. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE
APRIL 25TH ASSEMBLY AGING AND
LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE HEARING
. WE ARE HEARING FIVE MEASURES
TODAY THAT I SUPPORT AS DOES THE
VICE CHAIR. UM BEFORE WE CAN GET
STARTED. I NEED TO INFORM ALL OF
ALL TO OUR CURRENT PROTOCOLS. WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT
OPTIONS FOR WITNESS TESTIMONY
TODAY IF ANY MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE ROOM WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY TODAY, I WILL ASK YOU TO
APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AFTER
EACH ASSEMBLY MEMBER PRESENTS
THEIR BILL. WE ALSO ACCEPT
WRITTEN TESTIMONY THROUGH THE
POSITION LETTER PORTAL WITH
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN FIND THE
EMAIL FOR THE COMMITTEE THERE AS
WELL. WE WILL BE USING A
MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE
THROUGH WHICH ANY WITNESS CAN
ADD THEIR POSITION TO A BILL ARE
CALLING NUMBER FOR ON SUPPORT
AND OPPOSITION IS 87769289. THE
PIN IS 131544. AGAIN. THAT
NUMBER IS 877692. AND THE PIN
NUMBER IS 1315444. ALL RIGHT. UM
. AND THEN THE OPERATOR ON THE
LINE WILL GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS
ON HOW TO BE PLACED IN THE QUEUE
BASED ON WHETHER YOU SUPPORT OR
OPPOSE THE BILL, IF YOU'RE
CALLING IN, PLEASE ELIMINATE ALL
BACKGROUND NOISE. THIS INCLUDES
MUTING YOUR LIVESTREAM BROADCAST
, AND YOU'RE SMART DEVICES TO
REDUCE DOWN ISSUES. IF YOU'RE
HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE
MODERATE PHONE SERVICE, YOU CAN
CALL MY CAPITAL OFFICE AT
916319203. AND STAFF WILL BE
THERE TO TRY TO HELP. THANK YOU
FOR UNDERSTANDING AS WE
IMPLEMENT METHODS TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA
AND A LOT OF GREATER ACCESS TO
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. FOR ALL
IN OUR STATE. UM I WOULD LIKE TO
APOLOGIZE FOR BEING IN MY SCRUBS
TODAY. I ACTUALLY JUST CAME
STRAIGHT FROM A MESS CASUALTY
TRAINING WITH THE EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY.
BECAUSE I'M STILL WORKING AS A
PHYSICIAN. UM, IT WAS A GREAT
MORNING WE GOT TO YOU KNOW,
LEARN HOW THE STATE CAN DO
BETTER IN PREPARING FOR DISASTER
EVENTS, SO RIGHT MORNING,
APOLOGIZE FOR BEING IN MY SCRUBS
TODAY. UM WITH THAT. LET'S CALL
THE ROLL TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
BEANS. HERE. TOP HERE. FOREST
PRESENT. HEANEY LU█N. PATERSON.
FRIENDS HERE. RUBIO. GREAT. SO
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A QUORUM.
ALRIGHT SO WE'LL START OFF WITH
THE HEARING OF A B 979
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALVAREZ. PLEASE
PRESENT YOUR BILL. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT
TO PRESENT A BILL TO THIS
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY ALSO WANTED TO START
OFF BY THANKING STAFF FOR THE
DILIGENT WORK GOING ABOVE AND
BEYOND. TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE
TODAY WITH THIS BILL FOR YOU. AS
MANY OF YOU KNOW, FAMILY
COUNCILS ARE ORGANIZED GROUPS OF
FAMILY MEMBERS. AND FRIENDS OF
LONG TERM CARE FACILITY
RESIDENTS WHO MEET REGULARLY TO
SHARE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS
CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF
CARE AT EACH OTHER FACILITIES.
FAMILY COUNCILS ARE ESSENTIAL TO
ENSURING THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS
PLAY CRITICAL ROLE IN
GUARANTEEING THAT ARE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS IN LONG TERM CARE
FACILITIES ARE RECEIVING THE
BEST CARE POSSIBLE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE LOCKDOWNS IN
THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US VERY
PAINFULLY THE NEED TO MODERNIZE
OUR FAMILY COUNCIL REGULATIONS
SO THAT THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO
FULFILL THEIR REPRESENTATIVE
ROLE. THIS BILL MODERNIZES
EXISTING FAMILY COUNCIL LAW SO
THAT MEMBERS CAN MEET AND
COMMUNICATE AND MORE EFFICIENT
WAYS AND THAT THEY CAN OPERATE
DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY. ABC 9 79 ALSO
STRENGTHENS THE FAMILY COUNCILS
ABILITY TO REPRESENT RESIDENTS
BY REQUIRING FACILITIES TO BE
MORE RESPONSIVE TO CONCERNS
RAISED BY FAMILY COUNCILS AND
DISCOURAGES OPERATORS. FROM
UNDERMINING FAMILY COUNCIL
ACTIVITIES. 89 79 ENJOYS NO
OPPOSITION, AND IN FACT, WE
WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH
FACILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR
CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED BEFORE
COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY. WITH
THAT ELECTION PRODUCE A WITNESS
FROM THIS SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES
FOR NURSING HOME REFORM. TONY
HOTEL. YOU GOT IT. WELCOME.
THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST OF
ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR REALLY
GREAT WORK ON THIS BILL WAS IT
WAS AWESOME. UM, LOTS OF WORK
AND UM. I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY
GREAT PRODUCT HERE. SO AS THE
MEMBER SAID, FAMILY COUNCILS ARE
AWESOME. UM THE PROBLEM IS,
THEY'RE SORT OF DELICATE. IT
REALLY REQUIRES FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE IN ADDITION TO TAKING
CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES, AND
MAYBE THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME,
HAVE THE TIME AND ENERGY TO
ADVOCATE FOR BETTER CONDITIONS
IN THE FACILITY, AND THAT'S
UNFORTUNATELY A LITTLE TOO RARE
FOR THEM TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ORGANIZE LIKE THIS, SO I WANT TO
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
FACILITATE THE FORMATION OF
FAMILY COUNCILS, THE MAINTENANCE
OF FAMILY COUNCILS. GOING BACK A
LITTLE WAYS. IN 2014. WE UPDATED
THE ASSISTED LIVING FAMILY
COUNCIL LAWS BUT DIDN'T ALIGN
THAT WITH THE NURSING HOME LOSS.
SO THERE WAS SOME DISSONANCE
THERE AND THEN IN 2016, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UPDATED SOME
NURSING HOME REGULATIONS. AND
AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME MISALIGNMENT
WITH WHAT'S REQUIRED IN THE
FEDERAL LAW AND STATE LAW. SO
WHAT KIND OF OVERDUE TO REVISIT
THIS? AND THEN COVID HAPPENED
AND WHAT WE LEARNED WAS SO MUCH
OF OUR STATE LAW IS PREDICATED
ON FAMILY COUNCILS HAVING
PHYSICAL SPACE PHYSICAL SPACE TO
MEET IN THE FACILITY, PHYSICAL
SPACE TO ANNOUNCE THEIR MEETINGS
AND POST BULLETINS AND ON AN
ACTUAL OLD SCHOOL BULLETIN BOARD
. WHAT THAT DIDN'T WORK DURING
THE TIME WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS
PROBABLY MOST NEEDED TO BE
BANDED TOGETHER. SO WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS MODERNIZED, MAKE
MAKE IT CERTAIN SO THAT THEY
CAN, UM, HAD THE ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE ELECTRONICALLY
VIRTUALLY MEET VIRTUALLY AND
SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT THEIR WORK
VIRTUALLY AND DO THE GREAT WORK
THAT FAMILY COUNCILS DO SO I
FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE
WITH THIS BILL, AND I REALLY
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE ANOTHER
GREAT ADVOCATE FOR LONG TERM
CARE. AND THAT'S BLANCA CASTRO
WITH A STATE LONG TERM CARE AND
BONDSMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. OKAY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, UM MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE AGING AND
LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE. AND
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ALVAREZ. THANK
YOU FOR THIS BILL. UM JUST WANT
TO SAY MY NAME IS BLANCA CASTRO
, STATE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
AND ON BEHALF OF THE 300,000
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A LONG TERM
CARE FACILITY ON ANY GIVEN DAY
HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE 1200
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND
ANOTHER 7000 RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES AND GROWING ALSO
KNOWN AS ASSISTED LIVING. UM I
JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE
OF THINGS. AND THAT IS THAT THE
ONLY THE ONE PRIMARY ROLE WE
HAVE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR
RESIDENTS BASED ON WHAT THEIR
WISHES ARE OR THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE. OR UM, THEY'RE
IDENTIFIED FAMILY. AND THE ONLY
TIME THAT FACILITIES REALLY FIND
THAT THEY NEED FAMILY COUNCILS.
