AB 1217 Summary

• Establishes licensure and regulation of home care organizations and registration of home care aides by the State Department of Social Services, effective January 1, 2015.

• Requires home care organizations to obtain licenses, maintain $1,000,000 in general liability insurance and $10,000 employee dishonesty bonds, and ensures affiliated home care aides complete background checks and tuberculosis screening before working with clients.

• Creates a home care aide registry maintained by the department and requires background clearances for all home care aides; exempts certain entities including licensed health facilities, IHSS providers, and family members caring for children.

• Establishes the Home Care Fund and Home Care Penalties Subaccount, funded entirely through licensure fees and registration fees, with no General Fund support except for initial implementation costs.

• Makes it a misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as a home care aide or registered home care aide, and imposes civil penalties up to $900 per day per violation for unlicensed home care services.