ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGING AND
LONG TUM CARE, THERE IS AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK HAPPENING
IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL TODAY.
WE ARE HOPING TO DO OUR DUE
DILIGENCE TODAY TO HEAR OUR
AGING RELATED BILLS AND MOVE
EVERYONE ON TO OTHER HEARINGS
HAPPENING, TO ENSURE MEMBERS OF
THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS
TO OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THIS
HEARING WILL BE STREAMED ON THE
ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE, AND THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN
PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE
IN ROOM FOUR, FOUR, FOUR. ALL
RIGHT. SO WE DO NOT HAVE A
QUORUM. WE WILL PROCEED AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM. I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE.
ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO. SO WE
WILL MOVE ON TO OUR ITEMS, AND
WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER
THREE, AB 2207. ASSEMBLYMEMBER
REYES, STATE BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS. REPRESENTATIVES OF
OLDER ADULTS. PERFECT.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND IN
COMING MEMBERS TODAY, I'M
PLEASED TO PRESENT AB 2207. THIS
BILL WILL INCREASE THE
REPRESENTATION OF OLDER ADULT
ADULTS ON SIX STATE BOARDS,
COMMISSIONS AND ADVISORY BOARDS.
HELLO HELLO. OH. ALL RIGHT, I'M
GOING TO GET THIS STRAIGHT ONE
OF THESE DAYS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS WHO WILL BE
JOINING US. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU AB 2207. THIS
BILL WILL INCREASE THE
REPRESENTATION OF OLDER ADULTS
ON SIX BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
ADVISORY COMMITTEES. THE OLDER
ADULT ADULT POPULATION IS
RAPIDLY GROWING AND BECOMING
INCREASINGLY DIVERSE. THIS BY
2030 ONE QUARTER OF THE STATE'S
POPULATION WILL BE OLDER ADULTS.
THEY WILL BE MORE RACIALLY AND
ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND WILL BE
LIVING LONGER. WE NEED TO ENSURE
THAT VOICES OF OLDER ADULTS ARE
UPLIFTED, AND WE NEED TO WORK ON
THAT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY.
THEY SHOULD BE PART OF THE
DECISION MAKING BODIES THAT
DISCUSS AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT
THEM. THIS BILL ALIGNS WITH THE
GOALS OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING BY INCREASING THE
INCLUSION AND EQUITY AMONG OLDER
ADULTS, WE MUST ALL WORK TOWARD
A WORLD IN WHICH OLDER ADULTS
FEEL ENGAGED, EMPOWERED, AND
VALUED, AND HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2207, OUR CAROL
SCHWARTZ LANDER, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING, AND RITA
SINES, A FORMER COMMISSIONER AT
THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON
AGING. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS CAROL SWARTZLANDER. I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
AND SPONSOR OF AB 2207. THIS
MEASURE WOULD EXPAND MEMBERSHIP
ON VARIOUS BOARDS, COMMITTEES
AND COMMISSIONS TO INCLUDE
REPRESENTATION OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING, THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING,
OR BOTH, OR OTHER
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE OR
ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OLDER
ADULTS. THE COMMISSION ON AGING
IS ESTABLISHED IN STATE STATUTE
AS AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY BODY
AND PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE BEFORE
THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE,
STATE, AND FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE OLDER
ADULT POPULATION IS RAPIDLY
GROWING AND BECOMING DIVERSE, SO
ENSURING THE PERSPECTIVES OF
OLDER CALIFORNIANS ARE
CONSIDERED BY STATE AGENCIES AND
DEPARTMENTS REQUIRES
REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION
BY OLDER ADULTS OR THOSE WHO
ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEM. THE
COMMISSION STRONGLY SUPPORTS
THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE URGE
YOUR AYE VOTE ON AB 2207. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE SOON TO BE HERE. MY
NAME IS RITA SAENZ. I'M SPEAKING
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF AB 2207. AS
A FORMER MEMBER OF THE
COMMISSION ON AGING AND AS THE
DIRECTOR OF THREE DEPARTMENTS
FOR THE STATE, I, I RECOGNIZE
AND APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF THE
KIND OF INPUT THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
STATE POLICIES, ALL THE TASK
FORCE, TASK FORCES, COUNCILS,
COMMISSION AND WORK GROUPS, THEY
ALL REPRESENT THE VOICE OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SERVED. AND
THAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL, EACH
OF US WHO RUNS A DEPARTMENT
KNOWS THAT IT'S, THE INPUT IS
INVALUABLE. SO, THE MEMBERS, THE
APPOINTEES OF THESE COMMITTEES
ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR
ADVISING AND REVIEWING POLICY.
THIS IS REALLY KEY TO ENSURING
AN INCLUSIVE, POINT OF SERVICES,
AND DESIGNATED POSITIONS ON
COMMISSIONS AND WORK GROUPS ARE
NOT UNUSUAL. IT'S WE'VE BEEN
DOING IT FOR DECADES. I AM A
FORMER APPOINTMENT SECRETARY.
DURING THE TIME OF THE FIRST
TIME OF JERRY BROWN. AND,
THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PROCESS, A
PART OF THE PROCESS, AND NOW
WE'RE LOOKING AT A GROWING A
LARGER GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, AND
THOSE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD,
THE CURRENTLY LEGISLATION DOES
NOT PRECLUDE OLDER MEMBERS FROM
BEING A PART, BUT IT ALSO DOES
NOT INCLUDE THEM, THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF COMMISSIONS THAT THE
GOVERNOR APPOINTS TO THAT HAVE
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES. SO IT
WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING NEW, IT'S
GOING TO IT'S GOING TO PROMOTE
INCLUSION AND EQUITY AND THESE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY
THE POLICIES JUST TO GIVE YOU
ONE EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE AREAS
HAVING RUN ED FOR A YEAR, ONE OF
THE AREAS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
THAT SENIORS ARE GETTING,
THEY'RE STAYING IN THE WORKFORCE
LATER. SOME OF THEM NEED
RETRAINING, AND THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF ATTENTION ON THAT RIGHT
NOW. SO, AS WAS SAID, THE
POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA'S OLDER
ADULTS WILL BE, I THINK GREATER
THAN THE POPULATION OF, OF,
PEOPLE UNDER THE, UNDER THE AGE
OF 18, BY 2030. SO SO, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE GOT UNIQUE EXPERIENCES,
YOU KNOW, KNOWING YOUR
INCLINATION WITH LEGISLATION,
IT'S LIKE LECTURING TO THE, YOU
KNOW, SINGING TO THE CHOIR. SO,
SO I, I URGE, THAT THERE BE,
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
YEAH ALL RIGHT. SO AT THIS
MOMENT, WE'LL TAKE, ANYONE HERE
THAT WANTS TO ADD ON IN SUPPORT.
HI, PETER HANSEL, ADVOCACY
VOLUNTEER FOR AARP CALIFORNIA.
AARP IS IN SUPPORT. JASON
GEPHARDT WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT KATHY
MOSSBERG WITH LEADING AGE
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT MICHAEL
COSTA WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCY ON
AGING. WE SUPPORT. HEATHER
HARRISON WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANYBODY IN OPPOSITION? SEEING
NONE ANYTHING FROM THE COMMITTEE
. SEEING NO NO OTHER DISCUSSION
FROM THE COMMITTEE, I DID WANT
TO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER REYES, FOR THIS BILL. I
AGREE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE AS THE APPOINTMENT
SECRETARY, MY START IN THIS ROLE
HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE MONA
PASCUAL, WHO WAS THE APPOINTMENT
SECRETARY, I GUESS AFTER YOU HAD
CALLED ME AND SAID YOU'RE BEING
APPOINTED TO THE SONG. BROWN
COMMISSION BECAUSE WE NEED A
VOICE FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON
THERE. AND THAT LITERALLY IS
WHAT STARTED MY CAREER IN THIS
WORLD. YOU PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND
THE VALUE OF THE INTERSECTION?
ABSOLUTELY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
REPRESENTATIVE FROM DIFFERENT
AGE GROUPS, DIFFERENT
ETHNICITIES, DIFFERENT CULTURES,
EVERY REPRESENTATION MATTERS. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
GUYS'S WORK ON THIS, I GUESS WE
ARE NOW OPERATING A
SUBCOMMITTEE, SO WE'LL MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT MEETING OR THE NEXT
CHEN ITEM. GET A QUORUM. YES.
THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A RACE.
OKAY. AND NEXT WE HAVE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER ALVAREZ, AB 2075,
RESIDENT ACCESS PROTECTION ACT.
NUMBER TWO, THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT'S ALWAYS
GOOD TO BE IN THIS COMMITTEE. I
LOVE DOING WORK IN THIS
COMMITTEE, AND I'M REALLY
PLEASED THAT I HAVE ASSEMBLY
BILL 2075 BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION AROUND THE RESIDENT
ACCESS PROTECTION ACT. FIRST OF
ALL, I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE STAFF, AS ALWAYS,
FOR THEIR WORK ON THE BILL. IT
WAS VERY CRITICAL IN ORDER FOR
US TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
AB 2075 WOULD PROVIDE RESIDENTS
OF LONG TUM CARE FACILITIES WITH
THE RIGHT TO IN PERSON ON SITE
ACCESS TO VISITORS DURING A
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, AS LONG
AS THEY FOLLOW THE SAME SAFETY
PROTOCOLS AS THE STAFF AT THOSE
SITES. I THINK WE'VE ALL LEARNED
A LOT OF VALUABLE LESSONS SINCE
THE PANDEMIC, NOT LEAST OF WHICH
WAS THAT HALTING VISITATION
RIGHTS FOR OUR LOVED ONES IN
LONG TUM CARE FACILITIES HAS A
MAJOR IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN
MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
ASSESSED THE IMPACT OF THE
PANDEMIC ON THE WELL-BEING OF
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS IN 2020
AND FOUND THAT LONG STAY
RESIDENTS HAD A 15% INCREASE IN
DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND A 150%
INCREASE IN UNPLANNED,
SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT LOSS.
RECOGNIZING THIS, ONE OF OUR
FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO WAS CHAIR
OF THIS COMMITTEE INTRODUCED
ASSEMBLY BILL 2546. THIS HISTORY
IS IMPORTANT AS THAT BILL, WOULD
HAVE SIMILARLY ESTABLISHED
VISITATION RIGHTS IN LONG TUM
CARE FACILITIES DURING A PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY. HOWEVER,
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, THE BILL
WAS AMENDED, AND WHAT ENDED UP
HAPPENING IS IT CREATED A
WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE
BEST VISITATION PRACTICES AND
POLICIES FOR LONG TUM CARE
FACILITIES DURING THE PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCY. SO THAT BILL
WAS SIGNED INTO LAW AND THE
WORKING GROUP WAS CREATED, AND
THEY MET FIVE TIMES OVER THE
COURSE OF SIX MONTHS AND
INCLUDED PARTICIPANTS FROM
ADVOCACY GROUPS, FROM STATE
AGENCIES, FACILITIES, PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS AND FROM
MEDICAL GROUPS, AS WELL. IT
PUBLISHED ITS REPORT IN OCTOBER
OF LAST YEAR. THE WORK THE
WORKGROUP WAS CLEAR IN ITS
TAKEAWAY, IT IS, QUOTE, IT IS
ESSENTIAL FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
TO HAVE ACCESS TO RESIDENTS,
INCLUDING DURING A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. AB 2075 IS A RARE
OPPORTUNITY TO PASS LEGISLATION
THAT HAS UNDERGONE THE EXACT
PROCESS THAT WE OFTEN HOPE
OCCURS WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO
PASS LEGISLATION, THIS IS A
THOROUGH PROCESS WITH VETTING
AND INPUT FROM DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS. LEGISLATURE
RECOGNIZES A PROBLEM AND
ESTABLISHED A WORKING GROUP AND
THE STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING
THOSE PERSPECTIVES TO UNDERSTAND
IT. AND ULTIMATELY GENERATE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE
IT. THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL IS.
BASED OFF OF THOSE EXACT
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE
INCLUDED PROVISIONS TO ENSURE
FLEXIBILITY FOR STATE AND LOCAL
AUTHORITIES WHEN HANDLING PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCIES, BY
AUTHORIZING THEM TO DEFINE HOW
VISITORS CAN DEMONSTRATE
PROFICIENCY IN FOLLOWING SAFETY
PROTOCOLS, AND CAN CAP THE
AMOUNT OF VISITORS WHO CAN VISIT
SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE ALSO ADDED
LANGUAGE TO ENSURE STAFF HAVE
PRIORITY AS IT RELATES TO
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
AB 2075 IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE
THAT OUR LOVED ONES WHO ARE IN
LONG TUM CARE FACILITIES DON'T
EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT
THEY WENT THROUGH DURING THE
PANDEMIC. AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DISCUSSION. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN
IT OVER TO, TWO WITNESSES WHO
ARE HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU,
STAFF ATTORNEY FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING
HOME REFORM AND, WISEMAN, FROM
THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE ESSENTIAL
CAREGIVERS COALITION. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR THE CHANCE TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT BILL. AND THANKS TO
THE COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR
WONDERFUL ANALYSIS AND THEIR
ADVOCACY FOR LONG TUM CARE
FACILITY RESIDENTS. BEYOND JUST
THIS BILL, WE LEARNED AS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, ALVAREZ SAID.
WE DID LEARN A LOT FROM COVID,
THERE WERE NO MORE DIFFICULT
LESSONS LEARNED THAN WHAT WE
LEARNED IN LONG TUM CARE
FACILITIES. COVID WAS AN
UNPRECEDENTED THREAT TO THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF LONG TUM
CARE RESIDENTS. FACILITY
RESIDENTS. THE INITIAL RESPONSE
WAS TO LOCK THE FACILITIES DOWN
AND TO LOCK THE RESIDENTS UP.
AND STILL RESIDENTS DIED FROM
COVID NATIONALLY BY THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS. TENS OF THOUSANDS
MORE RESIDENTS DIED NOT FROM
COVID, BUT FROM THE NEGLECT AND
ISOLATION THEY SUFFERED DURING
THE LOCKDOWNS. VISITORS AND
OTHER SUPPORT PERSONS ARE
CRITICAL TO RESIDENT WELL-BEING.
WHEN THEY WERE LOCKED OUT,
RESIDENTS WERE DEPRIVED OF THIS
ESSENTIAL CARE THAT THEY NEEDED
MOST FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LOVED
THEM BEST. TWO YEARS AGO, THE
LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZED THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE LOCKDOWN
ISSUES AND FUNDED A STATEWIDE
WORKGROUP COMPOSED OF THREE
DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS AND SEVERAL
INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED BY THE
WORKGROUP ARE THE ROADMAP THAT
AB 2075 FOLLOWS PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS ARE OPPOSED TO ANY
RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR ABILITY TO
MANAGE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES
AND KEEP LONG TERME CARE
FACILITY RESIDENTS SAFE. THAT'S
FINE. WE WANT THEM TO KEEP THEM
SAFE, TOO. BUT AB 2075 DOES NOT
LIMIT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
FROM IMPOSING ANY SAFETY
MEASURES ON LONG TUM CARE
FACILITIES. THEY CAN REQUIRE
MASKING OR PPE. THEY CAN REQUIRE
SYMPTOM SCREENING OR VACCINATION
. THEY CAN EVEN IMPOSE
QUARANTINES OR LOCKDOWNS. WHAT
AB 2075 DOES IS REQUIRE THAT
THESE SAFETY MEASURES BE APPLIED
EQUALLY TO VISITORS, AS WELL AS
FACILITY STAFF. THE BIG MISTAKE
THAT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS MADE
WAS IN ASSUMING FACILITY
VISITORS ARE INHERENTLY LESS
VALUABLE OR LESS SAFE TO THE
WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS THAN
FACILITY STAFF. THAT'S THE ONE
ASSUMPTION AB 2075 WILL NOT
ALLOW TO BE MADE AGAIN, I URGE
YOUR SUPPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS NATALIE WISEMAN. I'M A
FAMILY CAREGIVER AND CO-FOUNDER
OF THE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS
COALITION. I'VE PROVIDED CARE
FOR MY MOM, CELIA, FOR AS LONG
AS I CAN REMEMBER, AND THAT
DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN SHE MOVED
INTO A MEMORY CARE RCF. OUR
STORY IS A MODEL FOR WHAT COULD
BE MY MOM ACQUIRED A TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY IN COMPLETE
QUADRIPLEGIA AND APHASIA JUST
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. I AUGMENT
STAFF CARE ON A DAILY BASIS,
HELPING HER TO EAT, DRINK,
BATHE, DRESS, TOILET, ORGANIZE,
TRANSFER, MOVE ABOUT AND
COMMUNICATE AMONG OTHER ONGOING
ACTIVITIES. PANDEMIC VISITOR
RESTRICTIONS ABRUPTLY STOPPED
THAT SUPPORT, FAILING TO
RECOGNIZE FAMILY CAREGIVING AS
URGENT AND ESSENTIAL WORK. MY
MOM, CELIA, IS A JOKESTER. THE
LIFE OF THE PARTY, SOMEONE WHO
LIGHTS UP A ROOM AND GETS
EVERYONE LAUGHING BUT WITHOUT
ADEQUATE IN-PERSON CARE, HER
DEMEANOR AND QUALITY OF LIFE
RAPIDLY DETERIORATED. I COULD
ONLY DO SO MUCH THROUGH VIDEO
VISITS AND SUPPLY DROPS. SHE
LOST WEIGHT, BECAME AGITATED,
WITHDRAWN AND DEPRESSED, AND ON
SOME DAYS UNRESPONSIVE. HER
REMAINING LANGUAGE SKILLS
DWINDLED FURTHER. STAFF DIDN'T
NOTE THESE CHANGES OR THE
BRUISES, RASHES, BAD HYGIENE,
LETHARGY, DEHYDRATION OR
DELIRIUM. SHE EXPERIENCED.
