Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services, including adult day programs and residential facilities. A violation of provisions relating to these facilities is a misdemeanor.
This bill would authorize a licensed facility, as defined, upon receipt of a request from the authorized representative of a developmentally disabled individual who has been diagnosed with seizures, a seizure disorder, or epilepsy and who has been prescribed inhalable emergency antiseizure medication, to designate one or more volunteers to receive training on recognizing and responding to seizures, including by administering inhalable emergency antiseizure medication. The bill would require the department to establish minimum standards for this training, as specified. The bill would prohibit inhalable emergency antiseizure medication from being administered to an individual unless the licensed facility has a seizure action plan for the individual that contains specified information, including, among other things, written authorization for the medication to be administered to the individual at the licensed facility. The bill would require licensed facilities to provide a specified notice to all volunteers that informs them of their right to rescind an offer to volunteer at any time, including after receiving training, without penalty or retaliation. The bill would require any licensed facility that designates volunteers to ensure that each volunteer will be provided defense and indemnification for any and all civil liability, as specified. The bill would prohibit a trained volunteer who administers inhalable emergency antiseizure medication in compliance the above-described provisions in good faith and not for compensation from being subject to professional review, civil liability, or criminal prosecution for their actions or omissions, as specified. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.