(a) The State Fire Marshal has proposed that the California Building Standards Commission adopt building standards to provide for locked and secured perimeters in residential care facilities for the elderly that care for persons with major neurocognitive disorder:

(1) It is acknowledged that these building standards will not become effective until October 1, 1996.

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(2) It is the policy of the California Building Standards Commission that building standards be adopted exclusively into the California Building Standards Code and not into state statute.

(3) However, in recognition of the immediate need of residential care facilities for the elderly caring for persons with major neurocognitive disorder to provide a secured environment, it is the intent of the Legislature that the building standards for locked and secured perimeters proposed by the State Fire Marshal for adoption in the 1994 California Building Standards Code, as set forth in Section 1569.699, be effective October 4, 1995.

(b) (1) Upon the filing of emergency regulations with the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (c), a residential care facility for the elderly that cares for people with major neurocognitive disorder may utilize secured perimeter fences or locked exit doors if it meets the requirements for additional safeguards required by those regulations.

(2) For the purposes of this article, major neurocognitive disorder includes Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, diagnosed by a physician, that increase the tendency to wander and that decrease hazard awareness and the ability to communicate.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article that residential care facilities for the elderly have options for the security of persons with major neurocognitive disorder who are residents of those facilities that are in addition to existing security exceptions made for individual residents. It is the further intent of the Legislature that these additional options shall include the use of waivers of certain building standards relating to fire safety, to be issued by the state department with the approval of the State Fire Marshal, to permit the care of a target group of persons with major neurocognitive disorder by means of secured perimeter fences, or the use of locked exterior doors. Each waiver request shall include a facility plan of operation that addresses elements of care to be identified by the department in regulations and demonstrates the facility’s ability to meet the safety needs of persons with major neurocognitive disorder.

(4) The department shall adopt regulations that ensure that staff for secured perimeter facilities receive appropriate and adequate training in the care of residents with major neurocognitive disorder.

(5) Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit residential care facilities for the elderly from accepting or retaining persons with major neurocognitive disorder whose needs can be fully met using care options permitted by existing law and regulations.

(6) It is not the intent of the Legislature to authorize an increase in the level of care provided in a residential care facility for the elderly or to establish a supplemental rate structure based on the services provided in the facility.

(7) All admissions to residential care facilities for the elderly shall continue to be voluntary on the part of the resident or with the lawful consent of the resident’s legal conservator.

(c) The department shall adopt regulations to implement subdivision (b) in accordance with those provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act contained in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The initial adoption of any emergency regulations following October 4, 1995, shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days.

(d) In addition to the security options authorized by subdivision (b), residential care facilities for the elderly that accept or retain as residents persons with major neurocognitive disorder, and that choose to utilize the security options of egress-control devices of the time-delay type in addition to secured perimeter fences or locked exit doors, shall comply with Section 1569.699, or regulations adopted by the California Building Standards Commission, whichever is operative.

(e) A residential care facility for the elderly shall not utilize special egress-control devices of the time-delay type, secured perimeter fences, or locked exit doors unless the facility meets the requirements of Section 1569.699 or the California Building Standards Commission adopts building standards to implement this section.

(f) Any person who is not a conservatee and is entering a locked or secured perimeter facility pursuant to this section shall sign a statement of voluntary entry. The facility shall retain the original statement and shall send a copy of the statement to the department.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 122, Sec. 1. (SB 413) Effective January 1, 2018.)