HOSPITAL VISITS INCREASED FOR
ABNORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE,
DEHYDRATION, CONTUSIONS, A
BROKEN CLAVICLE, ASPIRATION
PNEUMONIA, AND RECURRENT C DIFF,
ALL IN THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS
OF ISOLATION MEASURES. HOURS. I
WATCHED MY MOM STRUGGLE TO
SURVIVE BECAUSE FAMILY CARE
CAREGIVERS WERE MISCATEGORIZED
AS MERE VISITORS. BUT THEN
SOMETHING WENT RIGHT. FIRST,
HOSPITALS ALWAYS LET ME STAY BY
HER SIDE 24 OVER SEVEN IN PROPER
PPE. THAT'S BECAUSE OF ADA
ACCOMMODATIONS. THEN AGAINST ALL
THE RULES, HER FACILITY DID AS
WELL. DURING THE BIGGEST COVID
OUTBREAK IN THAT FACILITY, SHE
WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM C
DIFF. SO SO I MOVED IN 24 OVER
SEVEN SLEEPING IN AN N95,
DONNING A GOWN, GLOVES AND
BOOTIES FOR BOTH CONTACT AND
AIRBORNE PRECAUTIONS. AND
THROUGH THAT OUTBREAK, WE
REMAINED SAFE AND COVID FREE.
AND WE ALSO GOT OUT OF C DIFF.
FORTUNATELY I WAS THE ONLY
FAMILY MEMBER INSIDE FOR DAILY
CARE IN A FAIRLY LARGE FACILITY.
I WAS REMINDED OF THAT DUBIOUS
PRIVILEGE WHENEVER I ALERTED
MANAGEMENT TO PROBLEMS LIKE
STAFF NOT WEARING MASKS OR NOT
RESPONDING TO RESIDENTS CRYING
FOR HELP. WHAT I WITNESSED AS I
WALKED THROUGH THE HALLS TO MY
MOM'S ROOM EACH DAY WAS
DEVASTATING. RESIDENTS WANDERING
AROUND IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
UNDRESS, SEEMINGLY PANICKED,
REACHING OUT CRYING, HELP ME!
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? NO STAFF
WAS IN SIGHT. CORDS WERE
REGULARLY PULLED FOR HOURS WITH
NO ANSWER. WITH EACH PASSING
DAY, I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER
WHY THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS WERE
NOT GIVEN THE SAME ACCESS,
CONSIDERING I WOULD OFTEN SEE
THEM AT THE FRONT DOOR
RESPONSIBLY, WEARING THE SAME
PPE OR BETTER THAN STAFF. WHY
US? WHY ME? WHY MY MOM? I'M NO
MORE SPECIAL THAN ANY OTHER
FAMILY CAREGIVER. MAYBE I WAS
THE LOUDEST, BUT I'LL NEVER
KNOW. AND I WILL ALWAYS WONDER
WHY. PLEASE SUPPORT AB 2075.
HELP US BECOME COLLABORATORS IN
GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES.
MAKE RESIDENT DESIGNATED SUPPORT
PERSONS THE VISITORS WHO COME TO
SUPPORT RESIDENTS. ANOTHER TOOL
IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH ARSENAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF YOUR MOM, BEING A
PATIENT ADVOCATE IS ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL THINGS THAT YOU
CAN DO. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING
CARE OF HER, I WILL GO AHEAD AND
OPEN THIS UP FOR ANYBODY ELSE
THAT WANTS TO ADD ON IN SUPPORT.
HI, MY NAME IS DOCTOR TERESA
PALMER. I'M AN MD GERIATRICIAN.
I WORKED FOR 35 YEARS IN, SAN
FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND, AND A LOT
OF THAT TIME IN NURSING HOMES.
I'M ALSO A DAUGHTER AND A
CAREGIVER, THE DAUGHTER OF A
MOTHER WHO DIED AFTER A YEAR OF
ISOLATION, WONDERING WHY SHE HAD
BEEN ABANDONED, AND I BELONG TO
THE CALIFORNIA ESSENTIAL
CAREGIVERS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO
GRAY PANTHERS. I URGE YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HELLO. MY NAME IS
ROSEMARY MCDONNELL. I'M A LONG
TIME DISABILITY ACTIVIST IN
CALIFORNIA AND NATIONWIDE. I
HAVE PERSONALLY BUILT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS IN
NURSING HOMES, AND I'M SPEAKING
ON BEHALF OF THEM WHO ARE NOT
ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF AB 2075.
JASON GEPHARDT WITH THE
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. PETER HANSEL, ADVOCACY
VOLUNTEER FOR AARP CALIFORNIA,
IN STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE REASON
STATED. KATHY MOSSBERG IN
SUPPORT LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA.
HEATHER HARRISON WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSISTED LIVING
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT CAROL
SWARTZLANDER, CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING AND SUPPORT,
AND VERY PROUD THAT ONE OF OUR
COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSION
STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THE
WORKGROUP THAT LED TO THIS BILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BLANCA CASTRO,
STATE LONG TERME CARE OMBUDSMAN.
WE ARE CO-SPONSORS OF THIS BILL
AND WE ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY IN
OPPOSITION
?
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR I'M DOCTOR
KEN CUTLER, LEGISLATIVE
COORDINATOR WITH THE HEALTH
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA. WE APPRECIATE THE
INTENT OF AB 2075 TO SUPPORT
RESIDENTS OF LONG TUM CARE
FACILITIES. WANT TO THANK THE
AUTHORS OFFICE AND THE SPONSORS
FOR MEETING WITH US ABOUT OUR
CONCERN THAT THE BILL PLACES
SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS ON STATE
AND LOCAL ORDERS DURING A
DECLARED EMERGENCY THAT COULD
HAMPER FUTURE EFFORTS TO PROTECT
HEALTH AND SAFETY. REGRETFULLY,
WE CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THE BILL
AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN. WHEN FACED
WITH CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX
EMERGENCY, HEALTH OFFICERS TRY
TO BALANCE THE MEASURES USED
WITH THE MAGNITUDE AND NATURE OF
THE THREAT. THE PANDEMIC WAS
UNPRECEDENTED. OUTBREAKS IN LONG
TUM CARE FACILITIES HAD
DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES, AND
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS WORK
TIRELESSLY TO PROTECT
COMMUNITIES FROM THE SPREAD OF
DISEASE, SOMETIMES FACING
THREATS. IN RESPONSE, ANY
ACTIONS TAKEN TO LIMIT
VISITATION WERE NEVER TAKEN
LIGHTLY, NEVER INTENDED TO BE
PUNITIVE, AND WERE ISSUED OUT OF
CARE AND CONCERN. WE DO
RECOGNIZE THAT SOCIAL
CONNECTIONS ARE VITAL. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT VISITATION
UNLESS IT ENDANGERS HEALTH AND
SAFETY, AND THAT SHOULD HAPPEN
ONLY RARELY. PRIOR TO THE
PANDEMIC, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS
HAD NOT IMPOSED LONG TIME
RESTRICTIONS ON VISITATION AND
HOPE NEVER TO DO SO AGAIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES EVOLVE QUICKLY AND
SPREAD RAPIDLY. WILL THE NEXT
EMERGENCY BE AVIAN FLU OR AN
EBOLA LIKE VIRUS OR A BIOWEAPON?
