(a) All advocacy programs and any programs similar in nature to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that receive funding or official designation from the state shall cooperate with the office, where appropriate. These programs include, but are not limited to, the Office of Human Rights within the State Department of State Hospitals, the Office of Patients’ Rights, Disability Rights California, and the Department of Rehabilitation’s Client Assistance Program.
(b) The office shall maintain a close working relationship with the Legal Services Development Program for the Elderly within the department.
(c) In order to ensure the provision of counsel for patients and residents of long-term care facilities, the office shall seek to establish effective coordination with programs that provide legal services for older adults, including, but not limited to, programs that are funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation or under the federal Older Americans Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.), as amended.
(d) The department and other state departments and programs that have roles in funding, regulating, monitoring, or serving long-term care facility residents, including law enforcement agencies, shall cooperate with and meet with the office periodically and as needed to address concerns or questions involving the care, quality of life, safety, rights, health, and well-being of long-term care facility residents.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 337, Sec. 45. (SB 1249) Effective January 1, 2025.)