Article 5. Suspension And Revocation of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 5.

The state department may suspend or revoke any license or special permit issued under the provisions of this chapter upon any of the following grounds and in the manner provided in this chapter:
  (a) Violation by the licensee or holder of a special permit of any of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter.
  (b) Violation by a facility certified as a skilled nursing facility under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or as a nursing facility under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, or as both, of any federal statutes or regulations applicable to its operation.
  (c) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation of any provision of this chapter or of the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter.
  (d) Conduct inimical to the public health, morals, welfare, or safety of the people of the State of California in the maintenance and operation of the premises or services for which a license or special permit is issued.
  (e) The conviction of a licensee, or other person mentioned in subdivision (b) of Section 1265.1, at any time during licensure, of a crime as defined in Section 1265.2.

The department may suspend or revoke any license or special permit issued under the provisions of this chapter if the licensee or holder of a special permit willfully fails to comply with the provisions of the regulations contained in Article 6 (commencing with Section 14190), Chapter 7, Part 3, Division 9, of the Welfare and Institutions Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Proceedings for the suspension, revocation, or denial of licenses or special permits under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with Section 100171. In the event of conflict between this chapter and Section 100171, Section 100171 shall prevail.

The director may temporarily suspend any license or special permit prior to any hearing, when in his or her opinion the action is necessary to protect the public welfare. The director shall notify the licensee or holder of a special permit of the temporary suspension and the effective date thereof and at the same time shall serve the provider with an accusation. Upon receipt of a notice of defense by the licensee or holder of a special permit, the director shall within 15 days set the matter for hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible but not later than 30 days after receipt of the notice. The temporary suspension shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the director has made a final determination on the merits. However, the temporary suspension shall be deemed vacated if the director fails to make a final determination on the merits within 60 days after the original hearing has been completed. If the provisions of this chapter or the rules or regulations promulgated by the director are violated by a licensee or holder of a special permit which is a group, corporation, or other association, the director may suspend the license or special permit of such organization or may suspend the license or special permit as to any individual person within the organization who is responsible for the violation.

The withdrawal of an application for a license or a special permit after it has been filed with the state department shall not, unless the state department consents in writing to such withdrawal, deprive the state department of its authority to institute or continue a proceeding against the applicant for the denial of the license or a special permit upon any ground provided by law or to enter an order denying the license or special permit upon any such ground. The suspension, expiration, or forfeiture by operation of law of a license or a special permit issued by the state department, or its suspension, forfeiture, or cancellation by order of the state department or by order of a court of law, or its surrender without the written consent of the state department, shall not deprive the state department of its authority to institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding against the licensee or holder of a special permit upon any ground provided by law or to enter an order suspending or revoking the license or special permit or otherwise taking disciplinary action against the licensee or holder of a special permit on any such ground.

(a) (1) No person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency within the state shall continue to operate, conduct, or maintain an existing health facility without having applied for and obtained a license or a special permit as provided for in this chapter.
  (2) This subdivision shall not apply to a receiver appointed by the court to temporarily operate a long-term health care facility pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 1325).
  (b) Any license or special permit revoked pursuant to this chapter may be reinstated pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code.

(a) Any licensee or holder of a special permit may, with the approval of the state department, surrender his or her license or special permit for suspension or cancellation by the state department. Any license or special permit suspended or canceled pursuant to this section may be reinstated by the state department on receipt of an application showing compliance with the requirements of Section 1265.
  (b) Before approving a downgrade or closure of emergency services pursuant to subdivision (a), the state department shall receive a copy of the impact evaluation of the county to determine impacts, including, but not limited to, an impact evaluation of the downgrade or closure upon the community, including community access to emergency care, and how that downgrade or closure will affect emergency services provided by other entities. Development of the impact evaluation shall incorporate at least one public hearing. The county in which the proposed downgrade or closure will occur shall ensure the completion of the impact evaluation, and shall notify the state department of results of an impact evaluation within three days of the completion of that evaluation. The county may designate the local emergency medical services agency as the appropriate agency to conduct the impact evaluation. The impact evaluation and hearing shall be completed within 60 days of the county receiving notification of intent to downgrade or close emergency services. The county or designated local emergency medical services agency shall ensure that all hospital and prehospital health care providers in the geographic area impacted by the service closure or change are consulted with, and that local emergency service agencies and planning or zoning authorities are notified, prior to completing an impact evaluation as required by this section. This subdivision shall be implemented on and after the date that the county in which the proposed downgrade or closure will occur, or its designated local emergency medical services agency, has developed a policy specifying the criteria it will consider in conducting an impact evaluation, as required by subdivision (c).
  (c) The Emergency Medical Services Authority shall develop guidelines for development of impact evaluation policies. On or before June 30, 1999, each county or its designated local emergency medical services agency shall develop a policy specifying the criteria it will consider in conducting an impact evaluation pursuant to subdivision (b). Each county or its designated local emergency medical services agency shall submit its impact evaluation policy to the state department and the Emergency Medical Services Authority within three days of completion of the policy. The Emergency Medical Services Authority shall provide technical assistance upon request to a county or its designated local emergency medical services agency.