Bills would increase scrutiny of potential patient abuse cases at CA developmental centers

California Watch is reporting that State lawmakers have introduced two bills to increase the number of agencies alerted about injuries and alleged crimes against patients at California's developmental centers.

State law now requires developmental center officials to report patient deaths and serious unexplained injuries to law enforcement. But often, the centers’ in-house police force, the Office of Protective Services, is the only criminal justice agency involved in potential patient abuse cases.

Under SB 1051, the reports also would go to outside law enforcement and a patient advocacy organization, Disability Rights California. Sen. Carol Liu, D-Glendale, and Sen. Bill Emmerson, R-Riverside, are sponsoring the measure.

The companion legislation, SB 1522, goes further, mandating that city or county police agencies receive notice of cases of sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon or force, and unexplained injuries involving broken bones or patients’ genitals. Sponsored by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, the bill would require centers to alert outside law enforcement “regardless of whether the Office of Protective Services has investigated the facts and circumstances relating to the incident.”

You can read the full article at Bills aim to alert local police to developmental center injuries on the U-T San Diego website.

California Watch ran a series of articles in February (see: Broken Shield on the California Watch website) reporting failures to protect the state’s very vulnerable developmentally disabled residents. Hearings in Sacramento followed in March. Those hearing were chaired by Senator Carol Liu, a co-sponsor of SB 1051.

According to California Watch, the bills’ sponsors continue to seek supporters, including patient advocacy groups and the state Department of Developmental Services, which runs the developmental centers.

“The department is tracking and reviewing the bills, and the administration has no position at this time,” Nancy Lungren, the department’s spokeswoman, said in a written statement.

The impact on local law enforcement continues to be evaluated. As yet, there is no indication that the new requirements, if passed, would also apply to group and community homes run by the State's regional centers.