California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1259.6

(a) On or before January 1, 2025, a general acute care hospital shall establish and adopt written policies and procedures to screen patients who are 12 years of age and older for purposes of detecting a risk for suicidal ideation and behavior.

(b) The procedures established pursuant to this section shall accomplish all of the following:

(c) After the adoption of written policies and procedures pursuant to subdivision (a), a general acute care hospital shall routinely screen patients who are 12 years of age and older for a risk of suicidal ideation and behavior in compliance with those policies and procedures.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that a general acute care hospital, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section, adopt guidelines similar to the validated or evidence-based screening tools and suicide risk assessment tools recommended by the Joint Commission regarding screening for suicidal ideation and behavior risk and protocols to follow when a patient exhibits a sign of being at imminent risk for suicidal ideation and behavior. The Legislature recognizes that, while guidelines evolve and change, the validated or evidence-based screening tools and suicide risk assessment tools recommended by the Joint Commission may serve, at this time, as a model to follow.