California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1747

(a) No person, political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency, that is not operating a hospice as of January 1, 1991, shall establish or operate a hospice without first obtaining a license under this chapter.

(b) Any person, political subdivision of the state, or other governmental agency, that is operating a hospice as of January 1, 1991, may continue to operate the hospice only under the following conditions:

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the ongoing use of the title “volunteer hospice” by those organizations that satisfy all of the following:

(d) A small and rural hospice is exempt from the licensing provisions of this chapter and the disclosure requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 1748. A small and rural hospice may provide skilled nursing services and may use the title “volunteer hospice.” For purposes of this chapter, a “small and rural hospice” means a hospice that provides services to less than 50 patients per year, does not charge for services, does not receive third-party payment for services rendered, and is not located in a standard metropolitan statistical area.