§ 53123.7

(a) For purposes of this section, “department” means the State Department of Health Care Services.

(b) No sooner than October 1, 2027, the department shall establish a process for entities to apply for approval by the department as a designated 988 center, as defined in Section 53123.1.5. The framework approval process shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Eligibility criteria for approval of a designated 988 center.

(2) The duration of an entity’s approval as a designated 988 center.

(3) An application process for an entity to request approval as a designated 988 center or renewal as a designated 988 center.

(4) An application review process, including criteria for the department to approve or deny an entity’s application as a designated 988 center or an entity’s application for renewal as a designated 988 center.

(c) A 988 center shall obtain approval as a designated 988 center from the department by December 31, 2029.

(d) A 988 center that is not approved as a designated 988 center may only receive funds available through the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 53123.4, until December 31, 2029.

(e) No sooner than October 1, 2027, the department shall establish standards to ensure that a designated 988 center provides quality services. The standards shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Staffing requirements.

(2) Designated 988 center training requirements.

(3) Clinical and triage protocols for behavioral health services.

(4) Measures to assess the quality of services rendered by a designated 988 center.

(5) Performance requirements for designated 988 centers and counselor services.

(f) No sooner than October 1, 2027, the department shall establish standards for the oversight and monitoring of designated 988 centers.

(g) (1) A designated 988 center shall furnish all information, records, and documentation to the department for oversight and monitoring purposes, in a form and manner specified and requested by the department, to the extent allowed by applicable state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws. A designated 988 center shall preserve and provide any information, including books, records, papers, accounts, documents, video, and any writing, as defined in Section 250 of the Evidence Code, that the department deems necessary to review in compliance with applicable laws. A designated 988 center shall provide any information that the department deems necessary within 15 calendar days from the date of the department’s request unless an extension is granted.

(2) All personal information obtained or maintained under paragraph (1) shall be confidential pursuant to all applicable state and federal confidentiality and privacy laws.

(3) All policies and procedures developed in implementing paragraph (1) shall provide that the privacy, security, and confidentiality of consumers’ personal information is protected, as required by the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and consistent with state and federal health privacy laws, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Public Law 104-191) and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code).

(4) Unless otherwise specified in this subdivision, personal information collected shall be exempt from the disclosure requirements of the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1), and shall not be made available except pursuant to paragraph (1).

(h) The department may conduct performance and compliance audits of designated 988 centers.

(1) The department may conduct onsite visits as part of the designation or redesignation process.

(2) The department may conduct onsite visits at any time at any designated 988 center to evaluate compliance with any applicable requirements.

(3) The department may enter and inspect any building, or portion thereof, that contains a designated 988 center and its records, at a reasonable time, with or without notice, to secure information regarding compliance with, or to prevent a violation of, any applicable laws.

(i) The department may require a designated 988 center to take specified actions to correct any noncompliance. As required by the department, the designated 988 center shall submit a corrective action plan to the department for approval and shall comply with an approved corrective action plan. The department may specify timeframes and deadlines for submission of a corrective action plan and for correction of noncompliance.

(j) The department may suspend or revoke a designation issued under this article to operate a designated 988 center, or deny an application for a designation issued under this article to operate a designated 988 center, upon any of the following grounds:

(1) Violation of any provision of this article, regulations or guidance adopted pursuant to this article, or any applicable laws.

(2) Misrepresentation of any material fact in obtaining a designation, including, but not limited to, providing false information or documentation to the department.

(3) Refusal by a designated 988 center or applicant to respond to a request pursuant to subdivision (g), or to allow the department entry into the facility to determine performance or compliance with the requirements of this article, regulations or guidance adopted pursuant to this article, or any applicable laws.

(4) Failure to implement a corrective action plan as mandated by the department to achieve compliance with any of the provisions of this article, regulations or guidance adopted pursuant to this article, or any applicable laws.

(k) A designated 988 center that has had its designation suspended or revoked shall not receive funds available through the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund and shall cease operations as a designated 988 center. A designated 988 center that has had its designation suspended shall not resume operations until its designation is reinstated. A designated 988 center that has had its designation revoked shall not resume operations unless it applies for and receives approval for a new designation.

(l) Beginning on January 1, 2028, the department shall make the following publicly available on its internet website:

(1) A list of 988 centers, as defined in Section 53123.1.5.

(2) A list of designated 988 centers, as defined in Section 53123.1.5.

(3) Any corrective action plans, suspensions, or revocations imposed upon a designated 988 center.

(Added by Stats. 2026, Ch. 252, Sec. 5. (AB 173) Effective September 18, 2026.)