(a) (1)  When the department does not suspend the license of a residential care facility for the elderly pursuant to this article, the department may still order the licensee to remove a resident who has a health condition which cannot be cared for within the limits of the license or requires inpatient care in a health facility as determined by the department.

(2)  Where the department determines that the resident’s mental or physical condition requires immediate transfer from the facility in order to protect the health and safety of the resident, the department may order the licensee to remove the resident after the department consults with a physician or other medical professional about the transfer and ways in which transfer trauma can be minimized.

(b) (1)  Where the department alleges that a resident has a health condition which cannot be cared for within the limits of the license or requires inpatient care in a health facility, the department shall give notice to the resident, his or her legal representative when appropriate, and the licensee. The notice shall specify a deadline for submitting a written plan for relocation and inform the resident of his or her right for a review and determination by an interdisciplinary team as provided for in Section 1569.34. The resident, or his or her legal representative, shall have three working days to inform the licensee of the request for review. Upon receiving a request from a resident, or his or her legal representative, for a review and determination, the licensee shall forward the request to the department within two working days of receipt. Failure or refusal by the licensee to submit the request for review and determination to the department may be subject to the civil penalties specified in Section 1569.49.

(2)  The review and determination shall be completed within 30 days from the date that the resident was initially informed of the need to relocate. If the determination is made that the resident must relocate, the notice shall include a plan for transfer, including attempts to minimize transfer trauma for the resident.

The department may require the licensee to prepare and submit to the licensing agency a written plan for relocation, to comply with the terms and conditions of the approved plans and to provide other information as necessary for the enforcement of this section.

(c)  The provisions allowing for a resident’s right to a review prior to transfer as provided for in subdivision (b) neither negates the department’s authority and responsibility to require an immediate transfer according to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) when the department finds and provides evidence that the resident must be relocated in order to protect the health and safety of the resident, nor implies any right to a fair hearing pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 10950) of Part 2 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

The department shall specify in regulations the process provided for pursuant to this section for making relocation decisions and for appealing and reviewing these decisions.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1115, Sec. 24.)