(a) (1)  For purposes of this section, “bedridden” means requiring assistance in turning and repositioning in bed or being unable to independently transfer to and from bed, except in a facility with appropriate and sufficient care staff, mechanical devices, if necessary, and safety precautions, as determined by the director in regulations.

(2) For purposes of this section, the status of being bedridden shall not include a temporary illness or recovery from surgery that persists for 14 days or less.

(3) The determination of the bedridden status of persons with developmental disabilities shall be made by the Director of Social Services or his or her designated representative, in consultation with the Director of Developmental Services or his or her designated representative, after consulting the resident’s individual safety plan. The determination of the bedridden status of all other persons with disabilities who are not developmentally disabled shall be made by the Director of Social Services, or his or her designated representative.

(b) A bedridden person may be admitted to, and remain in, a residential facility that secures and maintains an appropriate fire clearance. A fire clearance shall be issued to a facility in which one or more bedridden persons reside if either of the following conditions are met:

(1) The fire safety requirements are met. Residents who are unable to independently transfer to and from bed, but who do not need assistance to turn or reposition in bed, shall be considered nonambulatory for purposes of this paragraph.

(2) Alternative methods of protection are approved.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), a bedridden resident may be retained in a residential care facility in excess of 14 days if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The facility notifies the department in writing that the person is recovering from a temporary illness or surgery.

(2) The facility submits to the department, with the notification required in paragraph (1), a physician and surgeon’s written statement to the effect that the resident’s illness or recovery is of a temporary nature. The statement shall contain an estimated date upon which the illness or recovery is expected to end or upon which the resident is expected to no longer be confined to bed.

(3) The department determines that the resident’s health and safety is adequately protected in the facility and that transfer to a higher level of care is not necessary.

(4) This subdivision does not expand the scope of care and supervision of a residential care facility.

(d)  Notwithstanding the length of stay of a bedridden resident, every residential facility admitting or retaining a bedridden resident shall, within 48 hours of the resident’s admission or retention in the facility, notify the fire authority having jurisdiction over the bedridden resident’s location of the estimated length of time the resident will retain his or her bedridden status in the facility.

(e) (1) The department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the State Department of Developmental Services, shall each promulgate regulations that meet all of the following conditions:

(A) Are consistent with this section.

(B) Are applicable to facilities regulated under this chapter, consistent with the regulatory requirements of the California Building Standards Code for fire and life safety for the respective occupancy classifications into which the State Department of Social Services’ community care licensing classifications fall.

(C) Permit residents to remain in homelike settings.

(2) At a minimum, these regulations shall do both of the following with regard to a residential care facility that provides care for six or fewer residents, at least one of whom is bedridden:

(A) Clarify the fire and life safety requirements for a fire clearance for the facility.

(B) Identify procedures for requesting the approval of alternative means of providing equivalent levels of fire and life safety protection. Either the facility, the resident or resident’s representative, or local fire official may request from the Office of the State Fire Marshal a written opinion concerning the interpretation of the regulations promulgated by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this section for a particular factual dispute. The State Fire Marshal shall issue the written opinion within 45 days following the request.

(f) For facilities that care for six or fewer residents, a local fire official shall not impose fire safety requirements stricter than the fire safety regulations promulgated for the particular type of facility by the Office of the State Fire Marshal or the local fire safety requirements imposed on any other single family dwelling, whichever is more strict.

(g) This section and any regulations promulgated thereunder shall be interpreted in a manner that provides flexibility to allow bedridden persons to avoid institutionalization and be admitted to, and safely remain in, community-based residential care facilities.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 211, Sec. 3. (AB 2629) Effective January 1, 2011.)