(a) The department shall deny a training application and deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate issued under this article if the applicant or certificate holder has been convicted of a violation or attempted violation of any of the following Penal Code provisions: Section 187, subdivision (a) of Section 192, Section 203, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 210.5, 211, 220, 222, 243.4, 245, 261, 262, or 264.1, Sections 265 to 267, inclusive, Section 273a, 273d, 273.5, or 285, subdivisions (c), (d), (f), and (g) of Section 286, Section 288, subdivisions (c), (d), (f), and (g) of Section 287 or former Section 288a, Section 288.5, 289, 289.5, 368, 451, 459, 470, 475, 484, or 484b, Sections 484d to 484j, inclusive, Section 487, subdivision (a) of Section 487a, or Section 488, 496, 503, 518, or 666, unless any of the following applies:

(1) The person was convicted of a felony and has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code and the information or accusation against him or her has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.

(2) The person was convicted of a misdemeanor and the information or accusation against him or her has been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4 or 1203.4a of the Penal Code.

(3) The certificate holder was convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor, but has previously disclosed the fact of each conviction to the department, and the department has made a determination in accordance with law that the conviction does not disqualify the applicant from certification.

(b) An application or certificate shall be denied, suspended, or revoked upon conviction in another state of an offense that, if committed or attempted in this state, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses set forth in subdivision (a), unless evidence of rehabilitation comparable to the certificate of rehabilitation or dismissal of a misdemeanor set forth in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) is provided.

(c) (1) The department may deny an application or deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate issued under this article for any of the following:

(A) Unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to, incompetence, gross negligence, physical, mental, or verbal abuse of patients, or misappropriation of property of patients or others.

(B) Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of a home health aide, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4, 1203.4a, or 4852.13 of the Penal Code, where the department determines that the applicant or certificate holder has not adequately demonstrated that he or she has been rehabilitated and will present a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of patients.

(C) Conviction for, or use of, any controlled substance as defined in Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of this code, or any dangerous drug, as defined in Section 4022 of the Business and Professions Code, or alcoholic beverages, to an extent or in a manner dangerous or injurious to the home health aide, any other person, or the public, to the extent that this use would impair the ability to conduct, with safety to the public, the practice authorized by a certificate.

(D) Procuring a home health aide certificate by fraud, misrepresentation, or mistake.

(E) Making or giving any false statement or information in conjunction with the application for issuance of a home health aide certificate or training and examination application.

(F) Impersonating any applicant, or acting as proxy for an applicant, in any examination required under this article for the issuance of a certificate.

(G) Impersonating another home health aide, a licensed vocational nurse, or a registered nurse, or permitting or allowing another person to use a certificate for the purpose of providing nursing services.

(H) Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate any provision or term of, this article.

(2) In determining whether or not to deny an application or deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate issued under this article pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall take into consideration the following factors as evidence of good character and rehabilitation:

(A) The nature and seriousness of the offense under consideration and its relationship to the person’s employment duties and responsibilities.

(B) Activities since conviction, including employment or participation in therapy or education, that would indicate changed behavior.

(C) The time that has elapsed since the commission of the conduct or offense referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) and the number of offenses.

(D) The extent to which the person has complied with any terms of parole, probation, restitution, or any other sanction lawfully imposed against the person.

(E) Any rehabilitation evidence, including character references, submitted by the person.

(F) Employment history and current employer recommendations.

(G) Circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense that would demonstrate the unlikelihood of repetition.

(H) Granting by the Governor of a full and unconditional pardon.

(I) A certificate of rehabilitation from a superior court.

(d) When the department determines that a certificate shall be suspended, the department shall specify the period of actual suspension. The department may determine that the suspension shall be stayed, placing the certificate holder on probation with specified conditions for a period not to exceed two years. When the department determines that probation is the appropriate action, the certificate holder shall be notified that in lieu of the department proceeding with a formal action to suspend the certification and in lieu of an appeal pursuant to subdivision (g), the certificate holder may request to enter into a diversion program agreement. A diversion program agreement shall specify terms and conditions related to matters including, but not limited to, work performance, rehabilitation, training, counseling, progress reports, and treatment programs. If a certificate holder successfully completes a diversion program, no action shall be taken upon the allegations that were the basis for the diversion agreement. Upon failure of the certificate holder to comply with the terms and conditions of an agreement, the department may proceed with a formal action to suspend or revoke the certification.

(e) A plea or verdict of guilty, or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere, shall be deemed a conviction within the meaning of this article. The department may deny an application or deny, suspend, or revoke a certification based on a conviction as provided in this article when the judgment of conviction is entered or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence.

(f) Upon determination to deny an application or deny, revoke, or suspend a certificate, the department shall notify the applicant or certificate holder in writing by certified mail of both of the following:

(1) The reasons for the determination.

(2) The applicant’s or certificate holder’s right to appeal the determination if the determination was made under subdivision (c).

(g) (1) Upon written notification that the department has determined that an application shall be denied or a certificate shall be denied, suspended, or revoked under subdivision (c), the applicant or certificate holder may request an administrative hearing by submitting a written request to the department within 20 business days of receipt of the written notification. Upon receipt of a written request, the department shall hold an administrative hearing pursuant to the procedures specified in Section 100171, except where those procedures are inconsistent with this section.

(2) A hearing under this section shall be conducted by a hearing officer or administrative law judge designated by the director at a location, other than the work facility, that is convenient to the applicant or certificate holder. The hearing shall be audio or video recorded and a written decision shall be sent by certified mail to the applicant or certificate holder within 30 calendar days of the hearing. Except as specified in subdivision (h), the effective date of an action to revoke or suspend a certificate shall be specified in the written decision, or if no administrative hearing is timely requested, the effective date shall be 21 business days from written notification of the department’s determination to revoke or suspend.

(h) The department may revoke or suspend a certificate prior to any hearing when immediate action is necessary in the judgment of the director to protect the public welfare. Notice of this action, including a statement of the necessity of immediate action to protect the public welfare, shall be sent in accordance with subdivision (f). If the certificate holder requests an administrative hearing pursuant to subdivision (g), the department shall hold the administrative hearing as soon as possible but not later than 30 calendar days from receipt of the request for a hearing. A written hearing decision upholding or setting aside the action shall be sent by certified mail to the certificate holder within 30 calendar days of the hearing.

(i) Upon the expiration of the term of suspension, the certificate holder shall be reinstated by the department and shall be entitled to resume practice unless it is established to the satisfaction of the department that the person has practiced as a home health aide in California during the term of suspension. In this event, the department shall revoke the person’s certificate.

(j) Upon a determination to deny an application or deny, revoke, or suspend a certificate, the department shall notify the employer of the applicant or certificate holder in writing of that determination, and whether the determination is final, or whether a hearing is pending relating to this determination. If a licensee or facility is required to deny employment or terminate employment of the employee based upon notice from the state that the employee is determined to be unsuitable for employment under this section, the licensee or facility shall not incur criminal, civil, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, or administrative liability as a result of that denial or termination.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 423, Sec. 34. (SB 1494) Effective January 1, 2019.)