4900-4906
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
SECTION 4900-4906
4900. (a) The definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction of this division, unless the context requires otherwise. These definitions shall not be construed to alter or impact the definitions or other provisions of the Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600), or Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 15750), of Part 3 of Division 9. (b) "Abuse" means an act, or failure to act, that would constitute abuse as that term is defined in federal regulations pertaining to the authority of protection and advocacy agencies, including Section 51.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations or Section 1386.19 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. "Abuse" also means an act, or failure to act, that would constitute abuse as that term is defined in Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code. (c) "Complaint" has the same meaning as "complaint" as defined in federal statutes and regulations pertaining to the authority of protection and advocacy agencies, including Section 10802(1) of Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 51.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or Section 1386.19 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (d) "Disability" means a developmental disability, as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code, a mental illness, as defined in Section 10802(4) of Title 42 of the United States Code, a disability within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), as defined in Section 12102(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, or a disability within the meaning of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as defined in subdivision (i) or (k) of Section 12926 of the Government Code. (e) "Facility" or "program" means a public or private facility or program providing services, support, care, or treatment to persons with disabilities, even if only on an as-needed basis or under contractual arrangement. "Facility" or "program" includes, but is not limited to, a hospital, a long-term health care facility, a community living arrangement for people with disabilities, including a group home, a board and care home, an individual residence or apartment of a person with a disability where services are provided, a day program, a juvenile detention facility, a homeless shelter, a jail, or a prison, including all general areas, as well as special, mental health, or forensic units. The term includes any facility licensed under Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Health and Safety Code and any facility that is unlicensed but is not exempt from licensure as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 1503.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The term also includes a public or private school or other institution or program providing education, training, habilitation, therapeutic, or residential services to persons with disabilities. (f) "Legal guardian," "conservator," or "legal representative," means a person appointed by a state court or agency empowered under state law to appoint and review the legal guardian, conservator, or legal representative, as appropriate. With respect to an individual described under paragraph (2) of subdivision (i), this person is one who has the legal authority to consent to health or mental health care or treatment on behalf of the individual. With respect to an individual described under paragraphs (1) or (3) of subdivision (i), this person is one who has the legal authority to make all decisions on behalf of the individual. These terms include the parent of a minor who has legal custody of the minor. These terms do not include a person acting solely as a representative payee, a person acting solely to handle financial matters, an attorney or other person acting on behalf of an individual with a disability solely in individual legal matters, or an official or his or her designee who is responsible for the provision of treatment or services to an individual with a disability. (g) "Neglect" means a negligent act, or omission to act, that would constitute neglect as that term is defined in federal statutes and regulations pertaining to the authority of protection and advocacy agencies, including Section 10802(5) of Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 51.2 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or Section 1386.19 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. "Neglect" also means a negligent act, or omission to act, that would constitute neglect as that term is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Section 11165.2 of the Penal Code. (h) "Probable cause" to believe that an individual has been subject to abuse or neglect, or is at significant risk of being subjected to abuse or neglect, exists when the protection and advocacy agency determines that it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain that belief. The individual making a probable cause determination may base the decision on reasonable inferences drawn from his or her experience or training regarding similar incidents, conditions, or problems that are usually associated with abuse or neglect. Information supporting a probable cause determination may result from monitoring or other activities, including, but not limited to, media reports and newspaper articles. (i) "Protection and advocacy agency" means the private nonprofit corporation designated by the Governor in this state pursuant to federal law for the protection and advocacy of the rights of persons with disabilities, including the following: (1) People with developmental disabilities, as authorized under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, contained in Chapter 144 (commencing with Section 15001) of Title 42 of the United States Code. (2) People with mental illness, as authorized under the federal Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Amendments Act of 1991, contained in Chapter 114 (commencing with Section 10801) of Title 42 of the United States Code. (3) People with disabilities within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) as defined in Section 12102(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, who do not have a developmental disability as defined in Section 15002(8) of Title 42 of the United States Code, people with a mental illness as defined in Section 10802(4) of Title 42 of the United States Code, and who are receiving services under the