Section 1418.2 Of Chapter 2.4. Quality Of Long-term Health Facilities From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2.4.
1418.2
. (a) Every facility licensed pursuant to subdivisions (c),
(d), (e), and (g) of Section 1250 and every skilled nursing facility
licensed separately under subdivision (a) of Section 1250 shall
establish and maintain a resident council. Each council shall include
the residents of the health facility, and may include family members
of residents, advocates, or ombudsman groups interested in residents
of health facilities, and personnel of the health facility. Family
members of residents shall be invited to meetings of resident
councils.
The council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals, maintain
written minutes, including names of council members present, and have
minutes available for review by the state department upon its
request. Facility policies on resident councils shall in no way limit
the right of residents to meet independently with outside persons or
facility personnel as determined solely by the residents of the
facility.
Written minutes of regularly scheduled council meetings may
include recommendations from the council to the licensee of the
health facility which shall be provided to the licensee. The licensee
shall provide evidence of review and action on these recommendations
to the state department upon its request.
(b) Any health facility which fails to establish a resident
council as prescribed in subdivision (a) shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 1280.
(c) The state department shall, by regulation, specify those
circumstances under which a health facility may be exempted from the
provisions of subdivisions (a) and (b), including, but not limited
to, the following:
(1) A resident population consisting of a majority of patients
with progressively disabling disorders defined in Section 1250.4.
(2) Facilities with no more than six residents which provide
alternate means for residents to actively share in planning and
enhancing of life in the facility.
(3) Other circumstances as determined by the state department.