California Senate Bill SB980 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 980INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Nielsen FEBRUARY 10, 2016 An act to amend Sections 1010, 1012, 1012.1, 1012.2, 1012.3, 1023, 1031, 1034, 1035.3, 1038, and 1044 of, to repeal Sections 1012.4, 1012.6, 1014, 1015, 1024, 1033.2, and 1051 of, to repeal and add Section 1011 of, and to add Sections 1011.1, 1011.2, 1011.3, and 1011.4 to, the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 980, as introduced, Nielsen. Veterans' homes. Existing law provides for the establishment and operation of veterans' homes at various sites, and provides for an administrator of each home, as specified. Existing law establishes the duties of the Department of Veterans Affairs with regard to the establishment and regulation of veterans' homes. This bill would revise and recast those provisions. Among other things, the bill would provide that the administrator is the senior executive appointed to oversee the operations of a veterans' home. The bill would specify which veterans' homes are administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adopt uniform statewide policies and procedures, by regulation, for the operation of those veterans' homes, as specified. The bill would require the department to establish a quality of care assessment team, by a specified date, to conduct periodic reviews of each veterans' home. The bill would require the secretary to implement a statewide electronic medical record system for veterans' homes by a specified date. The bill would require the secretary to annually report to the veterans policy committees of the Legislature, as specified. Existing law establishes the criteria for admission to a veterans' home, as specified. Existing law establishes the fees and charges for residency, as established by each administrator of a home, and requires each administrator to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the homes. This bill would instead require that the fees and charges be established by the secretary, rather than by each administrator, and that the secretary adopt rules and regulations that apply to the homes and the criteria for admission. The bill would authorize the secretary to establish needs-based criteria for admission to veterans' homes, as specified. Existing law authorizes a resident spouse to continue his or her residency after a veteran spouse's death. This bill would require a resident spouse who continues residency after a veteran spouse's death to continue to pay all applicable fees and to comply with all department regulations. Existing law authorizes the department to investigate a veteran's financial status for admission purposes. This bill would further authorize the department to determine the total worth of any member's property or assets for purposes of admission, including to validate income levels for purposes of establishing fees. Existing law requires 100% of the moneys received by a veterans' home from veterans receiving federal aid to be placed to the credit of the home to augment the current appropriation for the support of the home. This bill would delete that provision, and would instead require moneys received by a veterans' home from those veterans to be deposited into the Federal Trust Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, to be used for the operating costs of the home. Because the moneys would be continuously appropriated for those purposes, the bill would make an appropriation. Existing law requires members of a veterans' home to pay fees and charges as determined by the department, subject to a specified fee schedule. This bill would prohibit the fees paid by a member from exceeding the average costs of care for the level of care in which the member currently resides. Existing law, upon the death of a veteran in a home, requires any moneys not in excess of $3,000 held by the home for the veteran to be paid to the home's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund, if no will or heir or other family member is discovered within a specified number of years after his or her death. This bill would increase the amount that may be transferred to $15,000. Existing law, upon the departure of a veteran from a home, requires any moneys not in excess of $3,000 held by the home for the veteran to be paid to the home's Moral, Welfare, and Recreation Fund, if the money is not requested by the veteran within a specified number of years after his or her departure. This bill would increase the amount that may be transferred to $5,000. This bill would make other conforming changes and would delete obsolete provisions and references, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 1010 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1010. As used in this  chapter:   chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:   (a) "Home" means the Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, and the Veterans' Home of California, Barstow.   (b)   (a)  "Administrator" means the  Administrator of the Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, and the Administrator of each site of the southern California Veterans' Home, including, but not limited to, the Veterans' Home of California, Barstow.   senior executive appointed to oversee the operations of a home.   (c)   (b)  "Department" means the Department of Veterans Affairs.  (c) "Deputy secretary" means the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes.  (d) "Director" or  "secretary"  means the  Director   Secretary  of Veterans Affairs.  (e) "Veteran" means a member of the home.   (e) "Home" means any facility operated by the department for the provision of long-term care, assisted living, adult day health, independent living, or other health care services to eligible veterans.   (f) "Member" means any veteran or nonveteran spouse who has been admitted to residency at any home.   (g) "Veteran" means a person who is eligible for benefits under this chapter.  SEC. 2. Section 1011 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1011. (a) There is in the department a Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, situated at Veterans' Home, Napa County. (b) (1) The department may establish and construct a second home that shall be situated in the County of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, or Ventura. The home may be located on one or more sites. The department shall operate the second home concurrently with the first home. (2) The initial site is the Veterans' Home of California, Barstow, situated in Barstow, San Bernardino County. That site may provide skilled nursing care for up to 250 residents. (3) When completed, the second site shall be the Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista, situated in Chula Vista, San Diego County, pursuant to the recommendations made by the commission established pursuant to former Section 1011.5. (4) When completed, the third site shall be the Veterans' Home of California, Lancaster, situated in Lancaster, Los Angeles County, pursuant to the recommendations made by the commission established pursuant to former Section 1011.5. (5) When completed, the fourth site shall be the Veterans' Home of California, Ventura, situated in the community of Saticoy, Ventura County. (6) There shall be an administrator for, and located at, each site of the southern California home. (7) The department may complete any preapplication process necessary with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for construction of the second home. (c) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the second home is a new state function. The department may perform any or all work in operating the second home by independent contractors, except the overall administration and management of the home. Any and all actions of the department taken before September 17, 1996, that are consistent with this subdivision are hereby ratified and confirmed, it having at all times been the intent of the Legislature that the department be so authorized. (d) There shall be an administrator for each home or homesite, who shall be recommended by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and appointed by the Governor, and shall be located at that home or homesite. The salary for each administrator shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Human Resources.  SEC. 3. Section 1011 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read: 1011. There is in the department a Veterans' Home of California, which the department shall administer. The Veterans' Home of California is a system comprising the following subsidiary home locations: (a) The Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, in Napa County. (b) The Veterans' Home of California, Barstow, in San Bernardino County. (c) The Veterans' Home of California, Chula Vista, in San Diego County. (d) The Veterans' Home of California, West Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County. (e) The Veterans' Home of California, Lancaster, in Los Angeles County. (f) The Veterans' Home of California, Ventura, in Santa Barbara County. (g) The Veterans' Home of California, Fresno, in Fresno County. (h) The Veterans' Home of California, Redding, in Shasta County. SEC. 4. Section 1011.1 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read: 1011.1. (a) The secretary shall adopt uniform statewide policies and procedures, by regulation, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), for the operation of the homes. The policies and procedures shall be in conformity, as nearly as possible, to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for their facilities and to ensure that adequate care and a homelike environment is provided in a cost-effective manner for members of the homes. (b) These policies and procedures shall implement the requirements to obtain and maintain required licenses and accreditations, as well as to ensure members in all homes throughout the state, to the extent possible, receive equitable treatment, benefits, and services, and to ensure that high-quality care is provided. (c) These policies and procedures shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) The admission of applicants. (2) The conditions upon which members may enter and remain in the home. (3) Resident disciplinary procedures. (4) Quality of care standards. (5) An internal quality of care review process. (6) Delineating which services will be provided to members by the state. (7) Setting staffing standards. (8) Staff training requirements. (9) Establishment and operation of allied councils. (10) Any other policies and procedures to ensure the safe and effective operation of the homes. (d) On or before July 1, 2017, the department shall establish a quality of care assessment team, from within existing resources, to conduct periodic reviews of how each home meets the quality of care standards adopted pursuant to this section. SEC. 5. Section 1011.2 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read: 1011.2. (a) There shall be an administrator for each home, who shall be recommended by the secretary and appointed by the Governor, and who shall be located at that home. The salary for each administrator shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Human Resources. (b) The administrator shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with all state and federal statutes and regulations related to the operation of the home and for implementation of all statewide policies and procedures, as specified in Section 1011.1. SEC. 6. Section 1011.3 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read: 1011.3. The secretary shall make an annual report to the veterans policy committees of the Legislature by January 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 2018, reporting on significant veterans home-related performance issues, which shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (a) Current census and census changes since last report. (b) Any major changes to home policy and the impact of those changes on the residents. (c) Changes in provision of care, including licensure changes. (d) Significant events that impacted the operations of the home. (e) Results of regulatory agency inspections or reviews and corrective action taken to address findings. (f) Significant patient care complaints, results of any investigations into those complaints, and any corrective action taken to address validated complaints. (g) Results of internal quality of care reviews. (h) A comparison of veterans home quality of care metrics to industry averages. (i) Other significant issues that may be of interest to the committee members. SEC. 7. Section 1011.4 is added to the Military and Veterans Code, to read: 1011.4. On or before January 1, 2018, the secretary shall implement an electronic medical record system. The usage of the electronic medical record system shall be standardized in all homes. SEC. 8. Section 1012 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1012. (a)  Except as provided in Section 1012.4, the   The  home is for aged and disabled persons who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of  America   America,  who were discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions from service, who are eligible for hospitalization or domiciliary care in a veterans' facility in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs,  are unable to pay for necessary domiciliary and licensed long-term care outside the home,  and who are bona fide residents of this state at the time of application; and for the spouses of these persons if all of the following conditions, as are applicable, are satisfied: (1) Space is available. (2) Joint residency will be in the best interests of the home member, as determined by the administrator. (3) The spouse is a bona fide resident of this state at the time of application for admission to the home and either is married to, and has resided with, the home member for at least one year, or is the widow or widower of a recipient of the Medal of Honor or a former prisoner of war (POW). (4) The home member and spouse agree to pay the fees and charges for joint residency, or for a widow or widower,  for the residency,  that the  administrator   secretary  may establish. (b) (1) Veterans who qualify for benefits under this chapter due to service during a time of war shall be given priority over veterans who qualify due to service during a time of peace. (2) Veterans who qualify for benefits under this chapter who are recipients of the Medal of Honor or who were prisoners of war (POWs) shall be given priority over all other qualified veterans, regardless of the level of care required.  (3) The secretary may establish needs-based criteria for admission to the homes, and any veteran meeting those criteria shall be given priority over veterans who can afford to provide for their own care elsewhere.  (c) A resident spouse may continue residence after the veteran's  death.   death, so long as he or she continues to pay all applicable fees and comply with the department's policies, procedures, and regulations.  (d) The property of the home shall be used for this purpose. SEC. 9. Section 1012.1 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1012.1. Prior to the admission of a veteran as a member of the home, and at any time during which a veteran is a member of the home, the department may investigate  the veterans'   any member's  financial status  to determine the total value of the property and assets of any veteran applying for admission to the home, or  to  insure   ensure  that the  veteran   member  is unable to pay for necessary  hospital or domiciliary  care outside of the  home.   home, or to validate income levels for the purposes of establishing fees.  The department may contract with any other state agency to conduct such an investigation in its behalf. SEC. 10. Section 1012.2 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1012.2. (a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, any member of the home who is receiving an aid and attendance allowance from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and who has no dependent spouse, child, grandchild, father, or mother shall pay to the home an amount equal to that allowance in all levels of care excluding domiciliary. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a member of the home who is in intermediate care or skilled nursing care and has a disability that has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being 70 percent or more service-connected, as determined under Part 4 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  (b) One hundred percent of the moneys received by the home under this section shall be placed to the credit of the home and shall augment the current appropriation for the support of the home.   (b) Moneys received by a home under this section shall be deposited into the Federal Trust Fund and shall be used for the operating costs of the home.  SEC. 11. Section 1012.3 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1012.3. (a) Members of the home, including members who are nonveteran spouses, shall pay fees and charges as determined by the department, except that the total of the individual member's fees and charges for any fiscal year shall not be greater than as set forth in the following schedule: (1) Forty-seven and one-half percent of the member's annual income for domiciliary care. (2) Fifty-five percent of the member's annual income for residential care for the elderly or assisted living. (3) Sixty-five percent of the member's annual income for intermediate care. (4) Seventy percent of the member's annual income for skilled nursing care. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to a member of the home who is in intermediate care or skilled nursing care and has a disability that has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as being 70 percent or more service-connected, as determined under Part 4 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations and whose related payments made under Section 51.41 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations are considered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as payment in full for the member's care.  (c) Fees paid by a member shall not exceed the average cost of care for the level of care in which the member currently resides.  SEC. 12. Section 1012.4 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1012.4. Notwithstanding Section 1012, the department may arrange by contract or any other form of agreement with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to do both of the following: (a) Authorize veterans, collateral dependents, and other beneficiaries authorized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, who are not residents of the Veterans' Home of California, Yountville, to receive outpatient medical services at that home. (b) Establish rates for reimbursement from the federal government to the State of California for outpatient services rendered by the Veterans' Home of California, Yountville to veterans who are authorized under subdivision (a). (c) The outpatient services and reimbursement procedures authorized under subdivisions (a) and (b) may be established for the veterans' home located in Barstow, California, and any veterans' home constructed within the state on or after January 1, 2000.  SEC. 13. Section 1012.6 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1012.6. The department may accept and process applications from veterans who are seeking residency at a home, beginning on the start date of construction of that particular home.  SEC. 14. Section 1014 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1014. The home shall be under the management and control of the department and subject to the policies adopted by the California Veterans Board.  SEC. 15. Section 1015 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1015. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that installation of air-conditioning at the hospital and related buildings of the home be given high priority whenever any new construction or reconstruction is done, and that this construction or reconstruction be accelerated so as to accomplish the purposes of this section. The department shall, in this connection, consider whether construction of a new hospital facility at the home may be more cost-effective than renovation of the existing facility. The Master Plan for the Veterans' Home of California construction schedule shall be revised to reflect this acceleration. The department shall submit the revised schedule to the Legislature on or before November 1, 1984. For each additional year of the master plan following the 1984-85 fiscal year, the Governor's Budget shall include an appropriation in an amount necessary to complete all projects relating to the installation of air-conditioning as shown in the revised schedule. (b) The sum of ninety-one thousand dollars ($91,000) is hereby appropriated from the Special Account for Capital Outlay in the General Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for expenditure during the 1984-85 fiscal year for the purposes of subdivision (a) in accordance with the following schedule: Renovate hospital support services (preliminary plans)................. 16,000 Hospital wards 1, 2, 3A (SNF) (preliminary plans)................. 45,000 Section B (ICF) (preliminary plans)................. 30,000 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department, through the Office of the State Architect, may prepare and advertise bids for any master plan project in advance of funds being appropriated by the Legislature, but shall not award any contract for construction of the project until construction funds are available and appropriated therefor. (d) No contract for construction of any project related to the master plan shall be entered into prior to the department's obtaining a written commitment from the federal government to fund either 65 percent of the project cost, as approved by the federal government, or the maximum amount available to the state.  SEC. 16. Section 1023 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1023. (a) The department may sue and be sued in any of the courts of this state. All property held by the department for the home shall be held in trust for the state and for the use and benefit of the home. The  administrator shall manage the home and administer its affairs, and, subject to the direction of the director, adopt rules and regulations for the government of the home in conformity, as nearly as possible, to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for their facilities.   secretary shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the homes conforming as nearly as possible to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and those of other states with veterans' homes.  (b) The Director of General Services may lease or let any real property held by the department for the home, and not needed for any direct or immediate purpose of the home, to any entity or person upon terms and conditions determined to be in the best interests of the home.  In any leasing or letting, primary consideration shall be given to the use of real property for agricultural purposes, and except as provided in Section 1048, all   All  moneys received in connection therewith shall be deposited in the General Fund  to the credit of, and shall augment the current appropriation for the support of, the home.   as a reimbursement for operating costs of the home.  