federal Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Act as defined in Section 794e of Title 29 of the United States Code, or people with a disability within the meaning of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), as defined in subdivision (i) or (k) of Section 12926 of the Government Code. (j) "Reasonable unaccompanied access" means access that permits the protection and advocacy agency, without undue interference, to monitor, inspect, and observe conditions in facilities and programs, to meet and communicate with residents and service recipients privately and confidentially on a regular basis, formally or informally, by telephone, mail, electronic mail, and in person, and to review records privately and confidentially, in a manner that minimizes interference with the activities of the program or service, that respects residents' privacy interests and honors a resident's request to terminate an interview, and that does not jeopardize the physical health or safety of facility or program staff, residents, service recipients, or protection and advocacy agency staff. 4901. (a) The protection and advocacy agency, for purposes of this division, shall be a private nonprofit corporation and shall meet all of the requirements of federal law applicable to protection and advocacy systems, including, but not limited to, the requirement that it establish a grievance procedure for clients or prospective clients of the system to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to services of the system. (b) State officers and employees, in taking any action relating to the protection and advocacy agency, shall meet the requirements of federal law applicable to protection and advocacy systems. (c) The authority of the protection and advocacy agency set forth in this division shall not diminish the authority of the protection and advocacy agency under federal statutes pertaining to the authority of protection and advocacy systems, or under federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation of those statutes. (d) Nothing in this division shall be construed to supplant the jurisdiction or the responsibilities of adult protective services programs pursuant to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600), or Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 15750), of Part 3 of Division 9. (e) (1) Nothing in this division shall be construed to supplant the duties or authority of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program pursuant to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 9700) of Division 8.5. (2) The protection and advocacy agency shall cooperate with the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman when appropriate, as provided in Section 9717. (f) (1) Nothing in this division shall be construed to alter or impact the Elder and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600), or Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 15750), of Part 3 of Division 9, including the confidentiality requirements of Section 15633 and the legal responsibility of the protection and advocacy agency to report elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect as required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 15630. (2) The adult protective services agency shall retain the responsibility to investigate any report of abuse or neglect in accordance with Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 15750) of Part 3 of Division 9 when the reported abuse or neglect is within the jurisdiction of the adult protective services agency. 4902. (a) The protection and advocacy agency, in protecting and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, pursuant to the federal mandate, may do all of the following: (1) Investigate any incident of abuse or neglect of any person with a disability if the incident is reported to the protection and advocacy agency or if the protection and advocacy agency determines there is probable cause to believe the abuse or neglect occurred. This authority shall include reasonable access to a facility or program and authority to examine all relevant records and interview any facility or program service recipient, employee, or other person who might have knowledge of the alleged abuse or neglect. (2) Pursue administrative, legal, and other appropriate remedies or approaches to ensure the protection of the rights of people with disabilities. (3) Provide information and training on, and referral to, programs and services addressing the needs of people with disabilities, including information and training regarding individual rights and the services available from the protection and advocacy agency. (b) The protection and advocacy agency shall, in addition, have reasonable access to facilities or programs in the state that provide care and treatment to people with disabilities, and access to those persons. (1) The protection and advocacy agency shall have reasonable unaccompanied access to public or private facilities, programs, and services, and to recipients of services therein, at all times as are necessary to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect in accord with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). Access shall be afforded, upon request, to the agency when any of the following has occurred: (A) An incident is reported or a complaint is made to the agency. (B) The agency determines there is probable cause to believe that an incident has or may have occurred. (C) The agency determines that there is or may be imminent danger of serious abuse or neglect of an individual with a disability. (2) The protection and advocacy agency shall have reasonable unaccompanied access to public and private facilities, programs, and services, and recipients of services therein during normal working hours and visiting hours for other advocacy services. In the case of information and training services, access shall be at times mutually agreeable to the protection and advocacy agency and facility management. This access shall be for the purpose of any of the following: (A) Providing information and training on, and referral to programs addressing the needs of, individuals with disabilities, and information and training on individual rights and the protection and advocacy services available from the agency, including, but not limited to, the name, address, and telephone number of the protection and advocacy agency. (B) Monitoring compliance with respect to the rights and safety of residents or service recipients. (C) Inspecting, viewing, and photographing all areas of