(a) No residential facility may prohibit the formation of a family council, and, when requested by a member of the resident’s family or the resident’s responsible party, the family council shall be allowed to meet in a common meeting room of the facility during mutually agreed upon hours.
(b) Facility policies on family councils shall in no way limit the right of residents and family members to meet independently with outside persons, including members of nonprofit or government organizations or with facility personnel during nonworking hours.
(c) “Family council” for the purpose of this section means a meeting of family members, friends, responsible parties, or agents as defined in Section 14110.8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code of two or more patients to confer in private without facility staff.
(d) Family councils shall also be provided adequate space on a prominent bulletin board or other posting area for the display of meeting notices, minutes, and newsletters.