AB 1002

This bill requires the Department of Children and Families to promulgate rules

requiring all child welfare agencies that operate a residential care center for children

and youth, all group homes, and all shelter care facilities to adopt a policy for

monitoring safety, which may include the use of video surveillance and recording in

common areas, entrances, and exits.

Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Health Services to promulgate

rules requiring all psychiatric residential treatment facilities to adopt a policy for

monitoring safety, which may include the use of video surveillance and recording in

common areas, entrances, and exits.

Under current law, generally, an individual who is receiving services for mental

illness, developmental disability, alcoholism, or drug dependency (patient) has a

right not to be filmed or taped unless the patient signs an informed and voluntary

consent. This includes an individual who is admitted to a treatment facility or

detained, committed, or placed under the Children's Code. Under the bill, a patient

placed in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, shelter care

facility, or a psychiatric residential treatment facility may be subject to video

surveillance or recording in common areas, entrances, and exits without the patient's

consent as provided under a safety monitoring policy authorized under the bill.