Chapter 5. Medical Foster Home Pilot Program of California Military And Veterans Code >> Division 8. >> Chapter 5.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Medical Foster Home Pilot Program.

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
  (a) "Medical foster home" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 17.73 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
  (b) "Medical foster home caregiver" means the primary person who provides care to a veteran resident in a medical foster home.
  (c) "USDVA facility" means a United States Department of Veterans Affairs facility.
  (d) "Veteran resident" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 17.73 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

A USDVA facility may establish a medical foster home program in this state no sooner than June 1, 2015. A medical foster home established pursuant to that program is not subject to licensure or regulation under the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act (Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code), the California Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code), or Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code if all of the following requirements are satisfied:
  (a) The medical foster home meets the requirements of Sections 17.73 and 17.74 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
  (b) The USDVA facility submits a proposal to establish a medical foster home program to the Director of Home and Community-Based Care in Geriatrics and Extended Care Services in the Central Office of the USDVA and that director authorizes the program.
  (c) The USDVA facility establishing the foster home agrees to be subject to the jurisdiction of the California State Auditor for the purpose of evaluating the program created under this chapter. Consistent with this agreement, the USDVA facility shall provide data, information, and case files as requested by the California State Auditor to perform all of his or her duties in evaluating the program created under this chapter.
  (d) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs obtains background information as required under Section 1853.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the California State Auditor, through a request to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, conduct an audit that assesses and evaluates the pilot program created by this chapter no sooner than January 1, 2016. It is the intent of the Legislature that the audit be used to do both of the following:
  (a) Evaluate the success of the pilot program by confirming that the USDVA facilities are meeting their goals and standards.
  (b) Make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the continuation of the program, including, but not limited to, recommendations regarding changes or reforms needed for improvement of the program.

(a) For each medical foster home established under this chapter, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of both of the following for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and state or federal arrests and also information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the individual is free on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal:
  (1) Medical foster home caregivers.
  (2) Individuals, other than veteran residents, who are over 18 years of age and are residing in the medical foster home.
  (b) When received, the Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requests for federal summary criminal history information submitted pursuant to this section. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and shall compile and disseminate a response to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
  (c) The Department of Justice shall provide a state or federal level response to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
  (d) The United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for the individuals described in subdivision (a).
  (e) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the reasonable costs of processing the request described in this section.
  (f) This section shall remain in effect until the date that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs receives federal authority to request criminal background checks of the individuals described in this section, or January 1, 2018, whichever date occurs first.

This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.