(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of the program authorized under this section is to address the special needs of inmates with regard to the provision of long-term care in skilled nursing facilities.

(2) The department may contract with public or private entities for the establishment and operation of skilled nursing facilities for the incarceration and care of inmates who are limited in ability to perform activities of daily living and who are in need of skilled nursing services. The skilled nursing facility under contract pursuant to this section shall address the long-term care of inmates as needed. In addition, the facility shall be designed to maximize the personal security of inmates, to maximize the security of the facility, and to ensure the safety of the outside community at large.

(b) The department shall provide for the security of the facility in order to ensure the safety of the outside community at large.

(c) The department shall enter into an agreement for transfer of prisoners to, or placement of prisoners in, skilled nursing facilities pursuant to this section.

(d) The facility contractor shall ensure that the facility meets all licensing requirements by obtaining a license for the skilled nursing facility, as that term is defined in § 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) The department shall provide for the review of any agreement entered into under this section to determine if the facility contractor is in compliance with the requirements of this section, and may revoke the agreement if the facility contractor is not in compliance.

(f) The Department of Corrections ombudsman program shall provide ombudsman services to prisoner residents of the department-contracted skilled nursing facilities.

(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 9700) of Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman shall be exempt from advocating on behalf of, or investigating complaints on behalf of residents of any skilled nursing facilities operated either directly or by contract by the Department of Corrections.

(h) As used in this section, “long-term care” means personal or supportive care services provided to people of all ages with physical or mental disabilities who need assistance with activities of daily living including bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, transferring, and ambulation.

(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 708, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)