WE DON'T KNOW HOW SEVERE IT WILL
BE, WHO WILL BE MOST VULNERABLE
OR WHAT PROTECTIVE MEASURES WE
WILL NEED. AB 2075 DICTATES THAT
EVEN IN A DECLARED EMERGENCY,
STATE AND LOCAL ORDERS CANNOT
SUSPEND, SUPERSEDE OR MODIFY THE
MEASURE EXCEPT IN A FEW NARROW
WAYS, AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
TYPE OR NATURE OF THAT EMERGENCY
. BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED THE
BILL COULD HAVE UNINTENTIONAL
CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD PUT
PEOPLE AT RISK IN FUTURE CRISES.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU
OPPOSE AB 2075 UNLESS AMENDED.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR. MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS BETSY
ARMSTRONG WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH
EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATION. I
REGRETFULLY ALSO IN OPPOSING MÁS
AMENDED POSITION. WE APPRECIATE
THE AUTHOR'S ENGAGEMENT WITH US
AND HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH HIM TO ADDRESS OUR
CONCERNS. THANK YOU. ANYBODY
ELSE IN OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR COMMENTS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBERS CERVANTES. THANK
YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONY
PROVIDED TODAY. YOUR DIRECT
EXPERIENCE. I DO WANT TO ASK THE
AUTHOR, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS RAISED BY THE
OPPOSITION? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR
THE QUESTION. WE'VE GONE, I
THINK, BACK AND FORTH A FEW
INSTANCES ON TRYING TO IDENTIFY
LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS THAT. I
THINK WE RELY ON THE FACT THAT,
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO,
CREATE GUIDELINES AND, IMPOSE,
NEEDED, MEASURES THAT WOULD
APPLY TO STAFF AND TO VISITORS
AS THE WAY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS
IF CONCERNS ARE RAISED AS TO HOW
, INDIVIDUALS IN THESE KINDS OF
FACILITIES NEED TO BE PROTECTED
AND, THAT STAFF WOULD FOLLOW THE
RULES AND THAT ANY VISITORS
WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME TYPES OF
RULES, WHETHER THAT WAS, AGAIN,
AS WAS STATED, WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE NEXT HEALTH CARE,
EMERGENCY MIGHT BE. AND SO WHAT
WHAT GUIDANCE, THE GUIDANCE AND
THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD COME FROM
THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. SO
THAT'S HOW WE THINK WE ADDRESS
IT. BUT WE KNOW THAT THE
OPPOSITION CONTINUES. WE HAVE,
MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS. I'LL JUST
TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T
FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT'S WHAT THE
RIGHT ANSWER IS. WE'RE HOPEFUL
THAT MAYBE THERE'S SOME IDEAS
THAT CAME FORWARD TODAY THAT I
KNOW, HAVE COME TO OUR OFFICE,
THAT I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T EVEN
SEEN JUST YET. SO, THAT'S THE
BEST RESPONSE I CAN GIVE YOU TO
THAT QUESTION. YEAH SO, MEMBER
FRIEDMAN, I ALSO WANT TO THANK,
THANK THE WITNESS FOR THE
TESTIMONY AND ALL OF THE
WITNESSES WHO CAME, I'M GOING TO
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY, BUT I
AGREE THAT THERE'S PROBABLY SOME
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES THAT WE MAY
OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
ANTICIPATE, WHERE YOU CANNOT
HAVE ENOUGH PROTECTIVE MEASURES
AVAILABLE TO REALLY ALLOW PEOPLE
TO SAFELY VISIT WITHOUT RUNNING
THE RISK OF SPREADING SOME
CONTAMINATION BEYOND THE
HOSPITAL. AND I THINK THERE
NEEDS TO BE SOME WIGGLE ROOM FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. YOU
KNOW, THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE
EBOLA, YOU KNOW, IS A COUNTY
HOSPITAL, IS A RURAL HOSPITAL
REALLY GOING TO HAVE THE KIND OF
MEASURES, IF WE WERE TO FACE
SOMETHING THAT CONTAGIOUS OR
SOMETHING UNKNOWN, YOU KNOW, AND
COVID, CERTAINLY A LOT OF
MISTAKES MADE, BUT AT THE TIME,
PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH THE
INFORMATION THEY HAD AND DIDN'T
ALWAYS KNOW. I MEAN, I REMEMBER,
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE IN
SESSION FLYING UP ON EMPTY
AIRPLANES AND I, YOU KNOW, NOT
TOUCHING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE ABLE TO
TRANSMIT JUST BY TOUCHING
SOMETHING ON AN AIRPLANE. SO,
YOU KNOW, I THINK BEING ABLE TO
BALANCE HAVING FAMILY, BEING
ABLE TO VISIT BECAUSE LIKE YOU
SAID, PEOPLE ARE FEELING
ABANDONED. THERE GETTING SICKER.
THEY'RE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF,
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AWFUL STORIES
THAT NOBODY WANTS TO FACE. BUT
IF WE HAD AN EBOLA OUTBREAK
HERE, WHAT IF SOME PEOPLE WERE
INSISTING ON ON GOING IN AND WE
KNEW THAT WE COULDN'T PROTECT
OTHER PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE
HOSPITAL? I THINK THAT THERE HAS
TO BE SOME SORT OF BALANCE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT
FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE
TOSSED AROUND A LOT OF DIFFERENT
IDEAS LIKE REQUIRING THAT, AND
THESE ARE ALL INTERNAL
CONVERSATIONS, BUT MAKING YOU
PRIVY TO. BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
DO WE GIVE A TIME FRAME OF WHEN
WE SHOULD PERHAPS GET MORE,
REGULATION FROM THE PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS? DO WE YOU
KNOW, IF THERE'S AN ORDER, AT
WHAT POINT A MONTH, TWO MONTHS?
IS IT LIKE MAYBE TIME TO, ALLOW
FOR THAT VISITATION? SO WE'RE
AGAIN, STILL CERTAINLY LOOKING
TO THE OPPOSITION. WHO ARE THE
EXPERTS IN THIS PARTICULAR FIELD
TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME
PERSPECTIVE TO ALLOW THAT ACCESS
FOR LOVED ONES, BUT AND NOT JUST
HAVE A BLANKET, CLOSURE OF
VISITATION, ACCESS FOR FAMILY
MEMBERS. AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE
TO, TO WORK ON THAT. THANK YOU
FOR THE ROBUST DISCUSSION. AS A
PHYSICIAN THAT WORKED ON THE
FRONT LINES OF COVID, MY LIFE
WAS FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN FOR
THREE YEARS, I WORKED MORE IN
DURING THOSE THREE YEARS. AND I
EVER WORKED IN MY LIFE, I HAD TO
STAY AWAY FROM MY OWN FAMILY
MEMBERS BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING
, HEALTH CARE WORKERS WERE
CONSIDERED TO BE THE SOURCE OF
INFECTIONS FOR OTHERS, I HAVE A
BROTHER AND SISTER WHO ARE
PHYSICIANS, SO MY FAMILY WAS
SPLIT APART FOR ALMOST SIX
MONTHS AND WE COULDN'T SEE EACH
OTHER. AND I WAS WORKING IN A
VERY RURAL AREA OF TAFT. AND I
GOT, WORKING THROUGH THE ICU
SURGE, HOSPITALS, YOU NAME IT.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT HITS ME
HARD IS WHEN WE ESPECIALLY I'LL.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS CASE,
IT WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN THAT
DECIDED TO GO COMFORT CARE. SHE
HAD SUCCUMBED FROM HER FROM
COVID. AND I WAS STANDING IN
FRONT OF HER IN MY BUNNY SUIT OF
PPE. I LIVED IN PPE FOR THREE
YEARS. I STILL HAVE SCARS ON MY
FACE FROM HOW MUCH PPE I HAD ON,
AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, YOU,
YOU SIT THERE. I HAD MY HAND
OVER HER, HER WRISTS FEELING HER
HEART RATE AS IT WAS GOING
SLOWER AND SLOWER AND YOU KNOW,
IT FELT INHUMANE TO ME THAT THE
LAST IMAGE IN HER BRAIN WAS
GOING TO BE A PERSON THAT DIDN'T
EVEN LOOK HUMAN. AND I DID
SOMETHING IN THAT MOMENT WHERE
AND SHE HAD VERBALIZED THIS TO
ME BEFORE, AND I TOOK OFF MY
MASK BECAUSE I WANTED HER TO SEE
A HUMAN BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THE STORIES OF
COVID HAVE STILL NOT COME OUT.
