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CaliforniaSB 5962025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Health facilities: administrative penalties.

Sponsored By: Caroline Menjivar (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Tiered fines for facility safety violations

The law lets the health department fine licensed facilities for serious safety violations. Immediate jeopardy fines are up to $75,000 for the first, $100,000 for the second, and $125,000 for later violations. Non‑immediate‑jeopardy violations can be fined up to $25,000 each. A new violation more than three years after the last immediate‑jeopardy case counts as a first penalty if there were no new cases and the facility is in substantial compliance. The department must set clear penalty criteria, including patient risk, harm, willfulness, history, and quick fixes. Immediate jeopardy means noncompliance that has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury or death.

Hospital staffing penalties and limited defense

For hospital staffing rules, the first violation is fined $15,000 and later ones are $30,000. Multiple violations found in the same inspection count as one for repeat status; violations on different days count separately. A violation after three years resets to a first violation. The department may issue guidance by All Facilities Letter to apply these penalties. It can fine for the staffing violation and also for any resulting patient harm. A general acute care hospital avoids a staffing penalty only if it proves the fluctuation was unpredictable, it made prompt efforts, and it immediately used and exhausted the on‑call nurse list and the charge nurse. The on‑call list means nurses scheduled on call for that unit and shift or on a regular float pool shift; calling others does not count. This defense does not change the duty to meet Title 22 staffing ratios. The department must consider small and rural hospitals’ special circumstances to help protect access to care.

Appeals and timing rules on penalties

A licensee may request a hearing within 10 working days to dispute a finding or fine. Penalties are paid only after all appeals are finished and the department’s decision is upheld. New penalty rules apply only to incidents after the rules take effect. The department does not fine for minor violations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Caroline Menjivar

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 135 • No: 48

Senate vote • 9/12/2025

Item 94 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 21 • No: 10

House vote • 9/11/2025

Item 119 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 48 • No: 19

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 10 • No: 4

legislature vote • 7/15/2025

Vote in CX08

Yes: 12 • No: 2

Senate vote • 6/4/2025

Item 28 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 24 • No: 10

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 5 • No: 1

legislature vote • 5/12/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote in CS60

Yes: 8 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 773, Statutes of 2025.

    10/13/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/13/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

    9/23/2025legislature

  4. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 21. Noes 10. Page 2973.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

    9/12/2025Senate

  5. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

    9/12/2025Senate

  6. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 48. Noes 19. Page 3318.) Ordered to the Senate.

    9/11/2025House

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/3/2025House

  8. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    9/2/2025House

  9. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025House

  10. August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

    8/20/2025House

  11. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 2.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/16/2025House

  12. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    7/3/2025House

  13. July 8 hearing postponed by committee.

    7/1/2025House

  14. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    6/16/2025House

  15. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    6/5/2025House

  16. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 24. Noes 10. Page 1510.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    6/4/2025Senate

  17. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/23/2025Senate

  18. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1205.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025Senate

  19. Set for hearing May 23.

    5/16/2025Senate

  20. May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

    5/12/2025Senate

  21. Set for hearing May 12.

    5/2/2025Senate

  22. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/28/2025Senate

  23. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2. Page 868.) (April 23).

    4/24/2025Senate

  24. Set for hearing April 23.

    4/8/2025Senate

  25. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

    3/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/13/2025

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  • Enrolled

    9/18/2025

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  • Amended Assembly

    9/2/2025

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  • Amended Assembly

    7/3/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    4/28/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    3/27/2025

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  • Introduced

    2/20/2025

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