Bill > AB2598

This bill requires hospitals, convalescent hospitals, and board and care facilities to make a reasonable effort to notify any known next of kin when a patient dies in their care or when a body is transferred to the hospital after death. If, after a reasonable attempt, next of kin cannot be located, the facility must then notify the public administrator of the county. Failure to comply with these notification requirements will result in a civil penalty of $200 per day, capped at $50,000, assessed by the State Department of Public Health or the State Department of Social Services, as applicable, until the next of kin is actually notified. This change aims to ensure families are informed of a loved one's death promptly, with existing laws already holding facilities liable for interment costs and estate losses if they fail to notify the public administrator when no next of kin is known.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2598