I'M STILL HEALING FROM THOSE
THREE YEARS AS A PHYSICIAN. I'M
STILL NOT OVER EVERYTHING THAT I
SAW THROUGH MY EYES AND WHAT WE
HAD TO GO THROUGH. MY HEART GOES
OUT TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
THAT WORKED STRINGENTLY AND
DILIGENTLY TO MEET ALL OF THE
STANDARD STANDARDS THAT WERE
CHANGING ON A SECOND'S NOTICE.
AND THE REALITY OF THAT IS, WE
DIDN'T KNOW. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
THE IMPACT WOULD BE. BUT MOVING
FORWARD, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS A
SARS-COV THREE. WHEN IS THAT
GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT IS THAT
IMPACT GOING TO BRING? AND WHERE
IS OUR POST COVID 19 DIGEST TASK
FORCE THAT LOOKS AT ALL OF WHAT
HAPPENED DURING COVID 19 AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE STRENGTHEN AND
GET READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE
THAT MIGHT BE ON THE HORIZON.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY LEARNED FROM
THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE'RE STILL
LEARNING. WE STILL DON'T KNOW
THE IMPACTS OF COVID 19, ON
PEOPLE BEALL. AND EVERY DAY
WE'RE LEARNING SOMETHING NEW,
THERE IS SO MUCH BUT MY PLEA
GOES OUT THAT REGARDLESS, IT'S
THE HUMANITY PIECE. IT'S THE
PIECE THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE
STILL HUMAN. THE PROTOCOL
PROTOCOLS ARE NECESSARY, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME, WE ARE HUMAN AND
THAT PATIENT THAT DIED AND I DID
NOT WANT HER TO DIE WITHOUT
SEEING A HUMAN FACE. THAT'S
HUMANITY, GUYS. AND THERE HAS TO
BE A LEVEL OF HUMANITY THAT WE
BRING. SO I ENCOURAGE, THANK YOU
FOR THIS LEGISLATION. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING IT TODAY, BUT I
ENCOURAGE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS
WHERE WE REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE
PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, BUT ALSO
TAKE INTO THE HUMAN PORTION. AND
LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, YOUR
ADVOCACY PATIENTS NEED TO HAVE
ACCESS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING
BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN AND ONLY
THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES FOR THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS, SO WITH THAT, I
WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FOR WE
STILL DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE
WILL BE ACTING AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE, AND WE WILL BE
VOTING ON THIS LATER. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY. ANYBODY WHO HAS
BEEN A CAREGIVER, AS YOU AND I
HAVE TALKED ABOUT, I HAVE WITH,
WITH MY FAMILY AND WHO
EXPERIENCED DURING THAT THOSE
THREE YEARS, THE INABILITY TO
MAKE THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION,
THERE ARE LAST LONG LASTING
IMPACTS OF THOSE DECISIONS AS
WELL, KNOWING THAT OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE ALWAYS
ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF
OUR COLLECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH. SO
WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT,
APPRECIATE IT, AND ASK FOR YOUR
I VOTE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO, AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FOUR, AB 2410 ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WALLACE MEAL PROGRAM,
SENIOR CITIZENS.
HEALTH. THAT READY FOR ME? WELL
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, I'M HERE TODAY TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2410. WITH
RISING FOOD COSTS, IT'S VITAL
THAT WE PROVIDE FLEXIBLE
SOLUTIONS FOR OUR SENIORS WHO
ARE VULNERABLE TO FOOD
INSECURITY. THE STATE CURRENTLY
HAS TWO MEAL PROGRAMS FOR
SENIORS WHO FACE FOOD INSECURITY
THE CONGREGATE MEALS PROGRAM AND
THE HOME DELIVERED NUTRITION
PROGRAM, BOTH ADMINISTERED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING. CAN WE
PAUSE REAL QUICK TO ESTABLISH A
QUORUM? I'M SO SORRY. ALL RIGHT.
CAN WE GO AHEAD AND CALL ROLL?
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOCTOR BAINES,
PRESENT ASSEMBLY MEMBER. MATHIS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO. PATTERSON
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ
ASSEMBLYWOMAN. BLANCA RUBIO. CAN
WE GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR CONSENT
? MOTION. MOVED BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CERVANTES. SECONDED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER FRIEDMAN. ITEM
NUMBER ONE AB 1989 BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MATHIS. MOTION IS Dð PASS
AND RE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CONSENT
CALENDAR. ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOCTOR
BAINS. AYE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
MATHIS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
CERVANTES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
FRIEDMAN. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO.
PATTERSON. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
RODRIGUEZ ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
BLANCA RUBIO. OKAY, SO THAT WAS
FOUR VOTES. WE'RE GONNA LEAVE IT
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. SO,
MEMBER WALLACE, YOU CAN
CONTINUE. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR. THESE MEAL PROGRAMS ARE
PART OF THE STATE'S
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OLDER
AMERICANS ACT OF 1965. DURING
COVID TO PROTECT SENIORS, MANY
CITIES PROVIDED MEALS TO GO
RATHER THAN CONGREGATE. AND WITH
THIS CHANGE, THEY REPORTED
SERVING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
SENIORS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
TAKE LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC
TO IMPROVE OUR GOVERNMENT
SERVICES. THIS BILL WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE TO GO
OPTION FOR SENIORS WHO ARE FOOD
INSECURE. MANY SENIORS ARE
REQUIRED TO TAKE PRESCRIPTIONS
DURING MEAL TIMES, AND THESE
SCHEDULES CAN BE DIFFERENT THAN
CONGREGATE MEAL SCHEDULES.
CITIES IN MY DISTRICT HAVE
REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
IN SENIORS SERVED WHEN THEY WERE
ABLE TO PROVIDE MEALS TO GO. WE
SHOULD TAKE THIS LESSON AND
IMPROVE OUR SERVICES FOR
SENIORS. THIS BILL WILL ALLOW
OUR LOCAL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS
TO CONTINUE WITH THE FLEXIBILITY
TO PROVIDE TO GO MEALS THAT MANY
SENIORS HAVE COME TO RELY ON,
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. WITH ME TODAY IS WILL
COBO FROM THE CITY MANAGER OF
THE CITY OF CAL MESA. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE ON AGING AND LONG TUM
CARE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY
BILL 2410. MY NAME IS WILK COBO,
CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF
KALAMAZOO, A CITY OF
APPROXIMATELY 11,000 RESIDENTS
IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THE COVID
19 PANDEMIC WAS DEVASTATING ON
MANY FRONTS AND IT FORCED BOTH
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO
QUICKLY PIVOT THE WAY THEY DO
BUSINESS. IN THIS PROCESS, WE
DISCOVERED NEW AND INNOVATIVE
WAYS TO DELIVER SERVICES TO OUR
RESIDENTS. THE SENIOR MEAL
PROGRAM AT THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO
SENIOR CENTER IS AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF THE PANDEMIC, FORCING
A CHANGE IN A PROGRAM WHICH
RESULTED IN SOMETHING MUCH
BETTER THAN IT HAD EXISTED
BEFORE. WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.
