Health Care Regulations
Adult Institution Health Care Regulations
PURPOSE
Correctional health care regulations involve issues of significant health, life, liberty, and safety and are subject to extensive public interest. California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) regulations, following the rule making process requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), help support safe and effective health care treatment of adult inmates and parolees in accordance with constitutional standards, published in the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Division 3. The public may access information about current California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)/CCHCS regulations governing adult prison and parole operations, including health care, and review pending or recently adopted regulations by clicking on one of the following links:
- Department Rules
- Pending Changes to Department Health Care Rules
- Recently Adopted Department Health Care Rules
For information regarding CDCR custody regulations, please follow the link below:
PUBLIC NOTICE
CCHCS is responsible for providing notice to the public regarding new health care regulations or changes to existing health care regulations. Following public notice, CCHCS receives all written comments submitted by the public on the proposed health care rule making during the announced public comment period. CCHCS also conducts a public hearing where members of the public may present comments about the proposed health care regulations. Such hearings are solely designed to receive comments from the public and are not the forum to debate the merits of the proposed health care regulations. The place and time of a public hearing is included in the public notice for each health care regulatory action. Comments received from the public during the comment period will be reviewed, summarized and responded to by the CCHCS in its Final Statement of Reasons. Through these means, the public is invited to participate in the health care rule making process and become familiar with new health care regulations being proposed by CCHCS.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The public is invited to submit comments regarding pending health care regulations during the announced public comment period. Written comments may be mailed or emailed to the following:
CCHCS Regulation and Policy SectionP.O. Box 588500
Elk Grove, CA 95758
HealthCareRegulations@cdcr.ca.gov
You may attend the public hearing at the time and place announced in the Notice of Change to Health Care Regulations.
HOW TO COMMENT
To assist with tracking and responding to comments, include with your comments the subject title of the proposed health care regulation change and the number of the Notice of Change to Health Care Regulations (NC-HCR); for example, NC-HCR #14-01. It is also important for commenters to direct their statements specifically to the health care regulations being proposed.
Comments that are of the most use are those that address a specific concern about, suggest a change to, or express support for the specific health care regulations under consideration. You may suggest changes to the proposed health care regulation text itself that you believe address problems or help improve the health care rules. Unfortunately, CCHCS cannot effectively respond to public comments that are too general or are not directed at the specific health care rules being proposed.
CHANGES TO DEPARTMENT HEALTH CARE RULES
Final adoption of proposed health care regulations occurs following compliance with the public review provisions of the APA and filing with the Secretary of State. Health care regulations adopted under the emergency/operational necessity provisions of the penal code are in effect on a temporary basis pending completion of this process.
*All files are in .pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
Pending Changes to Department Health Care Rules:
Title: Compassionate Release
Section(s): 3076, 3076.1, 3076.2, 3076.3, 3076.4, 3076.5, 3999.98, 3999.99, and 3999.209
Emergency Regulations Effective: March 3, 2025
Notification Date: TBD
Public Hearing Date: TBD
Public Hearing Link: TBD
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Title: Health Care Allegations of Staff Misconduct
Section(s): 3999.239
Emergency Regulations Effective: January 13, 2025
Notification Date: TBD
Public Hearing Date: TBD
Public Hearing Link: TBD
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Title: Electroconvulsive Therapy (NCHCR 25-01)
Section(s): 3999.98, 3999.99, 3999.348
Notification Date: January 3, 2025
Public Hearing Date: February 18, 2025
Public Hearing Link: Join the meeting now
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Title: Health Care Committees (NCHCR 24-03)
Section(s): 3999.98, 3999.109, 3999.114, 3999.116, 3999.312
Notification Date: October 11, 2024
Public Hearing Date: November 25, 2024
Public Hearing Link: Join the meeting now
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Title: Tuberculosis Program (NCHCR 24-02)
Section(s): 3999.98, 3999.410
Notification Date: August 16, 2024
Public Hearing Date: September 30, 2024
Public Hearing Link: Join the meeting now
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Title: Reception Center (NCHCR 24-01)
Section(s): 3999.98, 3999.305
Notification Date: July 19, 2024
Public Hearing Date: September 4, 2024
Public Hearing Link: Join the meeting now
Permanent Adoption Date: TBD
Recently Adopted Department Health Care Rules:
Title: California Model Terminology (NA 25-01)
Section(s): Various (see Title 15 Sections Amended in the attachment)
Permanent Adoption Date: March 5, 2025
Title: California Model Terminology (NA 24-01)
Section(s): Various (see Title 15 Sections Amended attachment)
Permanent Adoption Date: July 1, 2024