UM AND WE ALSO I'M GOING TO
MENTION RESIDENT COUNCILS IN
THIS CASE, BUT THE ONLY TIME
THEY REALLY FIND THEY NEED HIM
AS ONE A FACILITY IS CLOSING. OR
WHEN THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR, UM,
SHIFT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST
RECENTLY IN CALIFORNIA
IMPLEMENTING MEDICAL AS A
MANAGED CARE FOR LONG TERM
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND OUR
SISTER AGENCY WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET
INFORMATION IN PERSON TO
RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT FORM.
RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE HAD
ABOUT 3000 RESIDENT COUNCILS
THAT WE WORKED WITH, SO ONE OF
OUR JOBS IS TO HELP ORGANIZE
THEM. AFTER THE PANDEMIC AS
RECENT AS 2021. THAT NUMBER WENT
DOWN TO ALMOST 1600. SO THERE
WAS A REAL CHALLENGE, EVEN JUST
GATHERING ONLINE AS AS MY
COLLEAGUE, TONY SAID, IS OPENED
UP A HUGE OPPORTUNITY. BUT I DO
WANT TO MENTION THAT IN THIS
BILL. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
ALSO RECOGNIZE RESIDENT COUNCILS
AND IF THERE IS A CONSIDERATION
TO AMEND IT TO ADD RESIDENT
COUNCILS, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL.
WE ARE STILL SUPPORTING A B 1979
AS WRITTEN, BUT WE WOULD LIKE
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THE LAST
POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT
WITH REGARD TO THESE, UM
ORGANIZED GROUPS, IT'S NOT JUST
THE BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES, ADMINISTRATORS
AND STAFF CAN HEAR FIRSTHAND.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
THAT THEY'RE HAVING, AND THEN
MITIGATE ANYTHING BEFORE IT GETS
OUT OF HAND. IT'S ALSO A GREAT
WAY TO CLARIFY SOME
MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT
OFTENTIMES HAPPEN. SO AGAIN ON
BEHALF OF ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO
ARE VOICELESS AT THIS POINT,
WE'RE URGING YOUR VOTE ON A B
8979 AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY
DELAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO IS
THERE ANYONE IN THE ROOM WHO
WISHES TO ADD ON IN SUPPORT?
THANK YOU. HI GOOD AFTERNOON.
JASON SULLIVAN HALPERN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA A LONG TERM CARE
OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. KAREN JONES WITH LONG
TERM CARE. OMBUDSMAN SERVICES OF
SILENCE, BESPOKE COUNTY ALSO IN
SUPPORT. HEATHER HARRISON WITH
THE CALIFORNIA ASSISTED LIVING
ASSOCIATION. I JUST WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR AND THE
SPONSORS AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF
FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ON THIS
BILL. AMBER KING WITH LEADING
AGE CALIFORNIA ALSO WANT TO
THANK THE AUTHOR, SPONSOR AND
COMMITTEE CONSULTANT FOR ALL
THEIR WORK ON THIS, BILL, THANK
YOU. JENNIFER SNYDER ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION,
HEALTH FACILITIES. I'M JUST
ECHOING, UM GREAT COMMITTEE WORK
. WE RAISED SOME CONCERNS, BOTH
WITH THE AUTHOR REALLY COMMEND
THE AUTHOR FOR HIS WILLINGNESS
TO WORK WITH US AND THE SPONSORS
. YOU KNOW WHEN FAMILY COUNCILS
UM WHEN THEY ARE GOOD, THEY'RE
REALLY GOOD. AND SO WE'RE
EXCITED TO SEE SOME SOME GOOD
CLEAN UP IN THE BILL THAT WE CAN
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
FAMILY COUNCILS TO WORK BETTER
AND NURSING FACILITIES. SO THANK
YOU TO EVERYBODY AND GETTING US
TO A GOOD PLACE. THANKS. THANK
YOU, SIR. ANYONE IN THE ROOM TO
A WISHING TO ADD ON AN
OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE. OPERATOR PLEASE OPEN THE
LINE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
, BUT LIMIT YOUR SUPPORT TO NAME
AND AFFILIATION ONLY AS A
REMINDER. OUR CALL NUMBER IS
877692895 AND THE PEN IS 1315444
. COMPLIMENTS IN SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT
THIS TIME. AND FIRST WE'LL HEAR
FROM WINE 12. GOOD AFTERNOON. U.
S MINT PALETTE ON BEHALF OF
JUSTICE AND AGING IN SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE
QUEUING UP ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.
WHILE WE PROVIDE THEM WITH LINE
NUMBERS. AND NOW WE'LL GO TO THE
LINE 10. YES DAVID FEINBERG
REPRESENT AARP. WE STAND THE
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. LINE 16.
DEVORA GONZALEZ, CURRENT LONG
TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IN
SUPPORT. AND LINE 15. MELODY
TAYLOR STARK. I AM A RESIDENT
DESIGNATED SUPPORT PERSONS FOR
TWO PEOPLE IN LONG TERM CARE AND
THE MEMBER OF ESSENTIAL
CAREGIVERS COALITION AND I AM IN
SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. OPERATORS
OR ANYONE IN OPPOSITION. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO VOICE OPPOSITION,
PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. WE
HAVE NO COMMENTS AND QUÊ, OKAY?
AND THEN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION
. WE ARE MOVING THE BILL. UM, AS
AS FOLLOW AS FOLLOWING UP WITH
THE AS THE ANALYSIS HAS WRITTEN
, BUT COMMIT MY STAFF TO
COORDINATING MEETINGS TO
CONSIDER MENDING AND RESIDENT
COUNCILS JUST WANT TO PICK THAT
THERE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON A B 979?
ALRIGHT SALVERS. WOULD YOU LIKE
TO CLOSE? JUST THANK YOU FOR
AGAIN TO STAFF AND TO EVERYBODY
WHO HAS WORKED ALONG THE WAY IN
ORDER TO MAKE THIS, UH POSSIBLE
AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A VOICE
FOR FAMILIES FOR THEIR LOVED
ONES. AND I ASKED FOR IVA. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
SALVERS I WANTED TO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SUCH A
WONDERFUL BUILT VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT ADVOCATING FOR YOUR
PATIENTS ADVOCATING FOR YOUR
LOVED ONES. NO ONE'S GOING TO DO
IT BETTER THAN YOU AND HAVING
MORE WAYS, UM FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO PARTAKE AND ALSO
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY.
IT'S EASIER TO PROVIDE THOSE
SERVICES. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES
WITH AGING, LONG TERM CARE
CULTURE GETS IN THE WAY AND
UNDERSTANDING AND HOW DO WE MOVE
THINGS ALONG? HOW TO HAVE FAMILY
CONFERENCES. SO EVERYBODY'S ON
THE SAME PAGE SO NOBODY FEELS
UNEASY. NOBODY FEELS LIKE THEIR
VOICE IS NOT HEARD. SO AS A
PHYSICIAN, I THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING THIS BILL TOGETHER. UM
ALL RIGHT, AND THEN I HAVE ALSO
BEEN INFORMED THAT YOUR STAFF
WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE
THE AMENDMENTS TAKEN LAST WEEK
OR REFLECTIVE OF ALL INTERESTS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK, AND
WE HAVE A MOTION BY SOME OF THE
RUBIO IN A SECOND BY SOME MEMBER
TÂM. UM THE MOTION BEFORE US IS
DO PASS THROUGH REFER TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BEANS I TOP ALL RIGHT. TÂM
ALVAREZ. AYE. HANEY. ONE. HI. I
PATERSON. GRAZE I RUBIO RUBIO
HIGH. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SIX
SIZE. UM THAT BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE. WE WILL BE LEAVING
IT OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. SOME
. SO WITH THAT KID'S FAMILY
MEMBER MAKIN ER, UM PLEASE
PRESENT YOUR BILL A B 1006.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS AND THANK THE CHAIR
AND HER STAFF FOR THE WORK ON
THE BILL ACROSS 21 REGIONS.
REGIONAL CENTERS, CALIFORNIA'S
DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES SERVES 370,000
CONSUMERS SERVICED BY 120,000
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.
