Section 1531.1 Of Article 3. Regulations From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.
1531.1
. (a) A residential facility licensed as an adult residential
facility, group home, short-term residential treatment center, small
family home, foster family home, or a family home certified by a
foster family agency may install and utilize delayed egress devices
of the time delay type.
(b) As used in this section, "delayed egress device" means a
device that precludes the use of exits for a predetermined period of
time. These devices shall not delay any resident's departure from the
facility for longer than 30 seconds.
(c) Within the 30 seconds of delay, facility staff may attempt to
redirect a resident who attempts to leave the facility.
(d) Any person accepted by a residential facility or family home
certified by a foster family agency utilizing delayed egress devices
shall meet all of the following conditions:
(1) The person shall have a developmental disability as defined in
Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(2) The person shall be receiving services and case management
from a regional center under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities
Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the
Welfare and Institutions Code).
(3) An interdisciplinary team, through the Individual Program Plan
(IPP) process pursuant to Section 4646.5 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, shall have determined that the person lacks hazard
awareness or impulse control and requires the level of supervision
afforded by a facility equipped with delayed egress devices, and that
but for this placement, the person would be at risk of admission to,
or would have no option but to remain in, a more restrictive state
hospital or state developmental center placement.
(e) The facility shall be subject to all fire and building codes,
regulations, and standards applicable to residential care facilities
for the elderly utilizing delayed egress devices, and shall receive
approval by the county or city fire department, the local fire
prevention district, or the State Fire Marshal for the installed
delayed egress devices.
(f) The facility shall provide staff training regarding the use
and operation of the egress control devices utilized by the facility,
protection of residents' personal rights, lack of hazard awareness
and impulse control behavior, and emergency evacuation procedures.
(g) The facility shall develop a plan of operation approved by the
State Department of Social Services that includes a description of
how the facility is to be equipped with egress control devices that
are consistent with regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal
pursuant to Section 13143.
(h) The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of
the following:
(1) A description of how the facility will provide training for
staff regarding the use and operation of the egress control devices
utilized by the facility.
(2) A description of how the facility will ensure the protection
of the residents' personal rights consistent with Sections 4502,
4503, and 4504 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(3) A description of how the facility will manage the person's
lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior.
(4) A description of the facility's emergency evacuation
procedures.
(i) Delayed egress devices shall not substitute for adequate
staff. Except for facilities operating in accordance with Section
1531.15, the capacity of the facility shall not exceed six residents.
(j) Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted at
least once every three months on each shift, and shall include all
facility staff providing resident care and supervision on each shift.