OUR LARGE SENIOR COMMUNITY, MANY
OF WHICH ARE ON FIXED INCOMES,
NEEDED ALTERNATIVES TO GET THEIR
REQUIRED NUTRITION. FAMILY
SERVICES ASSOCIATION, OUR SENIOR
SERVICES PROVIDER, INSTITUTED A
GRAB AND GO MEAL PROGRAM WHEREIN
OUR SENIORS COULD PICK UP
WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR VEHICLE.
NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS
THAT COULD THEN BE PREPARED AT
THEIR CONVENIENCE. THE PROGRAM
NOW SERVES OVER 160 PEOPLE PER
WEEK, FAR EXCEEDING OUR USUAL
ATTENDANCE OF 10 TO 15 FOR OUR
PRE-PANDEMIC CONGREGATE MEALS.
ADDITIONALLY, AS OUR SENIOR
CENTER REOPENED FOR IN PERSON
ACTIVITY, WE'VE SEEN GREAT
INCREASES IN PARTICIPATION FOR
OUR SENIOR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
BINGO, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND A
VERY POPULAR FIT. AFTER 50, MANY
OF OUR PATRONS LEARNED OF OUR
NEW PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF
THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE GRAB
AND GO MEAL PROGRAM, SINCE THEY
WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE COME TO
OUR CENTER. THE CITY LEARNED IN
OCTOBER THAT THE GRAB AND GO
PROGRAM WOULD BE ELIMINATED, AS
IT WAS ONLY ALLOWED DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC AND IS NOT ALLOWED
UNDER CURRENT LAWS GOVERNING OUR
MEAL PROGRAM. CITY STAFF UPDATED
THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS IN
NOVEMBER, AND MANY SENIORS HAVE
EXPRESSED GREAT CONCERN ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF THE GRAB AND
GO PROGRAM GOING AWAY, MANY,
MANY OF WHICH RELY HEAVILY ON
THE PROGRAM. WE APPRECIATE
ASSEMBLY. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WALLACE'S EFFORTS IN CRAFTING
THIS LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THIS
CRITICAL PROGRAM FOR OUR SENIOR
COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE. I ASK THE
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT AB 2410 TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL NUTRITION
OPTIONS FOR SENIORS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ANYBODY, IN SUPPORT?
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
THÀNH. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE,
I'LL BRING YOU BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO,
MEMBER WALLACE, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I THINK THERE ARE
SOME GREAT GAINS FOR SERVICE
DELIVERY AND SENIOR NUTRITION
SERVICES. AND THIS IS SO COMMON
SENSE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EDUCATE THOSE WHO USE THE
SERVICE TOWARDS OTHER POTENTIAL
AGING SERVICES IS A BONUS
BYPRODUCT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN
AYE VOTE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO
MOTION IS DUE. PASS AND WE REFER
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS, ITEM NUMBER FOUR
AB 2410. ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOCTOR
BAINS. AYE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
MATHIS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
CERVANTES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
FRIEDMAN ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO.
PATTERSON. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
RODRIGUEZ ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
BLANCA RUBIO. AND THAT IS FOUR
VOTES. WE WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER ORTEGA AB.
AB 2685 OLDER INDIVIDUALS, CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AB 2685
TODAY. AB 2685 WOULD ESTABLISH A
PILOT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
AGING AND MULTIPLE REGIONS OF
THE STATE TO EXPAND CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO OLDER
INDIVIDUALS. CDA CURRENTLY
ADMINISTERS VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO
SERVE OLDER INDIVIDUALS, DEFINED
AS PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER. HOWEVER, CDA LACKS PROPER
FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE RAPIDLY
GROWING POPULATION OF OLDER
CALIFORNIANS, SPECIFICALLY, LOW
INCOME SENIORS WHO NEED
COMMUNITY BASED SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY, THESE
PROGRAMS ARE ONLY FUNDED THROUGH
THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT,
WHICH HAS REMAINED ESSENTIALLY
FLAT FOR THE PAST DECADE, AND
THE STATE OFFERS NO MATCHING
FUNDS. THIS LACK OF FUNDING HAS
LED TO THE 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 FOR
OLDER ADULTS. BY EXPANDING THESE
SERVICES, CALIFORNIA CAN HELP
REDUCE THE RISK OF NEGATIVE
HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR OLDER ADULTS
AND IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL
QUALITY OF LIFE. I UNDERSTAND
THIS IS A POLICY COMMITTEE AND
NOT A BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND I
UNDERSTAND WE'RE IN A DEFICIT,
BUT ALSO WANT TO REMIND THAT,
YOU KNOW, OURSELVES AND MYSELF
INCLUDED, THAT WE ARE THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD AND
NEED TO BE INVESTING IN OUR
SENIOR POPULATION, TODAY,
TESTIFYING WITH ME ARE TWO
WITNESSES FAITH BATTLES WITH THE
ALAMEDA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES
AGENCY AND WENDY PEDERSEN,
DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR SERVICES
COALITION OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
BANES. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS FAITH BATTLES, ASSISTANT
AGENCY DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND
AGING SERVICES WITH ALAMEDA
COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF AB 2685, A
BILL THE COUNTY IS PROUD TO BE
CO-SPONSORING THROUGH THE MASTER
PLAN ON AGING AND CA 2030. THE
STATE HAS TAKEN AGGRESSIVE
ACTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIANS RAPIDLY GROWING
OLDER ADULT POPULATION. ONE
ELEMENT OF THESE EFFORTS THAT
DESERVES MORE FOCUS IS CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES. CASE
MANAGEMENT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WITH
COMPLEX ISSUES TO WORK TOWARDS
SOLUTIONS THAT COMPLEMENT THEIR
MEDICAL CARE BY CONNECTING THEM
TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, HELPING
THEM WITH THEIR ACTIVITIES OF
DAILY LIVING, AND SUPPORTING
THEM IN BUILDING OR RECONNECTING
WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
ULTIMATELY THESE SERVICES ENABLE
OLDER ADULTS TO MAINTAIN AN
INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE AND AVOID
MORE EXPENSIVE
INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THÀNH CASE
MANAGEMENT IS A COST EFFECTIVE
AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR IMPROVING
LIVES AND REDUCING OVERALL
HEALTH CARE COSTS, BUT THE
STATE'S INVESTMENT IN THESE
SERVICES, WHICH ARE MOSTLY
FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TODAY, HAS BEEN LACKING TO THIS
POINT. STATE FUNDING HAS BEGUN
TO REBOUND AFTER BEING
COMPLETELY ELIMINATED IN 2008
AND 2009 WITH A MULTI-YEAR STATE
GENERAL FUND AUGMENTATION
PROVIDED IN THE 2022 BUDGET ACT.
BUT THESE FUNDS ARE NOT
SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AB 2685
WOULD CREATE A DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT IN UP TO FOUR COUNTIES
IN MULTIPLE REGIONS OF THE STATE
TO OPERATE AND ANALYZE THE
SUCCESS OF DEDICATED, STATE
FUNDED CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
OVERSEEN BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF AGING. WE HOPE
THIS MODEL CAN BE REPLICATED AND
EXPANDED OVER TIME TO FURTHER
ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS IN THIS
POPULATION STATEWIDE. FOR THESE
REASONS, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF
AB 2685 AND THANK ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ORTEGA FOR CHAMPIONING
THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS WENDY PETERSON. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SENIOR SERVICES
COALITION OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
REPRESENT OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PROVIDE SOCIAL AND HEALTH
SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS IN OUR
COUNTY, OURS IS ONE OF FIVE
COUNTIES WHERE THE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS PROVIDED,
THE PROGRAM FILLS A GAP, BY
SERVING OLDER ADULTS WHO DON'T
FIT INTO THE NEATLY. THEY DON'T
FIT NEATLY INTO THE ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA OF OTHER PROGRAMS. THEY
MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR MEDI-CAL.
THEY MAY NEED EXPERT GUIDANCE IN
MAKING THE APPLICATION FOR
MEDI-CAL. OR PERHAPS THEY'RE
SPENDING DOWN, BECAUSE ECONOMIC
INSECURITY INCREASES AS OLDER
ADULTS AGE, THEY ARE LEAST ABLE
TO AFFORD THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY
NEED WHEN THEY MOST NEED THEM.