SEC. 17. Section 1024 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1024. The department may conduct such investigation as may be required to determine the total value of the property and assets of any veteran applying for admission to the home, and may contract with any other state agency to conduct such an investigation in its behalf.  SEC. 18. Section 1031 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1031. All moneys received by the  State   state  from the United States for the use of the home shall be  placed to the credit of and shall augment the current appropriation for the support of the home.   depo   sited into the General Fund as a reimbursement for operating costs of the home.  SEC. 19. Section 1033.2 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1033.2. If the total amount collected for reimbursements for Medi-Cal and Medicare services provided in any fiscal year by a veterans' home exceeds the budgeted reimbursements for that home, the additional funds collected shall be used to repay any unpaid General Fund loans provided to the veterans' home in prior fiscal years for the operation of that home.  SEC. 20. Section 1034 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1034. Except money received from this  State   state  for disbursement, all moneys received by the home, or by any officer of the home, including pension and other moneys belonging to veterans and other trust moneys, shall be immediately paid to the  executive officer   administrator  of the home. On or before the  tenth   10th  day of each  month the executive officer   month, the administrator  of the home shall forward to the State Treasurer all moneys in his  or her  possession, except pension and other moneys belonging to veterans, trust moneys, the post funds,  and  the emergency fund,  and donations made to each home,  hereinafter mentioned, together with a statement of the sources from which the  same   moneys  have been received. The moneys shall be deposited by the State Treasurer to the credit of the General Fund of the State; provided, however, that abatements of support expenditures shall be credited to the support appropriation current at the time of collection. SEC. 21. Section 1035.3 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1035.3. (a) If no will or heir is discovered within two years after the death of the veteran, any moneys not exceeding  three   fifteen  thousand dollars  ($3,000)   ($15,000)  held by the home pursuant to Section 1035 and not paid or otherwise delivered to the heir or heirs or pursuant to the will of the deceased veteran, or otherwise disbursed by the administrator pursuant to Section 1035, shall be paid to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. If no will or heir is discovered within five years after the death of the veteran, any moneys exceeding  three   fifteen  thousand dollars  ($3,000)   ($15,000)  held by the home pursuant to Section 1035 and not paid or otherwise delivered to the heir or heirs or pursuant to the will of the deceased veteran, or otherwise disbursed by the administrator pursuant to Section 1035, shall be paid to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. This subdivision applies only to veterans becoming members of the home on or after January 1, 1984. (b) If no spouse, child, grandchild, or father or mother is discovered within two years after the death of the veteran, any moneys not exceeding  three   fifteen  thousand dollars  ($3,000)   ($15,000)  held by the home pursuant to Section 1035 and not paid or otherwise delivered to the spouse, children, grandchildren, or father or mother, or otherwise disbursed by the administrator pursuant to Section 1035, shall be paid to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. If no spouse, child, grandchild, or father or mother is discovered within five years after the death of the veteran, any moneys exceeding  three   fifteen  thousand dollars  ($3,000)   ($15,000)  held by the home pursuant to Section 1035 and not paid or otherwise delivered to the spouse, children, grandchildren, or father or mother, or otherwise disbursed by the administrator pursuant to Section 1035, shall be paid to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. This subdivision applies only to veterans who have become members of the home prior to January 1, 1984. SEC. 22. Section 1038 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1038. All money deposited with the home for a veteran shall be paid to him or her on demand, upon his or her discharge or voluntary departure from the home. If the money is not so demanded at the time of his or her discharge or departure or within a period of two years thereafter, if the amount does not exceed  three   five  thousand dollars  ($3,000),   ($5,000),  or within a period of five years thereafter, if the amount exceeds  three   five  thousand dollars  ($3,000)   ($5,000)  either by the veteran, or, in the event of the veteran's death after his or her discharge or departure, by the veteran's heirs, devisees, legatees, or qualified executor or administrator of his or her estate, the money shall be paid to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund. SEC. 23. Section 1044 of the Military and Veterans Code is amended to read: 1044. The  administrator, in accordance with the policies adopted by the California Veterans Board and subject to the direction of the director,   secretary  may adopt rules and regulations governing the admission of applicants and may prescribe the conditions upon which they may enter and remain with the home. SEC. 24. Section 1051 of the Military and Veterans Code is repealed.  1051. (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the California Veterans Homes Fund to receive those amounts transferred to the fund pursuant to Section 18811 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) Any funds remaining in the Veterans' Quality of Life Fund, as established by Section 2 of Chapter 143 of the Statutes of 2005, shall be transferred to the California Veterans Homes Fund established by subdivision (a).