​Assembly Bill 116 (Committee on Budget, Chapter 21, Statutes of 2025) requires the Department to adopt emergency regulations establishing staffing standards specific to acute psychiatric hospitals and requirements to determine appropriate staffing based on patient acuity and care needs no later than January 31, 2026. To meet this requirement, the Department has held two stakeholder meetings to obtain public comments related to staffing. After careful consideration of public feedback, along with significant research, the Department has drafted proposed emergency regulations (PDF).

CHCQ is holding a stakeholder meeting to discuss the proposed draft APH emergency regulations on December 29, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. CHCQ will accept feedback on the draft regulations, however it will not be reflected in the official release of the emergency regulations but will be considered during the subsequent regular rulemaking process.

The stakeholder meeting will be held via webinar using Microsoft Teams. Please use the Teams Registration link to register.

Please note, the regulations shared via this letter are a draft and should not be immediately implemented as if they are the submitted version of the forthcoming APH emergency regulations.

Please check the Regulation Stakeholder Meetings webpage for updates and opportunities to comment. For additional questions/comments, please email the CHCQ Regulation Development Section at: CHCQRegulations@cdph.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Mandi Posner

Mandi Posner
Deputy Director