(a)  If the applicant for a license for a residential care facility handles or will handle any money of a resident of the facility, the applicant or licensee shall file or have on file with the department a bond issued by a surety company admitted to do business in this state in a sum to be fixed by the department based upon the magnitude of the operations of the applicant or licensee, but which sum shall not be less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), running to the State of California and conditioned upon his or her faithful and honest handling of the money of residents of the facility.

(b)  The failure of any licensee under this chapter to maintain on file with the department a bond in the amount prescribed by the department or the embezzlement by a licensee of trust funds of a resident of the facility shall constitute cause for the revocation of the license.

(c)  This section shall not apply if the licensee handles moneys of residents of the facility in amounts less than fifty dollars ($50) per person and less than five hundred dollars ($500) for all persons in any month.

(d)  The director may grant a partial or total variance from the requirements of this section if the director finds that compliance with them is so onerous that a residential care facility will cease to operate, and if the director also finds that money of the residents received or cared for in the facility has been, or will be, deposited in a bank in this state, in a trust company authorized to transact a trust business in this state, or in a savings and loan association in this state, upon condition that the money may not be withdrawn except on authorization of the person or a representative who is legally authorized to make financial decisions on behalf of the person.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1315, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 1993.)