DESPITE THIS INCREDIBLE REACH,
THERE'S STILL MANY BARRIERS TO
FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED OF
RESPITE SERVICES BOTH WITHIN AND
BEYOND THE D. D D S UNIVERSE,
DDS HAS STRUGGLED TO FULLY
REDUCE BARRIERS TO ACCESS
ACCESSING CARE, INCLUDING BEING
ABLE TO PAIR FAMILIES WITH
CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROVIDERS
AND REGIONAL CENTERS DO NOT ALL
OFFER CONSUMER DIRECT RESPITE, A
COST EFFECTIVE CARE OPTION THAT
ALLOWS FOR GREATER COMPLEMENT
COMPREHENSIVE CARE OPTIONS AT
HOME. FAMILY SUPERVISED LONG
TERM CARE FOR DISABLED AND
ELDERLY LOVED ONES BENEFITS FROM
HAVING ACCESS TO RESPITE AND
IMPORTANTLY, THEY BENEFIT FROM
HAVING SIMPLE WAYS OF GETTING
ACCESS TO SERVICES. WELL, I CAN
VOUCH FOR THIS PERSONALLY, I
WATCHED MY MOTHER AND MY AUNT
TAKE CARE OF MY 89 YEAR OLD
GRANDMOTHER FOR 10 YEARS. UM
THEY WORKED REALLY HARD EVERY
DAY. THESE ARE TWO RETIRED WOMEN
, SO THEIR ELDERLY WOMEN AS WELL
AND WE ALL WORKED SO WE CAN ONLY
GIVE SO MUCH HELP. THEY WOULD
HAVE REALLY BENEFITED FROM
HAVING RESPITE SERVICES TO TAKE
A TAKE A BREAK SO BECAUSE AS YOU
KNOW, MY HEALTH CARE RESPITE IS
A HEALTH CARE GIVER WHO STEPS IN
WHEN THE PRIMARY GIVER NEEDS A
BREAK. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE CAME
UP WITH A B 10 06. IT WILL
MANDATE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGING PARTNER OR CONTRACT WITHIN
ITS NO WRONG NO WRONG DOOR
PROGRAM WITH THE REFERRAL
REGISTRY THAT WILL MATCH
MEDICAID FUNDED CONSUMERS WITH
CULTURALLY COMPETENT RESPITE
PROVIDERS. MAINTAIN A REGISTRY
OF VETTED AND TRAINED RESPITE
PROVIDERS AND WORK WITHIN A
CONSUMER DIRECTED PROGRAM ENTITY
THAT WAS SERVED AS A CO EMPLOYER
TO RESPITE PROVIDERS. TODAY I
HAVE WITH ME RACHEL GONZALES
UNLESS TILL GIRL WHO IS AN IN
HOME SUPPORT SERVICE, PROVIDED
WHO IS IN NEED OF RESPITE. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY AND
ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECT
. CARE MY NAME IS RACHEL
GONZALES. I'M AN I H S S WORKER.
AND THAT LITTLE GIRL IN THE BACK
IS MY DAUGHTER GRACE GRACE IS 12
YEARS OLD. SHE HAS DOWN
SYNDROME. SHE HAS NONVERBAL.
SHE'S UNABLE TO BATHE HERSELF,
BRUSH YOUR TEETH OR PERFORM ANY
NORMAL, MENIAL TASKS THAT WE
TAKE FOR GRANTED BY HERSELF. UM
ACCORDING TO AARP'S 2020
CAREGIVING REPORT, MORE THAN ONE
IN FIVE AMERICANS 21.3% PROVIDES
CARE TO AN ADULT OR A DISABLED
CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT SOME
TIME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. 12
MONTHS. UM, YET IT'S HARD TO
FIND RESPITE CAREGIVERS VERSUS
SOMEONE WHO HAS THE SKILLS THEIR
CULTURAL CULTURALLY COMPETENT TO
PROVIDE A BREAK FOR FAMILY
CAREGIVERS WHO PROVIDE 24 HOUR
CARE. IT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT
FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. UM FOR
EXAMPLE, THOSE THAT LIVE IN
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES WHO TEND
TO BE DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE
OF COLOR ARE THEY HAVE LOWER AND
HAVE LOWER INCOMES ARE ASSUMED
TO HAVE UNPAID CAREGIVERS IN
THEIR HOME, SO THEY'RE OUR
ASSIGNMENT WILL BE LESS THAN
THAT OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT
LIVE IN A MULTI GENERATIONAL
HOME. OUR LEGISLATION WOULD
CREATE A REGISTRY TO HELP
CONSUMERS FIND THESE WORKERS. UM
THE BASICS, THE ECONOMIC AND
LOGISTIC BASICS OF CARING FOR MY
DAUGHTER IS OVERWHELMING. IT'S
ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING. I FOUND
OUT ABOUT ALTER REGIONAL IN 2018
. I HAD THE CHOICE OF FOUR OR
FIVE CAREGIVERS. I WAS
INTERVIEWING PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE
OF MY DAUGHTER. I AM NOW AT A
PLACE AFTER LOSING OUR WONDERFUL
PRIMARY CAREGIVING RESPITE
WORKER VERONICA, WHO WAS WITH ME
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UM, FIVE DAYS
A WEEK, THREE HOURS A DAY.
IMPORTANT TIME FOR ME AS A
PARENT. IMPORTANT IT NEVER STOPS
. I HAVE AN INFANT 24 HOURS A
DAY. I HAVE A NEWBORN IF YOU
HAVE CHILDREN, AND YOU LIVE THE
NEWBORN LIFE, YOU UNDERSTAND THE
DEMANDS THAT THAT PLACES ON A
FAMILY AND I'M A SINGLE PARENT.
SO WE LOST VERONICA. SHE MOVED
OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND I WAS
THROWN BACK INTO THE RESPITE
PROGRAM. I ATTEMPTED SDP, THE
SELF DETERMINATION PROGRAM WHERE
YOU ARE GIVEN THE FUNDS AND YOU
THEN GO OUTSIDE AND HIRE YOUR
OWN CAREGIVER. HOWEVER YOU MUST
JOIN A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
COMPANY AND THEY HAVE TO OVERSEE
YOUR FINANCES. I EMAILED AND
PHONED FOR A TOTAL OF SIX
MONTHS. EVERY SINGLE UM,
MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT WAS
GIVEN TO ME BY ALTER REGIONAL
AND DIDN'T RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
SO I WAS WITHOUT CARE FOR SIX
MONTHS. I THEN RETURNED TO THE
REGISTRY, AND I WAS GIVEN NO.
ONE TO INTERVIEW FOR FOUR
MONTHS. CALLING FREQUENTLY. NO
ONE WAS ABLE TO MEET MY
DAUGHTER'S NEEDS. SHE SIGNS USES
BASIC SIGN LANGUAGE. NO ONE WAS
ABLE TO MEET HER NEEDS. WE
FINALLY FOUND SARAH AND SARAH
WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK TODAY, BUT
SHE DOESN'T START UNTIL 3 30, SO
I HAD TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER OUT OF
SCHOOL FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE
DAY BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T
TRANSITION WELL, SO I CAN'T PICK
HER UP FROM SCHOOL AND BREAK HER
ROUTINE AND BRING HER HERE. I
HAD TO KEEP HER OUT OF SCHOOL
ALL DAY AND BRING YOUR HAIR AND
THEN TAKE HER HOME. UM YOU KNOW,
A B 10 06 IS SO IMPORTANT FOR
US. WE NEED IT. WE NEED YOUR
HELP. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. AND
THIS BILL OFFERS ME THE HELP
THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR TWO
YEARS NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME TODAY.
HMM. UM I ASKED THAT YOU, UM
HAVE A MOMENT. LISTEN WITH YOUR
OPEN MIND AND OPEN HEART. WORDS
MAY BE VERY TECHNICAL, BUT
HOPEFULLY YOU GET TO FEEL WHAT
I'M TRYING TO EXPRESS FOR YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF A B 10 06. THAT
PROVIDERS LIKE ME. AND MY NAME
IS DODD MARCHETTI. AND I CARE
FOR MY 21 YEAR OLD SON ABRAHAM,
WHOSE DOWN SYNDROME ABRAHAM IS A
LOVABLE KID, VIBRANT PERSONALITY
. HE'S AN AUTHOR. HE WAS NUMBER
ONE AMAZON FOR HIS BOOK FOR A
FEW WEEKS. HE'S A TV PERSONALITY
. HE'S PLAYED SPORTS FOR
OLYMPICS, BUT HE HAS SPECIFIC
CARES THROUGHOUT THE DAY THAT HE
NEEDS HELP WITH THAT YOU CAN'T
MAINTAIN AND TRAINING IS
NECESSARY TO SKILLS TO ENSURE
THAT ALL HE NEEDS ARE MET. RIGHT
NOW. I'M SUPER HAPPY AND
GRATEFUL THAT MY ACT IS HELPING
HIM. HOWEVER SHE WAS NOT THERE.
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE
SOMEBODY ELSE TO REPLACE THAT
POSITION. I'VE INTERVIEWED
SEVERAL PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.
