(a) No person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation within the state and no state or local public agency shall operate, establish, manage, conduct, or maintain a residential care facility in this state without first obtaining and maintaining a valid license therefor, as provided in this chapter.

(b) A facility may accept or retain residents requiring varying levels of care. However, a facility shall not accept or retain residents who require a higher level of care than the facility is authorized to provide. Persons who require 24-hour skilled nursing intervention shall not be appropriate for a residential care facility.

(c) This chapter shall not apply to the following:

(1) Any health facility, as defined in Section 1250.

(2) Any clinic, as defined in Section 1200.

(3) Any arrangement for the receiving and care of persons with chronic, life-threatening illness by a relative, guardian or conservator, significant other, or close friend; or any arrangement for the receiving and care of persons with chronic, life-threatening illness from only one family as respite for the relative, guardian or conservator, significant other, or close friend, if the arrangement is not for financial profit and occurs only occasionally and irregularly, as defined by regulations of the department.

(4) (A) Any house, institution, hotel, foster home, shared housing project, or other similar facility that is limited to providing any of the following: housing, meals, transportation, housekeeping, recreational and social activities, the enforcement of house rules, counseling on activities of daily living, and service referrals, as long as both of the following conditions are met:

(i) After any referral, all residents thereof independently obtain care and supervision and medical services without the assistance of the facility or of any person or entity with an organizational or financial connection with that facility.

(ii) No resident thereof has an unmet need for care and supervision or protective supervision. A memorandum of understanding between the facility and any service agency to which it refers residents does not necessarily itself constitute an agreement for care and supervision of the resident.

(B) In determining the applicability of this paragraph, the department shall determine the residents’ need for care and supervision, if any, and shall identify the persons or entities providing or assisting in the provision of care and supervision. This paragraph shall apply only if the department determines that the care and supervision needs of all residents are being independently met.

(5) (A) (i) Any housing occupied by elderly or disabled persons, or both, that is approved and operated pursuant to Section 202 of Public Law 86-372 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 1701q), or Section 811 of Public Law 101-625 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 8013), or whose mortgage is insured pursuant to Section 236 of Public Law 90-448 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 1715z), or that receives mortgage assistance pursuant to Section 221d (3) of Public Law 87-70 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 1751l), where supportive services are made available to residents at their option, as long as the project owner or operator does not contract for or provide the supportive services.

(ii) Any housing that qualifies for a low-income housing credit pursuant to Section 252 of Public Law 99-514 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 42) or that is subject to the requirements for rental dwellings for low-income families pursuant to Section 8 of Public Law 93-383 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1437f), and that is occupied by elderly or disabled persons, or both, where supportive services are made available to residents at their option, as long as the project owner or operator does not contract for or provide the supportive services.

(B) The project owner or operator to which subparagraph (A) applies may coordinate, or help residents gain access to, the supportive services, either directly or through a service coordinator.

(6) Any similar facility determined by the director.

(d) A holder of a residential care facility license may hold or obtain an additional license or a child day care facility license, as long as the services required by each license are provided at separate locations or distinctly separate sections of the building.

(e) The director may bring an action to enjoin the violation or threatened violation of this section in the superior court in and for the county in which the violation occurred or is about to occur. Any proceeding under this section shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the director shall not be required to allege facts necessary to show or tending to show lack of adequate remedy at law or irreparable damage or loss. The court shall, if it finds the allegations to be true, issue its order enjoining continuance of the violation.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 328, Sec. 123. (SB 1330) Effective January 1, 2011.)