AND THAT WAS THE CASE OF MR. M,
A 72 YEAR OLD BLIND ASIAN
AMERICAN MAN WITH NUMEROUS
HEALTH ISSUES. WHEN HE WAS
REFERRED TO GSA, ONE OF THE CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN BERKELEY.
HE HAD BEEN PRICED OUT OF HIS
APARTMENT, BUT, HE HAD NO FAMILY
. HE WAS EXTREMELY FEARFUL,
GIVEN HIS BLINDNESS, BUT ALSO
THE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF
ASIAN, HATE CRIMES. THE CASE
MANAGER WORKED WITH HIM, GOT HIM
ON MEDI-CAL AND IHSS AND
CALFRESH, FOUND SUITABLE HOUSING
FOR HIM, MEALS ON WHEELS AND A
FRIENDLY VISITOR, HE HAS BEEN
STABLE FOR MANY YEARS. AND HIS
LIVING SITUATION? A CASE MANAGER
CHECKS IN PERIODICALLY WITH HIS
WORKER AND WITH THE APARTMENT
MANAGER, AND STEPS IN WHEN
NEEDED, MR. M IS NO LONGER
FEARFUL. HE FEELS SAFE. HE'S
GETTING REGULAR MEDICAL CARE,
HIS WORKER IS CARING AND
DEPENDABLE, AND HIS FRIENDLY
VISITOR IS NOW A FRIEND, WE'RE
SEEING MORE AND MORE OLDER
ADULTS WHO HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH
NEEDS, FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS
AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS. AND
THERE'S A REALLY PRESSING NEED
TO INCREASE CAPACITY IN THIS
CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. BUT
BECAUSE THERE'S NO, DATA TO SHOW
IMPACT, I THINK THE PROGRAM
REMAINS A BEST KEPT SECRET. AND
FUNDING LEVELS, AS YOU'VE HEARD,
HAVE BEEN STATIC, OUR COALITION
IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ORTEGA, FOR SPONSORING IT
, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, WE THINK,
TO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF CASE
MANAGEMENT AND THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM AND, PERHAPS MAKE THE
CASE FOR FUTURE FUNDING, SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND WE
HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS
BILL. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
OTHERS TO JOIN ON IN SUPPORT.
MOVE THE BILL SECOND. THANK YOU.
HERNAN MOLINA, CITY OF
HOLLYWOOD, IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL. MURKOWSKI. CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL, CAN PULL THE MIC UP.
YOU'RE NOT PUNCHING. THERE YOU
GO. THANK YOU. OKAY, HOPEFULLY
THIS IS BETTER, I'M MICHAEL
COSTA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING. I GOT THROUGH
AT THAT TIME, WE SUPPORT THE
BILL, RICK WATTS, CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD DISABILITIES ADVISORY
BOARD. WE SUPPORT THE BILL. JOHN
ALLENDOERFER, PRESIDENT OF THE
CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD, SUPPORT
THIS BILL. AND I'M AN ADVISOR ON
THE OLDER ADULTS BOARD. CHELSEA
BYERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD. SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE IN
SUPPORT? ANYBODY IN OPPOSITION?
ALL RIGHT, BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR ANY DISCUSSION.
SEEING NONE, HOLLYWOOD FOR BEING
IN THE HOUSE. YEAH SAME. YEAH
THANK YOU FOR THIS, BILL.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ORTEGA, CASE
MANAGEMENT IS A COMPONENT OF
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, IMPROVING
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
ARE SOMETHING THAT WE OFTEN
OVERLOOK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT. I KNOW IN MY OWN TOWN, IN
MY DISTRICT OF BAKERSFIELD,
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AS
WELL FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE AND
MORE, WORK THAT WE CAN DO IN
THIS SPACE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
YOUR. AYE. VOTE THANK YOU, SO
MOTION IS Dð PASS, AND WE REFER
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. CLERK, CAN YOU
CALL THE ROLL ITEM NUMBER SEVEN?
AB 2685, MOVED BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FRIEDMAN, SECONDED BY MR.
RODRIGUEZ. MR. RODRIGUEZ,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOCTOR BAINS.
AYE ASSEMBLY MEMBER. MATHIS.
YES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN. AYE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO. PATTERSON.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ AYE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BLANCA RUBIO.
SO THAT'S FOUR VOTES, AND WE
WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR OTHER
MEMBERS TO JOIN ON. THANK YOU.
SO, MEMBERS, MEMBER ORTEGA.
OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE. OH, YES, THE
REHAB. SO MEMBER PATTERSON, WE
HAVE AB 3207 ASSEMBLY MEMBER
PATTERSON ON THE SECURE SENIORS
ONLINE PROTECTION ACT. YOU MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU, VERY MUCH,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I ACTUALLY
FORGOT I WAS ON THIS COMMITTEE
FOR A SECOND. I'M IN A FOUR
COMMITTEES AT THE SAME TIME. SO
I SAID, OH, I SHOULD JUST GO SIT
UP THERE AND VOTE, BUT, I'D LIKE
TO PRESENT HERE AB 3207, FIRST
OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS
, HIGH SCHOOL BILL CONTEST THAT
I PUT OUT AND, MR. CODY OVER
HERE, WAS THE WINNER OF THAT.
AND IT WAS A REALLY GREAT IDEA.
AND THEY'LL EXPLAIN SOME OF THE
STORY IN A SECOND. BUT, I WAS
ACTUALLY, FLYING TO SAN DIEGO
LAST WEEK, AND I WAS LISTENING
TO A PODCAST, NEW YORK TIMES, A
DAILY WHERE THEY WENT OVER A,
ACTUALLY A, RETIRED LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HERE IN
CALIFORNIA WHO WANTED TO SELL
HIS TIMESHARE, AND HE WANTED TO
SELL IT FOR $20,000. AND THERE
WAS THIS AGREEMENT ALLEGEDLY
MADE. WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING
OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS IS HE
ACTUALLY HE ACTUALLY WIRED
$900,000 OVER A YEAR AND A HALF
OVER THIS ELABORATE SCAM THAT
WAS PUT ON BY THE CARTEL. AND IT
WAS REALLY A SHOCKING STORY. AND
IT WAS NOT I WAS NOT INTENDING
THIS BEING PART OF MY TESTIMONY
HERE TODAY, BUT IT JUST GOES TO
SHOW HOW EASY IT IS TO RIP OFF
NOT JUST SENIOR CITIZENS AND
BASICALLY ANYBODY, AND THERE ARE
ELABORATE SCHEMES THAT ARE
CREATED TO BASICALLY TAKE ALL OF
OUR HARD EARNED MONEY HERE. AND
SO IT'S, ACCORDING TO AARP,
EXPLOITATION OF PEOPLE OVER 60
LOSE $28.3 BILLION ANNUALLY
ACROSS THE NATION TO, TO SCAMS.
AND SO, SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WHAT
WHAT MY LEGISLATION DOES IS IT
CREATES A HOTLINE LINE FOR, FOR
SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO CALL IN
AND VERIFY AND GET SOME
ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY GET STRANGE
CALLS LIKE THAT. AND I THINK A
LOT OF TIMES IN THE CASE THAT I
REALIZED ON THE NEW YORK TIMES
PODCAST, IS THAT THIS GENTLEMAN
REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO
CONFIDE IN, DIDN'T HAVE ANY
TRUST PERSON, HEY, I ALREADY
WIRED THEM 10,000, 20,000,
30,000. YOU KNOW, HIS FAMILY
KIND OF THOUGHT HE WAS, YOU KNOW
, BEING RIPPED OFF, BUT HE HE
KIND OF KEPT GOING AND, SO I
THINK IF WE HAD A HOTLINE ON
THAT WHERE PEOPLE COULD CALL IN,
IT WOULD REALLY SAVE A LOT OF, A
LOT OF THIS GOING ON. AND SO
WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO,
WELCOME CODY AND MIKE TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU ALL RIGHTY, I'LL START
OFF. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
ESTEEMED COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M CODY, I'M
CODY SHEETZ, AND IT'S BEEN. IT'S
AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M A
SENIOR AT OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
IN EL DORADO HILLS. COMMUNITY
SERVICE IS A BIG PART OF WHO I
AM, ESPECIALLY THROUGH MY
INVOLVEMENT AS AN EAGLE SCOUT.