AND AT THE BEGINNING WHEN WE DID
GET RESPECT OUT, HAVE PEOPLE
COME IN, BUT THEY WOULD BE FROM
CITIES FURTHER OUT. I LIVE IN
FREMONT. SO AFTER A WEEK OR TWO
THAT WOULD QUIT BECAUSE THE
DISTANCE AND THE RATE OF PAY
JUST DIDN'T MAKE UP AND THEN
FREMONT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
HIRE SOMEONE AT THAT RATE. UM
BUT EVEN WHEN HER SUPPORT WITH
ABRAHAM, I NEED TO HAVE ACCESS
TO REST, BUT WORK AND THE A B 10
06 WOULD ACTUALLY HELP TO
ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM. WE HAVE
TRIED TO USE CURRENT RESPITE
CARE SYSTEM AND AS I SAID IN THE
PAST, BUT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO FIND THE RISK BUT CAREGIVER
WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE
SPECIFIC CARE FOR ABRAHAM'S
NEEDS AND ARE WILLING TO DO THE
LOW WAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY
OFFERED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I THINK IMPORTANT RATE IS
IMPORTANT, DEFINITELY, BUT ALSO
TRAINING THAT PERSON TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
I BELIEVE WOULD RETAIN THEM IN
THE POSITIONS MUCH LONGER THAN
CURRENTLY WHAT IT IS, AND THIS
IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE LIST
OF PROVIDERS THAT I RECEIVED
FROM THE RESPITE CARE
NEIGHBORHOOD CITIES. UH, THEY
COME OUT WITH NO TRAINING AS I
WAS MENTIONING. SO MAYBE 10 06
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO UPLIFT THE
QUALITY OF CARE CONSUMERS WILL
RECEIVE BY ALLOWING PROVIDERS
AND CONSUMERS TO ENSURE US BUT
WORKERS ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT
BACKGROUND, CHECKED AND TRAINED.
AND I PREFER YOU BE IN YOUR
SCRUBS AND VOTE. YES, FOR US. NO
THANK YOU. MY SCRUBS ARE
POPULAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE
ROOM WHO WISHES TO ADD ON AND
SUPPORT.
I NEVER KNOW IF THIS THING IS ON
. KING COUNTY. I AM LIKE A JUST
AS PROVIDER. UM, I AYE. SOME
POINT. I KNOW THERE'S WORD IN
THERE. UM, UM MAYBE 10 06. MY
NAME IS TRACY HAMMOND. I'M FROM
MARYSVILLE. WHICH IS YOU BE
COUNTY. UM AND I SUPPORT A B 10
OF SIX. I ALSO HAVE A RESTAURANT
WORKER, THOUGH, AND IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE ONE. SO
THANK YOU. HI I'M KAREN. I'M I'M
FROM CARMICHAEL. UM I'M A
RESPITE WORKER AND I ACCEPT THE
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LESS TILL
DINNER. AND I AM IN SAN JOSE.
AYE. CARE FOR MY SON. HSS
PROGRAM. AND, UH, I TOTALLY
SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. UM DO WE HAVE
ANYTHING OPERATOR ONLINE AND
SUPPORT. FOR COMMENTS AND
SUPPORT. PLEASE PRESS SOME 10 AT
THIS TIME. AND FIRST WE'LL HEAR
FROM LINE. 10. FLYING 10. YOUR
MIC IS OPEN. DAVID FEINBERG,
AARP AND SUPPORTED THE BILL. AND
LINE 15. LINE 15. YOUR MIC IS
OPEN. ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS
COALITION AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. AND WE HAVE NO FURTHER
COMMENT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.
OPERATOR. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
OR COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION. YOU
MADE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. WE
HAVE NO COMMENT. THANK YOU.
MCKINNON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? OH SORRY. ANY COMMENTS
FROM THE COMMITTEE? YES. I JUST
WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR WORK IN
THIS SPACE. THANK YOU FOR
THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CARE
FOR OTHERS. AND THE TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
PERSONAL STORIES. OUTSIDE OF
WHAT THIS BILL ACCOMPLISHED.
JUST YOUR TESTIMONY. TODAY IS A
TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SERVICE SO
THAT THOSE WHO PERHAPS ARE
UNAWARE THAT, UM THIS TYPE OF
OPPORTUNITY MIGHT BE AVAILABLE
TO THEM. FOR THOSE WHO ARE
CARING FOR THEIR LOVED ONES AND
ALONG THE WAY, BY THE WAY,
SAVING OUR STATE A LOT OF MONEY
BY CARING FOR THEM, UM THEY
DESERVE THIS. AND SO I JUST
WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF YOUR
WORK AND YOUR ADVOCACY AND THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS. HMM. ALL
RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
THE LIBERAL BEGINNER? YES JUST
AS I WAS TELLING YOU THE STORY
ABOUT MY MOTHER AND MY
GRANDMOTHER WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER
PASSED AWAY ABOUT THREE YEARS
AGO, AND THOSE LAST TWO YEARS
WERE VERY, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
. AND WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
RESPITE WORKERS AND BOY I WISH
WE WOULD HAVE BECAUSE SOMETIMES
THE MY MOTHER AND MY AUNT JUST
NEEDED AN HOUR TO THEMSELVES TO
TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TAKING CARE OF THE
PEOPLE YOU LOVE YOUR ELDERLY
LOVED ONES. 24 HOURS A DAY. SO
WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU. UM
WE SHARE THE SAME STORY. AS
REMEMBER MCKENNA. I TOOK CARE OF
MY GRANDMA FIVE YEARS AGO AND
THINGS WENT SOUTH IN THE LAST
TWO YEARS AND I WAS IN RESIDENCY
. I WORKED ALL DAY IN RESIDENCY
, AND I WOULD HAVE TO COME HOME,
OFTENTIMES HAVING TO RESUSCITATE
HER. AS I WOULD ENTER HOME. SHE
HAD END STAGE LUNG DISEASE AND I
WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF CAREGIVERS. THEY NEED
A BREAK AND THEY NEED TO FEEL
SECURE AND THAT BREAK WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE PROPERLY TRAINED
SO THAT YOU CAN LITERALLY JUST
TAKE A BREAK AND FEEL THAT
EVERYTHING WILL BE TAKING CARE
OF. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS BILL. SUPER SUPER AMAZING
BILL. UM WHEN I FIRST STARTED
WORKING AT THE CURRENT REGIONAL
CENTER ON THE BOARD, THIS IS ONE
OF THE THINGS I HAD BROUGHT UP
TO INCREASE. THE RESPITE CARE IS
SOMETHING THAT I, AS THE BOARD
PRESIDENT HAD BROUGHT UP. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THIS. UM YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
THERE WERE AMENDMENTS REFERENCE
IN THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS. THANK
YOU FOR ACCEPTING. THE DATE
RELATED AMENDMENTS, AND WE DO
HAVE A MOTION BY REMEMBER TA AND
SEGMENT BY SOME REMEMBER ALVAREZ
. THE MOTION BEFORE US IS DO
PASS AS AMENDED. WE REFER TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL HER OFF.
PAINS. BEN'S EYE TO EYE ALVAREZ
. I HANEY HEANEY. I WON WHEN I
PATERSON. RED RAYS. I RUBIO
RUBIO. AYE. SEVEN EYES IS BILL
IS OUT. CONGRATULATIONS THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAISE. PLEASE
PRESENT YOUR BILL ON A B 13 OH,
NINE.
CHICKEN. COLD IN HERE. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS I
PRESENT AT 13 OH, NINE, WHICH
WILL PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION
FOR THOSE NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
WHO ARE BEING DISCHARGED OR
TRANSFERRED. I AM HAPPY TO
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS. AND I THINK YOUR
YOUR STAFF ARE WORKING WITH MY
STAFF AND WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS
TO MAKE IT A BETTER BILL. THE
BILL REQUIRES FACILITIES SEEKING
TO TRANSFER DISCHARGE A PATIENT
FROM A NURSING HOME TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
JUSTIFYING THE REASONING FOR
THIS UNDER CURRENT LAW, NURSING
HOMES ONLY NEED TO CHECK A BOX
AND ON THE DISCHARGE NOTICE TO
JUSTIFY THE REASON FOR DISCHARGE
. THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO
PROVIDE ANY DETAILS TO SUPPORT
ITS REASONING OVER 309,000
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS DISCHARGE
OR DISCHARGED EVERY YEAR AND
OFTENTIMES THEY ARE DONE WITH
INCOMPLETE NOTICE OR NO NOTICE
AT ALL. THE OMBUDSMAN RECEIVES
APPROXIMATELY 1400 COMPLAINTS
PER YEAR REGARDING NURSING HOME
DISCHARGES JUST IN 2018 NURSING
HOMES IN CALIFORNIA, HAVE BEEN
CITED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 1800
TIMES FOR DEFICIENT DISCHARGE
PRACTICES, 614 OF WHICH WERE
SPECIFICALLY TIED TO DEFECTIVE
DISCHARGE NOTICES. A B 13 OH,
NINE IS INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE
FACILITIES FROM PURSUING
UNWARRANTED DISCHARGES. PROMPT
RESIDENTS TO APPEAL THEIR
DISCHARGE. IF THEY FEEL THE
DISCHARGE WAS IN, JUST AND
ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF RESIDENT
APPEALS. HERE TO TESTIFY AND
SUPPORT OUR TONY CHIPOTLE, WHO
WAS A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING
HOME REFORM AND BLANCA CASTRO
FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LONG
TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN. HI. GOOD
AFTERNOON AGAIN. TONY CHICKEN
TOE WITH CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES
FOR NURSING AND REFORM. UM.
