Politics & Government

Assisted Living Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

The two bills were introduced by Senator Corbett following a tragedy at the Valley Springs Manor facility in Castro Valley last fall.

Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) announces that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 894 Tuesday. This bill bolsters and clarifies the obligations of the California Department of Social Services (DSS) and licensee when that license is suspended or revoked to ensure the safe relocation of residents when a facility closure occurs. 

Sponsored by the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), SB 894—along with companion bill SB 895—passed from the Senate Human Services Committee earlier this month.  SB 895 will strengthen the assisted living facility inspection process by requiring that unannounced, comprehensive inspections of all residential care facilities for the elderly occur at least annually to ensure the proper quality of care. 

Senator Corbett introduced the two bills following a tragedy at the Valley Springs Manor facility in Castro Valley last fall when over a dozen assisted living residents were left virtually unattended for two days after DSS issued an order to close the facility. DSS issued a report in January 2014 noting the lack of appropriate oversight and follow-up by their department during that facility closure process.

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“SB 894 strives to prevent the unimaginable tragedy that happened at Valley Springs Manor from ever happening again,” Senator Corbett said.  “Similar to the strengthened inspection process promoted in SB 895, SB 894 also prioritizes the ongoing safety of elderly and sick residents at assisted living facilities in California by ensuring that the facility closure process is both robust and comprehensive.  As these two bills now proceed to the Senate Appropriations Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues and interested stakeholders so that we may codify these important protections into law.”

These two CANHR-sponsored bills are included in a comprehensive legislative package—RCFE (Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly) Reform Act of 2014—introduced earlier this year.

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