CA AB979

Requires skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities to allow family councils to meet virtually or at offsite locations at the family council's discretion, in addition to in-person meetings.

Mandates that designated staff persons assisting family councils be approved by the family council and requires facilities to respond in writing within 14 calendar days to written requests, concerns, or recommendations with detailed rationale.

Restricts facility staff attendance at family council meetings to invitations only, eliminating previous authority for staff to attend without explicit invitation.

Requires facilities to inform residents and their designated family members, friends, and representatives of family council existence and provide the family council representative's name and contact information within 5 business days of admission.

Clarifies that violations of family council provisions are exempt from criminal penalties for skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, and establishes a $250 daily civil penalty for residential care facilities for the elderly until violations are corrected.