REMOVED FROM THE SORT OF WARM
AND FUZZY WORLD OF FAMILY
COUNCILS TO THE SOMETIMES
PRICKLY WORLD OF NURSING HOME
DISCHARGES AND EVICTIONS AGAIN.
UH COMMEND THE STAFF. THE
COMMITTEE STAFF ARE WORKING WITH
US AND THE AND THE STAKEHOLDERS
ON THIS BILL. WE'VE GOT SOME
AMENDMENTS. I THINK THEY WILL BE
COMING ALONG. SOON THAT I THINK
ACTUALLY IMPROVED THE BILL MAKE
IT STRONGER FOR RESIDENT
PROTECTIONS. UM AS THE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SAID EVICTIONS
ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN
NURSING HOMES, AND A LOT OF IT'S
MOTIVATED BY FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS. UM AS RESIDENTS
MEDICARE COVERAGE WHEN THEY COME
IN 95 96% OF THE TIME. PAYS A
PRETTY HIGH RATE DAILY RATE. BUT
THE CLOCK IS TICKING. YOU GET UP
TO 100 DAYS OF COVERAGE AND SOME
MOST OF THE TIME. IT'S A LOT
LESS. AND AT THAT POINT, THE
RATE OF REIMBURSEMENT GOES WAY
WAY DOWN, SO THERE'S SOME
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO MOVE
RESIDENTS ALONG MAYBE BEFORE
THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE
COMPLETELY READY. THE LAW HAS A
LOT OF PROTECTIONS IN THESE
SITUATIONS. THE DISCHARGES ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE VERY DELIBERATIVE
, COLLABORATIVE, THOUGHTFUL,
ULTIMATELY SAFE. BUT BEING THIS
RUSH SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK
OUT THAT WAY. SO WHAT WE'VE
TRIED TO DO IS TAKE
DOCUMENTATION OF THE NURSING
HOMES ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO
PREPARE THAT. EXPLAIN WHAT THE
DISCHARGE PLAN IS. AND GET THAT
TO THE RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY
HAVE ONE. THEY HAVE SOME NOTICE
ABOUT WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT
THEM, BUT TO THEY HAVE SOME
POTENTIAL. INFORMATION THAT
COULD BE USEFUL FOR THEM IF THEY
FEEL THAT THEY WANT TO RESIST
THE DISCHARGE AND EXERCISE THEIR
APPEAL RIGHTS, SO THIS WILL GIVE
THEM DEFINITELY A LEG UP IN
TERMS OF TRANSITIONING AND ON
ALSO, UM, STAYING LONGER IF THEY
FEEL THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO, AND GET THAT INFORMATION
IN FRONT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW JUDGE ANOTHER THING IS THAT
THIS BRINGS A NURSING HOME
RESIDENTS AND IN LINE WITH WHAT
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
RESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE, WHICH IS
SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS THAT
BACK UP THE REASON TO GIVE THEM
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR THEM GOING
FORWARD. SO WITH THAT REALLY
APPRECIATE, AND I VOTE ON A B 13
OH, NINE. THANK YOU. AGAIN
BLANCA CASTRO STATE LONG TERM
CARE OMBUDSMAN. UM AND I'M NOT
GOING TO REPEAT WHAT HAS ALREADY
BEEN SAID. BUT IF I MAY JUST
TELL YOU A BRIEF STORY, UM, BUT
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE IS ILL
INFORMED OR EVICTED WITHOUT
PROPER CARE PLANNING AND I'M
GOING TO CALL HIM MARIO. AND HE
IS 70 YEARS OLD. UM HE ONLY
SPEAKS SPANISH AND WAS IN A
LARGE SCALE NURSING FACILITY
RECUPERATING FROM A HIP. UM,
SURGERY. THE FACILITY WAS TRYING
TO REDUCE THEIR SENSES AS PART
OF A MULTI MULTIPLE NON
COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH THE FEDS
AND STATE LICENSING. SO MARIO
WAS NOTIFIED TWO DAYS BEFORE HE
WAS DROPPED OFF BY THE SNIFF
STAFF. AT WHAT THEY CALL A
NAVIGATION CENTER, BUT IT'S
REALLY A HOMELESS SHELTER. UM
MARIO, UM, WAS THERE AND
CONTACTED THE OMBUDSMAN? UM WE
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MARIO.
WE WORKED WITH A SOCIAL WORKER
WHO IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WAS
ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH HIM AND
TRY TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING.
MARIO WAS MOST UPSET BECAUSE HE
WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE HIS
THERAPY SESSIONS AND THE WALKER
HE USED WAS DIFFICULT TO
MANEUVER AT THE HOMELESS
SHELTER. HE ALSO DID NOT HAVE
HIS GUITAR. OR THE TOOLS THAT HE
USES FOR DRAWING AND PAINTING,
WHICH ARE HIS FAVORITE
ACTIVITIES. IT TOOK NINE MONTHS.
TO FINALLY IDENTIFY AS SECURE
AND SMALL, INDEPENDENT LIVING
HOME ON THE GROUND FLOOR BECAUSE
OF THE DEDICATION OF A SOCIAL
WORKER AND OMBUDSMAN TEAM, SO
MARIO NOW LIVES ALONE WITH
SUPPORT SERVICES AND THE
COMMUNITY. AND HE SHARED HIS
EXCITEMENT WITH US LETTING US
KNOW THAT NOW HE'S GOING TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE HEALTHY MEALS FOR
HIMSELF, AND HE'S GOING TO ENJOY
PLAYING HIS GUITAR. I ALSO WANT
TO SHARE THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING
A TREND IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES OR
CONVERTING INTO MENTAL HEALTH
FACILITIES, AND THEY'RE NOT
PROVIDING ADEQUATE DISCHARGE,
PLANNING OR NOTIFICATION TO
RESIDENTS. SO WE REALLY NEED A B
13 09 TO IMPROVE DOCUMENTATION
THAT SHOULD BE REQUIRED WHEN IT
FACILITY DECIDES TO DISCHARGE A
RESIDENT. THERE ARE VALID
REASONS, BUT WHEN WE GET
INVOLVED, WE FIND THAT THE
REASON GIVEN IS NOT ACCURATE,
AND WHEN WE REVIEWED THE
DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAL
RECORDS AND ACTUALLY SPEAK TO
THE RESIDENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE.
WE FIND THAT THEY CAN STAY OR
THEY SHOULD STAY. SO WE URGE
YOUR EYE BOAT ON A B 13. OH,
NINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE
ROOM WHO WISHES TO ADD ON IN
SUPPORT? HELLO JASON SULLIVAN
HALPERN WITH THE CALIFORNIA LONG
TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN ASSOCIATION
AND SUPPORT. HI KAREN JONES.
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
SERVICES OF SAN ELIZABETH SPOKE
COUNTY AND SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, LISA COLEMAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
AND SUPPORT. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION. NOT IN OPPOSITION
JUST JENNIFER SNYDER ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION.
HEALTH FACILITIES WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR STAFF AND THE
COMMITTEE FOR WORKING WITH US ON
THE AMENDMENTS AND THINK IT
REALLY MAKES IT MUCH BETTER
BILL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEEING NO OTHER OPPOSITION THAT
LAST ONE WAS IN SUPPORT. UM
OPERATOR ANYONE IN SUPPORT
ONLINE? OR COMMENTS AND SUPPORT
. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME.
AND FIRST WE'LL GO TO LINE 20.
GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.
YES MEAN PELLET ON BEHALF OF
JUSTICE AND AGING IN SUPPORT.
LINE. 16. SORRY LINE 10. DAVID
FEINBERG, AARP AND SUPPORTED THE
BILL. LINE 15. DETAILERS STARK,
ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS COALITION
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. LINE 16.
HELLO. HELLO. YOUR MIC IS OPEN.