the facility or program that are used by residents or service recipients, or that are accessible to them. (c) If the protection and advocacy agency's access to facilities, programs, service recipients, residents, or records covered by this division is delayed or denied by a facility, program, or service, the facility, program, or service shall promptly provide the agency with a written statement of reasons. In the case of denial of access for alleged lack of authorization, the facility, program, or service shall promptly provide to the agency the name, address, and telephone number of the legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative of the individual with a disability for whom authorization is required. Access to a facility, program, service recipient, resident, or to records, shall not be delayed or denied without the prompt provision of a written statement of the reasons for the denial. (d) The protection and advocacy agency may not enter an individual residence or apartment of a client or his or her family without the consent of an adult occupant. In the absence of this consent, the protection and advocacy agency may enter only if it has obtained the legal authority to enforce its access authority pursuant to legal remedies available under this division or applicable federal law. (e) A care provider, including, but not limited to, any individual, state entity, or other organization that is required to respond to these requests, may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost of copying records pursuant to this division that may take into account the costs incurred by the care provider in locating, identifying, and making the records available as required pursuant to this division. Charges for copying records that would otherwise be available to the protection and advocacy agency or the person with a disability whose records are requested, under other statutes providing for access to records, may not exceed any rates for obtaining copies of the records specified in the applicable provisions. 4903. (a) The protection and advocacy agency shall have access to the records of any of the following people with disabilities: (1) Any person who is a client of the agency, or any person who has requested assistance from the agency, if that person or the agent designated by that person, or the legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative of that person, has authorized the protection and advocacy agency to have access to the records and information. If a person with a disability who is able to authorize the protection and advocacy agency to access his or her records expressly denies this access after being informed by the protection and advocacy agency of his or her right to authorize or deny access, the protection and advocacy agency may not have access to that person' s records. (2) Any person, including any individual who cannot be located, to whom all of the following conditions apply: (A) The individual, due to his or her mental or physical condition, is unable to authorize the protection and advocacy agency to have access to his or her records. (B) The individual does not have a legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative, or the individual's representative is a public entity, including the state or one of its political subdivisions. (C) The protection and advocacy agency has received a complaint that the individual has been subject to abuse or neglect, or has determined that probable cause exists to believe that the individual has been subject to abuse or neglect. (3) Any person who is deceased, and for whom the protection and advocacy agency has received a complaint that the individual had been subjected to abuse or neglect, or for whom the agency has determined that probable cause exists to believe that the individual had been subjected to abuse or neglect. (4) Any person who has a legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative with respect to whom a complaint has been received by the protection and advocacy agency, or with respect to whom the protection and advocacy agency has determined that probable cause exists to believe that the person has been subjected to abuse or neglect, whenever all of the following conditions exist: (A) The representative has been contacted by the protection and advocacy agency upon receipt of the representative's name and address. (B) The protection and advocacy agency has offered assistance to the representatives to resolve the situation. (C) The representative has failed or refused to act on behalf of the person. (b) Individual records that shall be available to the protection and advocacy agency under this section shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information and records related to the investigation, whether written or in another medium, draft or final, including, but not limited to, handwritten notes, electronic files, photographs, videotapes, or audiotapes: (1) Information and records prepared or received in the course of providing intake, assessment, evaluation, education, training, or other supportive services, including, but not limited to, medical records, financial records, monitoring reports, or other reports, prepared or received by a member of the staff of a facility, program, or service that is providing care, treatment, or services. (2) Reports prepared by an agency charged with investigating reports of incidents of abuse, neglect, injury, or death occurring at the program, facility, or service while the individual with a disability is under the care of a member of the staff of a program, facility, or service, or by or for a program, facility, or service, that describe any or all of the following: (A) Abuse, neglect, injury, or death. (B) The steps taken to investigate the incidents. (C) Reports and records, including, but not limited to, personnel records prepared or maintained by the facility, program, or service in connection with reports of incidents, subject to the following: (i) If a state statute specifies procedures with respect to personnel records, the protection and advocacy agency shall follow those procedures. (ii) Personnel records shall be protected from disclosure in compliance with the fundamental right of privacy established pursuant to Section 1 of Article I of the California Constitution. The custodian of personnel records shall have a right and a duty to resist attempts to allow the unauthorized disclosure of personnel records, and may not waive the privacy rights that are guaranteed pursuant to Section 1 of Article I of the California