CA AB581

Prohibits licensees and their officers or employees from discriminating or retaliating against facility residents or employees who file complaints, grievances, or inspection requests with the department or ombudsman.

Expands the definition of prohibited retaliation to specifically include eviction or threats of eviction as forms of retaliation.

Applies protections to community care facilities, residential care facilities for persons with chronic life-threatening illness, and residential care facilities for the elderly.

Extends retaliation protections to cover complaints or requests filed with local or state ombudsmen, in addition to those filed with the department.

Violations remain criminal offenses; specifies no state reimbursement is required because the act modifies existing criminal penalties.