DEVORA GONZALEZ. CURRENT
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM ABSOLUTELY IN
SUPPORT. AND LINE FIVE. KIND OF
BEING ANICETO WITH IMPAIRED
AGING AND SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE
ONE MORE PERSON QUEUING UP ONE
MOMENT, PLEASE. WHILE WE PROVIDE
THEM WITH THEIR LINE NUMBER. I'M
SORRY WE LOST HIM. THERE ARE NO
FURTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU. OPERATOR. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION? FOR COMMENTS AND
OPPOSITION. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT
THIS TIME. AND WE HAVE NO
COMMENTS. THANK YOU. OPERATOR
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE
ON A B? 13? OH, NINE. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE DELIVERY? YES I AS
WE KNOW, UH, NURSING HOME
RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY INVOLVED
IN A VULNERABLE POSITION. I
THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
PROTECT THEM WHEN THEY'RE GOING
TO BE DISCHARGED. SOME PEOPLE
CALL IT AN EVICTION, BUT IT'S A
DISCHARGE OR TRANSFER. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THEM
WITHOUT I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SOMETHING WE RAISE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH AGAIN FOR THIS MEASURE
PARTY BETWEEN R C OF E Z AND
SNIFFS RELATING TO DISCHARGE AND
TRANSFER PLANNING IS COMMON
SENSE. UM, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
THERE WERE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
DEVELOPED LAST WEEK AND WERE
AGREED UPON YESTERDAY
REFERENCING COMMITTEE ANALYSIS.
THEY REFERENCED THE
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN
YOUR STAFF. COMMITTEE STAFF C A.
N H R AND C CHECK. THANK YOU FOR
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. SO AND
THEN WE DO HAVE A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TOSS. SECONDED
BY SOME MEMBER UH ALVAREZ. THE
MOTION BEFORE US IS DO PASS AS
AMENDED, AND WE REFER TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BEANS BEANS. I TA I ALVAREZ
ALVARO'S I HATE ME. I WHEN I
PATERSON. RAISE RAISE I RUBIO
RUBIO. SEVEN ISES FILLS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
SUDDENLY MEMBER ORTEGA? YEP ALL
THE PRESENT YOUR BILL ON A B 13
13. CALLED IN HERE. IT'S
FREEZING. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
AND MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT A B 13 13 BEFORE YOU
ALL TODAY. FIRST I WANT TO START
BY THANKING THE CHAIR AND THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK
ON THIS MEASURE, AND I AGREE
WITH THE AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDED
IN THE ANALYSIS. A B 13 13 WOULD
ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM
ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING C D. A TO
EXPAND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS TO
MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC STABILITY. CDVA LACKS
PROPER FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE
RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION OF
OLDER CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY
LOW INCOME SENIORS WHO NEED
COMMUNITY BASED, SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY THESE
PROGRAMS ARE ONLY FUNDED WITH
FEDERAL FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS
ACT FUNDING THAT HAS REMAINED
ESSENTIALLY FLAT FOR THE PAST
DECADE. AND THE STATE OFFERS NO
MATCHING FUNDS. THIS LACK OF
SUPPORT HAS LED TO ECONOMIC
INSECURITY FOR OLDER ADULT
HOUSEHOLDS IN CALIFORNIA,
RESULTING IN HIGH RISK FOR
REPEAT HOSPITALIZATIONS, FALLS
DEPRESSION ANXIETY, HOUSING LOSS
AND HOMELESSNESS. CASE
MANAGEMENT AND VISITING PROGRAMS
ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND
IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES AND
PREVENTING CRISIS AMONG SENIORS.
BY EXPANDING THE SERVICES.
CALIFORNIA CAN HELP REDUCE THE
RISK OF NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES
FOR OLDER ADULTS AND IMPROVE
THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
TODAY I HAVE TESTIFYING WITH ME
PULLING DIRECTOR OF AGING AND
ADULT SERVICES WITH MARINE
COUNTY AND WE HAVE WENDY
PETTERSSON FOR THE SENIOR
SERVICES COALITION OF MY COUNTY,
ALAMEDA COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY. UM YES,
SENIOR-SERVICES-FOOD-BANKS-AND-MORE
COUNTY REPRESENTS 45
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE OLDER
ADULTS. UM THE FLAT FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM AND NO STATE FUNDING
THAT THERE'S SOME WOMEN WERE
TALKED ABOUT. UM, IT REALLY HAS
RESULTED IN FEWER CLIENTS BEING
SERVED IN CALIFORNIA WITH EACH
PASSING YEAR. AND THIS JUST
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IN IN OUR
COUNTY. UM THE FASTEST GROWING
SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION IS
PEOPLE AGED 65 OLDER AGE 85
OLDER, EVEN FASTER. UM. THE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND
MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IS
INCREASING. AS THE POPULATION IS
AGING, IT HAS BECOME POORER. IN
OUR COUNTY AND IN CALIFORNIA,
ALMOST 40% OF PEOPLE AGED 65
OLDER, UM, ARE LIVING BELOW THE
CALIFORNIA ELDER INDEX. UM AND
THIS IS DRIVING INCREASING
NUMBERS OF OLDER ADULTS, UM, WHO
ARE BECOMING HOUSING AND FOOD
INSECURE. THESE TRENDS ARE
INCREASING THE NEED FOR CASE
MANAGEMENT AND ESPECIALLY AMONG
OLDER ADULTS WHO DON'T NEATLY
FIT INTO THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA OF OTHER PROGRAMS. UM
CASE MANAGEMENT IS OFTEN THE
GLUE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE
WORK. UM NAVIGATING, COMPLEX AND
FRAGMENTED SYSTEMS, ENSURING
THAT MEDICAL CARE ACTUALLY
HAPPENS. CONNECTING CLIENTS WITH
COVERAGE AND BENEFITS AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. UM AND
HELPING TO BUILD OR RECONNECT
FAMILY AND FRIENDS. UM INSTEAD
OF TALKING MORE, I THINK I WANT
TO SHARE A CLIENT'S STORY THAT
WAS GIVEN TO ME BY A CASE
MANAGER AT A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IN MY COUNTY. UM,
SHE WRITES MR M IS 72 BLIND AND
HAS HEALTH ISSUES. WHEN WE FIRST
MET HIM HE WAS HOMELESS.
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING AS HE
WAS FEARFUL OF DANGER, GIVEN HIS
BLINDNESS AND BEING ASIAN. WE
HELPED HIM GET ON MEDICAL. I
JUST S CAL FRESH INTO LOW INCOME
HOUSING. BERKELEY RIDES MEALS ON
WHEELS, A FRIENDLY VISITOR. WE
WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH HIS HSS,
WORKER AND DEPARTMENT MANAGER AS
NEEDED, COMPLETE REQUIRED
PAPERWORK. YOU CAN FILL IN ANY
BLANKS. WE PROBABLY DO IT. MR M
NOW FEEL SAFE. HIS LIVING
CONDITION IS SECURE, IS HSS
WORKER IS CARRYING AND
DEPENDABLE. HE HAS REGULAR
MEDICAL CARE, AND HIS FRIENDLY
VISITOR IS NOW A GOOD FRIEND OF
10 YEARS. OUR COALITION IS
EXCITED ABOUT A B 13 13 AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE
POWER IMPACT OF THE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. UM, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR BAINES AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
APOLOGIES TO THOSE WHO MY BACK
IS FACING YOU OKAY? THANK YOU.
LEAVE POLAND, KERRY COUNTY OF
MORAN AND IN MARIN OVER OVER 30%
OF OUR POPULATION IS OVER AGE 60
OR MORE, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL
DEFINITION OF OLDER AMERICANS.
7% OF THEM ARE LIVING AT THE
FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND NEARLY
ONE QUARTER OR IN THE ECONOMIC
GAP, MEANING THEY DON'T QUALIFY
FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. BUT DON'T
HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THINGS SUCH
AS HOME REPAIRS, CAREGIVING OR
CASE MANAGEMENT. IT'S A SIMILAR
SITUATION IN SONOMA COUNTY,
WHERE 28% OF RESIDENTS ARE OVER
THE AGE OF 60 AGAIN, SEVEN PLUS
PERCENT LIVING AT THE FEDERAL
POVERTY LEVEL WITH 30% THERE IN
THE ECONOMIC GAP, SO IN NEITHER
COUNTY DO WE HAVE SERVICES
SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THOSE
RESIDENTS IN NEED, ESPECIALLY
THOSE IN THE ECONOMIC GAP? AS
YOU KNOW, WITHOUT SUPPORT AND
ILLNESS, RELATIONSHIP LOSS,
COGNITIVE ISSUE OR OTHER
STRESSORS CAN BE DESTABILIZING.
