(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury the Mental Health Facility Licensing Fund, from which money, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act, shall be expended by the State Department of Health Care Services to fund administrative and other activities in support of the mental health licensing and certification functions of the State Department of Health Care Services. The Mental Health Facility Licensing Fund is the successor to the Licensing and Certification Fund, Mental Health, which fund is hereby abolished. All references in any law to the Licensing and Certification Fund, Mental Health shall be deemed to refer to the Mental Health Facility Licensing Fund.
(b) Commencing January 1, 2005, each new and renewal application for a license to operate a mental health rehabilitation center shall be accompanied by an application or renewal fee.
(c) The amount of the fees shall be determined and collected by the State Department of Health Care Services, but the total amount of the fees collected shall not exceed the actual costs of licensure and regulation of the centers, including, but not limited to, the costs of processing the application, inspection costs, and other related costs.
(d) Each license or renewal issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire 12 months from the date of issuance. Application for renewal of the license shall be accompanied by the necessary fee and shall be filed with the department at least 30 days prior to the expiration date. Failure to file a timely renewal may result in expiration of the license.
(e) License and renewal fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Mental Health Facility Licensing Fund.
(f) Fees collected by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to this section shall be expended by the State Department of Health Care Services for the purpose of ensuring the health and safety of all individuals providing care and supervision by licensees and to support activities of the department, including, but not limited to, monitoring facilities for compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
(g) The State Department of Health Care Services may make additional charges to the facilities if additional visits are required to ensure that corrective action is taken by the licensee.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 23, Sec. 45. (AB 82) Effective June 27, 2013.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018