposition at the hearing.
The committee voted to pass the bill as amended and re‑refer it to the Committee on Health. The clerk announced the committee's vote as seven ayes, zero noes; individual aye votes are recorded in the hearing transcript for committee members who answered on the roll.