SUCH IMPAIRMENTS CAN HAMPER
ONE'S ABILITY TO AFFORD AND
MANAGED CARE. AND THIS IS
ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN ONE SPOUSE
DIES AND THE OTHER IS LEFT TO
MANAGE ON ONE'S OWN. CASE
MANAGEMENT WOULD ASSESS THE
PERSON'S SITUATION. DEVELOP A
PLAN, COORDINATE WITH ANY FAMILY
OR PROFESSIONALS AND FOLLOW UP
ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS LEVEL
OF SUPPORT, IMPROVES HEALTH
OUTCOMES AND REDUCES THE COST OF
A NURSING HOME OR ASSISTED
LIVING. THIS WOULD BE A
SUBSTANTIAL HELP FOR SOMEONE
LIKE MS GUTIERREZ, NOT HER REAL
NAME, BUT A REAL SITUATION. SHE
IS 64 YEARS OLD. BLIND IN HER
LEFT EYE. NEARLY BLIND IN HER
RIGHT EYE IS INSULIN DEPENDENT
OXYGEN DEPENDENT AND HAS
RECENTLY HAD A FOOT AMPUTATION.
SHE CANNOT MANAGE INDEPENDENTLY
, AND SHE CYCLES IN AND OUT OF
THE HOSPITAL WITH BRIEF,
INTERMITTENT HOME HEALTH WHEN
SHE RETURNS, HER INCOME DOES NOT
QUALIFY HER FOR MEDICAL BUT DOES
NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR HER TO
HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP WITH CARE
COORDINATION. YOU'VE HEARD TODAY
SHE MUST RELY ON FAMILY, BUT
THEY, TOO HAVE THEIR OWN LIFE
DEMANDS. AND OR FINANCIALLY
UNDER RESOURCED AND CANNOT PAY
FOR A CASE MANAGER FOR MISS
GUTERRES. MY OFFICE HAS HAD SIX
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
REPORTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
ALLEGING SELF NEGLECT. BUT MISS
GUTIERREZ IS NOT SELF NEGLECTING
. RATHER SHE AND HER FAMILY ARE
OVERWHELMED. BUT IMAGINE IF SHE
HAD A CASE MANAGER TO COORDINATE
MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS
, SHE WOULD LIKELY HAVE A BETTER
QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER HEALTH
OUTCOMES IN THE STATE. COULD
MITIGATE FUTURE COST OF
INSTITUTIONAL CARE. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF
SUPPORTING A CASE MANAGEMENT
DEMONSTRATION TO HELP THE LIVES
OF OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN
OUR COUNTY'S THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE ROOM
WHO WISHES TO ADD ON IN SUPPORT?
IS HE SWINDLER RASHAYA TOWER AND
HE SMELLS ARE LYING ON PATHE
CINEMA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, LISA COLEMAN WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
IN SUPPORT. MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS MONICA MILLER ON BEHALF
OF ALAMEDA COUNTY AND SUPPORT ON
AND RESPONSE. ONE OF THE CO
SPONSORS. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE OPERATOR ANYONE IN
SUPPORT ONLINE. FOR COMMENTS AND
SUPPORT. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT THIS
TIME. AND WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM
LINE 15. MELODY TAYLOR'S STORK
DARK I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL, AND I STRONGLY SUGGEST
THAT IT INCLUDE LONG TERM CARE,
PARTICULARLY SKILLED NURSING,
WHERE CASE MANAGEMENT IS SORELY
LACKING. THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE
ONE MORE COMMENT COMING THROUGH.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM LINE 19.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE BLIND 19
DROPS. THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS. OPERATOR. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION. FOR COMMENTS AND
OPPOSITION. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT
THIS TIME. AND WE HAVE NO
COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON A B 13 13? ALL
RIGHT. FAMILY MEMBER TAKE. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? YES THANK YOU
AGAIN TO THE CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
STAFF. FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS
BILL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. THANK YOU AS A MEMBER TO
GO. THANK YOU. FOR THIS MEASURE.
YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. THERE WERE
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE REFERENCED
IN THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS THAT
SUNSET THIS PILOT AND HAVE
YEARLY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE
COMMITTEE'S AMENDMENTS. UM WHILE
I ALWAYS RAISED MY VOICE, AS WE
ALL KNOW, FOR CURRENT COUNTY I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THREE
COUNTIES CHOSEN, UM, SO BECAUSE
OF THEIR ABILITY TO QUICKLY PUT
CASE MANAGEMENT INTO ACTION. AH
BUT AS A RESIDENT IN A SEVERELY
UNDERSERVED COUNTY, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE NEED ACROSS THE
STATE FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS FOR
CASE MANAGEMENT. AND WHAT ARE
YOU THOSE IN THE UNDERSERVED,
UNDERSERVED COUNTIES NEED THE
ASSISTANCE MOST. SO THANK YOU
GUYS FOR THIS. WE DO HAVE
EMOTION BY SOMEONE MEMBER. TOSS
SECOND ADVICE. I'M A MEMBER
ALVAREZ. THE MOTION BEFORE US IS
DO PASS AS AMENDED AND REFERRED
TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
BEANS BEEN TALK TOP. I ALVAREZ
ALL THOSE I HANEY. HEANEY I
BLEND WHEN I PATERSON. RAISE I
RUBIO RUBIO. AYE. SEVEN EYES OUT
. CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
WOULD THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
ALL THE WAY FROM THE HEALTH
COMMITTEE. IF YOU LIKE TO PLEASE
PRESENT YOUR BILL ON A B 14 17.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STROLL ACROSS THE
STREET AND GET A LITTLE
EXERCISE. UM PLEASURE TO PRESENT
A B 14 17, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU
AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU. UM
MANDATED REPORTERS, AND THE
PROTECTION THEY PROVIDE ARE
CRITICAL TO THE STATE SAFETY OF
CALIFORNIA'S MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES. STUDIES SHOW THAT
OLDER ADULTS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY VICTIMS OF
ABUSE, FINDING THAT AT LEAST ONE
IN 10, OLDER ADULTS AND
COMMUNITY LIVING SITUATIONS
EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF ABUSE
IN THE PRIOR YEAR. ELDER ABUSE
IS ALSO CHRONICALLY UNDER
REPORTED ROBBERY INCIDENT
REPORTED. IT'S ESTIMATED NEARLY
24 CASES REMAIN UNDISCLOSED.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY
SUCH ABUSES NOT MORE WIDELY
REPORTED OUR STATE'S CURRENT
MANDATED REPORTING PROCESS FOR
ELDER ABUSE IN LONG TERM CARE
FACILITIES UNDENIABLY ADDS TO
THE PROBLEM. THE TIMELINES FOR
REPORTING LIST OF AGENCIES TO
WHICH THE REPORTS MUST BE
SUBMITTED AND REQUIRED REPORTING
METHODS DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE
TYPE OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THE
COMPLEX PROCESS CREATES
CONFUSION FOR MANDATED REPORTERS
AND CAN INADVERTENTLY RESULT IN
NONCOMPLIANCE AND DELAYS IN
REPORTING. MAYBE 14 17 WILL
REQUIRE MANDATED REPORTERS TO
FOLLOW A SIMPLIFIED, STREAMLINED
AND TIMELY PROCESS REPORTING
PROCESS BY MAKING THE PROCESS
EASIER TO FOLLOW AND REQUIRED
REPORTS BE SUBMITTED IN A TIMELY
MANNER. THE BILL WILL ENSURE
THAT RESIDENTS OF LONG TERM CARE
FACILITIES HAVE THE SAME
PROTECTIONS AGAINST ELDER ABUSE
AS PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN THEIR
OWN HOMES. HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT, OR JASON SULLIVAN AL
HALPERN OF THE CALIFORNIA LONG
TERM CARE OF OMBUDSMAN
ASSOCIATION, AND KAREN JONES OF
THE LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
SERVICES OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WOULD THANK YOU
. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MY NAME IS
JASON SULLIVAN HALPERN AND I'M,
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS ALCOA
, AND WE ARE THE PROUD SPONSORS
OF A B 14 17. ALCOA REPRESENTS
ALL 35 OF THE LOCAL LONG TERM
CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAMS ACROSS
THE STATE. THOSE PROGRAMS, STAFF
AND VOLUNTEERS NOT ONLY ADVOCATE
FOR RESIDENTS WITH COMPLAINTS
AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES,
BUT THEY ALSO INVESTIGATE EVERY
REPORT OF ELDER AND DEPENDENT
ADULT ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN LONG
TERM CARE FACILITIES. CALIFORNIA
ARGUABLY HAS THE MOST COMPLEX, A
LOGICAL AND PROTECTED REPORTING
PROCESS IN THE NATION. REPORTERS
MUST FOLLOW DIFFERENT TIMELINES
AND REPORT TO DIFFERENT
AGENCIES, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE
OF ABUSE. AND THE SAME TYPE OF
ABUSE CAN EVEN BE REPORTED IN
MULTIPLE WAYS. IN SOME INSTANCES
, THE ABUSE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE
TO BE REPORTED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT AT ALL. AND THIS CAN
PUT RESIDENTS IN THE AGE. MAYBE
14 17 WILL SIMPLIFY THE MANDATED
REPORTING PROCESS WITHOUT
CREATING ANY NEW MANDATES. IT
WILL ENSURE CALIFORNIA SYSTEM IS
MORE IN LINE WITH CURRENT
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
FEDERALLY FUNDED FACILITIES, AND
IT WILL SPEED UP THE TIMELINES
FOR REPORTING ABUSE. IN MOST
CASES, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WE
SHOULDN'T WAIT TO REPORT ABUSE.