Constitution. (D) Supporting information that was relied upon in creating a report, including, but not limited to, all information and records that document interviews with persons who were interviewed, physical and documentary evidence that was reviewed, or related investigative findings. (3) Discharge planning records. (c) Information in the possession of a program, facility, or service that must be available to the agency investigating instances of abuse or neglect pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4902, whether written or in another medium, draft or final, including, but not limited to, handwritten notes, electronic files, photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, or records, shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) Information in reports prepared by individuals and entities performing certification or licensure reviews, or by professional accreditation organizations, as well as related assessments prepared for a program, facility, or service by its staff, contractors, or related entities, subject to any other provision of state law protecting records produced by medical care evaluation or peer review committees. (2) Information in professional, performance, building, or other safety standards, or demographic and statistical information, relating to the facility. (d) The authority of the protection and advocacy agency to have access to records does not supersede any prohibition on discovery specified in Sections 1157 and 1157.6 of the Evidence Code, nor does it supersede any prohibition on disclosure subject to the physician-patient privilege or the psychotherapist-patient privilege. (e) (1) The protection and advocacy agency shall have access to records of individuals described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4902 and in subdivision (a), and other records that are relevant to conducting an investigation, under the circumstances described in those subdivisions, not later than three business days after the agency makes a written request for the records involved. (2) The protection and advocacy agency shall have immediate access to the records, not later than 24 hours after the agency makes a request, without consent from another party, in a situation in which treatment, services, supports, or other assistance is provided to an individual with a disability, if the agency determines there is probable cause to believe that the health or safety of the individual is in serious and immediate jeopardy, or in a case of death of an individual with a disability. (f) Confidential information kept or obtained by the protection and advocacy agency shall remain confidential and may not be subject to disclosure. This subdivision shall not, however, prevent the protection and advocacy agency from doing any of the following: (1) Sharing the information with the individual client who is the subject of the record or report or other document, or with his or her legally authorized representative, subject to any limitation on disclosure to recipients of mental health services as provided in subsection (b) of Section 10806 of Title 42 of the United States Code. (2) Issuing a public report of the results of an investigation that maintains the confidentiality of individual service recipients. (3) Reporting the results of an investigation to responsible investigative or enforcement agencies should an investigation reveal information concerning the facility, its staff, or employees warranting possible sanctions or corrective action. This information may be reported to agencies that are responsible for facility licensing or accreditation, employee discipline, employee licensing or certification suspension or revocation, or criminal prosecution. (4) Pursuing alternative remedies, including the initiation of legal action. (5) Reporting suspected elder or dependent adult abuse pursuant to the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 15600) of Part 3 of Division 9). (g) The protection and advocacy agency shall inform and train employees as appropriate regarding the confidentiality of client records. 4904. (a) The protection and advocacy agency, its employees, and designated agents, shall not be liable for an injury resulting from an employee's or agent's act or omission where the act or omission was the result of the exercise, in good faith, of the discretion vested in him or her. (b) The protection and advocacy agency, its employees, and designated agents, shall not be liable for damages awarded under Section 3294 of the Civil Code or other damages imposed primarily for the sake of example and by way of punishing the defendant. (c) The protection and advocacy agency, its employees, and designated agents, when participating in filing a complaint or providing information pursuant to this division or participating in a judicial proceeding resulting therefrom shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and unless the presumption is rebutted, shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, and shall be immune from any penalty, sanction, or restriction that might be incurred or imposed. 4905. (a) No employee or agent of a facility, program, or service shall subject a person with a disability to reprisal or harassment or directly or indirectly take or threaten to take any action that would prevent the person, his or her legally authorized representative, or family member from reporting or otherwise bringing to the attention of the protection and advocacy agency any facts or information relative to suspected abuse, neglect, or other violations of the person's rights. (b) Any attempt to involuntarily remove from a facility, program, or service, or to deny privileges or rights without good cause to a person with a disability by whom or for whom a complaint has been made to the protection and advocacy agency, within 60 days after the date the complaint is made or within 60 days after the conclusion of any proceeding resulting from the complaint, shall raise a presumption that the action was taken in retaliation for the filing of the complaint. 4906. (a) The protection and advocacy agency may not obtain access through the use of physical force to facilities, programs, service recipients, residents, or records required by the division if this access is delayed or denied. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), nothing in this division is intended to preclude the protection and advocacy agency from pursuing appropriate legal remedies to enforce its access authority under this division or applicable federal law.