WE SHOULDN'T MAKE THE PROCESS
ANY MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT HAS
TO BE. FOR A WHILE INTENTIONED,
MANDATED REPORTERS WORKING IN
FACILITIES FOR THESE REASONS. WE
STRONGLY URGE YOUR I VOTE. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. HELLO MY NAME IS
KAREN JONES AND I RUN THE LONG
TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IN
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. I'VE
BEEN A COORDINATOR FOR THAT
PROGRAM FOR 24 YEARS. I'M ALSO
THE TREASURER FOR THE ALCOA. SO
BEEN AROUND THIS LITTLE BLOCK A
FEW TIMES. I'M SEEKING YOUR I
VOTE FOR A B 14 17. IT'S A BILL
THAT WILL MAKE IT A LOT EASIER
FOR MANDATED REPORTERS TO
CORRECTLY REPORT ABUSE THAT
OCCURS IN CARE FACILITIES. IT
DOES NOT CREATE A NEW MANDATE.
THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW TWO WAS
CREATED TO RESOLVE FEDERAL AND
STATE OMBUDSMAN CONSENT ISSUES.
WE REQUIRE CONSENT FROM THE
VICTIM OR THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO GET
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT
SYSTEM REQUIRES MANDATED
REPORTERS TO USE VERY SUBJECTIVE
JUDGMENT TO DETERMINE HOW AND
WHEN TO REPORT ABUSE AND TO WEAR
UM, THIS CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT
FAIR TO MANDATE A REPORTER'S
BECAUSE IT LEAVES THEM
VULNERABLE BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY
TO MAKE A MISTAKE IN THAT
SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT, EVEN WITH A
VERY COLORFUL FLOW CHART THAT IS
JUST OBNOXIOUSLY CRAZY. UM IT'S
NOT FAIR TO THE RESIDENTS,
EITHER, BECAUSE THESE BRANDED
REPORTERS WANT TO REPORT
CORRECTLY. IT'S JUST NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE, AND WE NEED TO FIX
THAT. THE CURRENT SYSTEM WAS
CREATED TO DEAL WITH OUR CONSENT
ISSUE, AND NOW WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT ACTUALLY
A WORKABLE SYSTEM. SO GRATEFULLY
ACCEPT YOUR VOTE AND I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE IN
THE ROOM WISHING TO ADD ON AND
SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, LISA
COLEMAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING AND AS ONE
WHO WORKED ON THAT COLOR FOR
FLOW CHART AGREE. IT'S TIME FOR
IT TO BE UPDATED AND ASKED FOR
YOUR I BET BLANCA CASTRO STATE
LONG TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN AND WE
SUPPORT IT. TONY CHICKEN TAIL
FOR A CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR
NURSING HOME REFORM AND SUPPORT.
JOSHUA DEBATE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA CONTINUING CARE
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE OPERATOR
ANYONE IN SUPPORT ONLINE.
COMMENTS AND SUPPORT. PLEASE
PRESS 10 AT THIS TIME. AND A
LINE 20. PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON, YASMIN PELLET ON
BEHALF OF JUSTICE AND AGING IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. LINE 15.
MELODY TAYLOR STARK POTENTIAL
CAREGIVERS COALITION IN SUPPORT.
LINE 16. THAT AFTERNOON, THE BAR
GONZALEZ CURRENT LONG TERM CAROL
BUTTON PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT.
LINE 17. FARNHAM WITH EMPOWERED
AGING IN SUPPORT. ANYWAY, UM,
LINE 24. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS
LIBBY ANDERSON, DIRECTOR OF THE
ORANGE COUNTY LONG TERM CARE
OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM IN STRONG
SUPPORT. THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. OPERATOR.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION. ONLINE.
FOR COMMENT FOR COMMENTS AND
OPPOSITION. PLEASE PRESS 10 AT
THIS TIME. WE HAVE NO COMMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON
A B 14 17? AWESOME.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? JUST LIKE JUST TO
COMMENT. I HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN I
HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WAS
QUITE FRANKLY SURPRISED. I'M A
MANDATED REPORTER AS A DENTIST.
YOU AS A PHYSICIAN, AND I KNOW
THERE ARE THERE ARE OTHERS IN
THE ROOM HERE AS WELL. AND I
DIDN'T IMAGINE TEACHERS. YES
EXACTLY. I NEVER IMAGINED IT WAS
SO DIFFICULT TO DO THE RIGHT
THING. UM BUT APPARENTLY IT IS.
SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO CHANGE
THAT. AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR EYE BOAT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH SOUL MEMBER WOULD I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU DEEPLY
FOR THIS. YOU DEFINITELY HAVE MY
SUPPORT, AND I AGREE. I MEAN,
EVEN AS AS A PHYSICIAN TRYING TO
REPORT IS SO HARD, ESPECIALLY, I
REMEMBER WHEN COVID FIRST HIT
THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WERE
COMING IN THE DOMESTIC ABUSE
CASES AND NEGLECT THAT WE'RE
JUST SKYROCKETING, ESPECIALLY IN
RURAL AREAS. I HAD CPS ON SPEED
DIAL, AND OFTEN TIMES THEY WERE
SUFFERING HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
ISSUES, UM, TRYING TO JUST GET
SOMEONE ON THE LINE WAS SO
DIFFICULT SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
HOW DIFFICULT IT IS JUST TO GET
THE PAPERWORK PROCESS SO THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM AND,
UH, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE
BILL BY SOMEONE WHO TOSSED
SECONDED BY SOME MEMBER ALVAREZ.
THE MOTION BEFORE US IS DO PASS
AND REFER TO THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. PANES BEANS. I TOUGH,
TOUGH. I ALVARO'S ALVARO'S I E
ME. I WON I. PATERSON. FRANCE
REZ I, RUBIO RUBIO. CHANGE.
SEVEN EYES. BILL IS OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU
MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
DURING THIS COURSE.
ONLY EVERYONE MR. UM FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. ITEM ONE. A. B 979 DO
PASS, AND WE REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. I
KNOW IT'S HERE. HE NEEDS. ANY I
PATERSON. IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE
THAT OKAY? CAN I JUST DRINK?
HE'S GONNA WAIT DOWN THERE.
PRIVACY. HE'S GOING TO WAIT SO
OKAY? SO SEEING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE US THIS HEARING
IS ADJOURNED. HOW DO I DO THAT?
YEP. EVERYTHING STATED. I'M
GOING TO LEARN THIS SOMEONE TIME
AND EVERY TIME I COME HERE, TAKE
A PICTURE OF THIS AND NEVER LOOK
AT IT. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
GONNA LEARN. YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S TRUE. THEY'RE GONNA
ROTATE US BACK TO ANOTHER ROOM
JUST DOWN. IT'S FUNNY. I WAS
VERY GLAD WE WERE. TODAY WE WERE
AT THE AT THE MASS CASUALTY
TRAINING. A MASK. OH MY GOD. I
HAVE PICTURES. I WANTED TO SHOW
YOU. I SAVED THE BABY. WHAT?
YEAH. IT'S A BIG BABY. OH, MY
GOD. THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I HAVE
MORE YEAH, THAT'S THE MOB Ó.
SHE'S SMILING. SHE'S SMILING AND
PAYMENTS LOOKS AWESOME. NOW,
WHERE WAS THIS WAS THIS BACK? SO
IT WAS JUST LIKE A MASS TRAINING
WHERE YOU HAVE NATURAL THERE.
LOOK AT THE BILL. TODDLER LOOK
TALLER, BABY. WAIT. LOOK AT HIS
ARM. NO. PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP
TODAY WE HAVE IT ALL OVER MY
BLOOD ALREADY. BUT LIKE, BUT,
BABY YEAH. SO WE JUST HAD, LIKE
50 PEOPLE. UM WE JUST KIND OF
LIKE, GET OUR DRUGS AND ME MY
COFFEE. AND DONE IN. WITH