IN THE FALL, I'LL BE STARTING
COLLEGE AT CSU MONTEREY. I WANT
TO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO ASSEMBLYMAN JOE
PATTERSON FOR GIVING ME, FOR
GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE ME A
CHANCE TO BE HEARD THROUGH
INITIATIVES LIKE THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS HIGH SCHOOL BILL IDEA
CONTEST. IT'S BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND
CONTRIBUTE TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
THE IDEA FOR AB 3207, THE SECURE
SENIORS ONLINE PROTECTION ACT,
CAME FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
IN MY OWN FAMILY. MY DAD, WHO IS
A CHP OFFICER, FELL VICTIM TO A
SERIOUS PHONE SCAM AND EVEN MY
GRANDMOTHER. WHO IS 77, HAS BEEN
TARGETED SEVERAL TIMES. THESE
EXPERIENCES MADE ME REALIZE HOW
URGENT IT IS TO TAKE ACTION. IF
SOMEONE HAS TRAINED TO SUSPECT
CRIME AS MY DAD COULD BE
SCAMMED, IT SHOWS HOW VULNERABLE
ANYONE CAN BE. CREATING A
HOTLINE AVAILABLE TO ALL SENIORS
SENIOR CITIZENS WHERE THEY CAN
REPORT A SCAM, SEEK ADVICE AND
ASK QUESTIONS IF THEY SUSPECT
THEY MAY BE FALLING VICTIM TO AN
ONLINE OR FRAUD, OR SORRY. AN
ONLINE FRAUD OR SCAM CAN MAKE
ALL THE DIFFERENCE. THIS BILL IS
ABOUT SAFEGUARDING OUR SENIORS
AND COMMUNITY FROM EXPLOITATION.
THAT'S WHY I'M URGING YOU TO
SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB 3207. THANK YOU AGAIN
. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, CHAIR
AND ESTEEMED COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MIKE SHEETS. I
RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IN
JULY OF LAST YEAR, 21 YEARS OF
SERVICE, AND I FELL VICTIM TO A
SCAM THAT TURNED MY WORLD UPSIDE
DOWN. IT STARTED WITH AN EARLY
MORNING PHONE CALL. THE CALLER
ID SHOWED WELLS FARGO BANK AND
THE CALM MALE VOICE ON THE OTHER
END CLAIMED TO BE FROM THE BANK,
ALERTING ME TO SUSPICIOUS
CHARGES IN CHICAGO. THE CALLER
KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT ME MY FULL
NAME, OCCUPATION, ADDRESS,
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND MY
BANK DETAILS. IT WAS MY FIRST
DAY OF VACATION, SO I WAS CAUGHT
OFF GUARD WITH MY SON CODY AND
MY WIFE VOLUNTEERING IN AFRICA.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF
THEY HAD MADE CHARGES ON THE
EAST COAST DURING THEIR JOURNEY.
I LISTENED TO THE CALLERS CALM
AND PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR, AND
HE ASSURED ME HE WOULD SEND ME A
NEW CARD. NO BIGGIE. RIGHT? THIS
HAS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. SO
THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PERSON
FROM WELLS FARGO CALLED AGAIN,
CLAIMING SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO
ACCESS MY ONLINE BANKING. HE
WANTED ME TO RESET MY USERNAME
AND PASSWORD WITH HIM. I TOLD
HIM, I HAVE, I HAVE TO CALL YOU
BACK, THEN THE CALLER'S TONE
SHIFTED AND HE YELLED, YOU
BLANKETY BLANK PIG! MEANING HE
KNEW I WAS A COP. AND THAT'S
WHEN I WAS LIKE, OH, I'M IN
TROUBLE. SO HE CONTINUED HURLING
INSULTS AND HARMFUL THREATS,
SAYING, DON'T TRY TO HIDE. I'M
HACKING YOUR ACCOUNTS WITHIN
SECONDS, THE REAL WELLS FARGO
TEXTED ME AN ALERT AND TWO OTHER
BANKS FLAGGED FRAUDULENT
ACTIVITY AS WELL. THE CALLER WAS
RACKING UP THOUSANDS AT THIS
POINT. MY EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME A
HARD LESSON ABOUT THE
SOPHISTICATION AND AUDACITY OF
THESE SCAMMERS. THEY PREY ON
TRUST AND CATCH EVEN THE MOST
VIGILANT INDIVIDUALS OFF GUARD.
IF IT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE
LIKE ME TRAINED TO DETECT CRIME,
IT COULD HAPPEN TO OUR, MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION. THAT'S
SENIORS, THAT'S WHY LEGISLATIONS
LIKE AB THREE 207, THE SECURE
SENIORS ONLINE PROTECTION ACT,
IS SO VITAL. WHEN THESE
SITUATIONS HAPPEN, QUICK ACTION
IS NEEDED. A HOTLINE WILL BE A
LIFELINE TO HELP SENIORS
NAVIGATE ALL OF THIS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE ON AB THREE 207 AND
TOGETHER LET'S STAND AGAINST
ONLINE EXPLOITATION AND PROTECT
OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE TO ADD ON IN
SUPPORT. CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT.
PETER HANSEL, ADVOCACY VOLUNTEER
FOR AARP CALIFORNIA. AARP IS IN
SUPPORT DUE TO THE LATENESS, BUT
BY WHICH THEY ADOPTED THE
POSITION. THE LETTER DIDN'T GET
INTO THE ANALYSIS, SO I
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I'M ELAINE
MARKOWITZ, GRANDMA AND I'VE BEEN
SCAMMED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH
FRAUD, SO I SUPPORT AB 3207.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EMILY DOE WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CREDIT UNION
LEAGUE IN SUPPORT. ANGIE SHEETS
I SUPPORT. ANYBODY ELSE IN
SUPPORT? ANYBODY IN OPPOSITION?
I WAS GOING TO COME UP ON THAT,
WITH THAT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO
THE COMMITTEE. ANY DISCUSSION?
THÀNH. WELL, FIRST I WANT TO
THANK, CODY AND THE WITNESS FOR
COMING AND GIVING YOUR PERSONAL
STORIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BRINGING THIS. I'M GOING TO
CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE BILL
TODAY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT
IDEA. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT
THERE'S ALSO RESPONSIBILITY FROM
SOME OF OUR ONLINE MARKETPLACES
TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF
VETTING THEIR OWN SITES. WHEN I
GO TO FACEBOOK AND I SEE CLEAR
AND OBVIOUS SCAMS, DUBIOUS
PRODUCTS, PEOPLE, PEOPLE REVIEWS
WARNING OTHER PEOPLE BEING WIPED
AWAY AS SOON AS THEY'RE POSTED,
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY MAKES ME
REALLY ANGRY. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE
SEE THIS IN PLAIN SIGHT AND WE
KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE FALLING
VICTIM. IF I CAN SEE IT,
FACEBOOK AND X AND OTHERS CAN
SEE IT, AND THEY SHOULD DO A
MUCH BETTER JOB POLICING THEIR
OWN SITES AND KEEPING THEIR
USERS SAFE. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. MEMBER FRIEDMAN,
GREAT JOB CODY ON THAT. AND I
KNOW YOU HAVE A PROUD
GRANDMOTHER RIGHT BEHIND YOU
WHO'S REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU
WROTE THIS BILL, SO SCAMS ARE
REAL, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE
RIGHT. THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION
THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT YOU IS JUST
STAGGERING. I WAS WORKING IN A
CLINIC SEEING PATIENTS, AND I
GET A CALL FROM SOMEONE SAYING
YOU FAILED TO SHOW UP TO COURT,
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AN
EXPERT WITNESS. HE. THIS PERSON
I, KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT WHERE I
WORKED. KNEW I WAS A PHYSICIAN,
KNEW EVERYTHING. SAME THING. AND
IT WAS LIKE, YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP
AT THIS LOCATION ON YOUR LUNCH
BREAK BECAUSE OF X, Y, AND Z.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, I WAS SO
BUSY. I WAS A PHYSICIAN. I WAS
WORKING WITH SO MANY PATIENTS
LIKE, OKAY, I'LL BE THERE. I
WROTE DOWN THE ADDRESS, PUT
DOWN, AND THEN MY DAD CALLED ME.
HE'S LIKE, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING FOR LUNCH? I'M LIKE, DAD,
THIS PERSON I APPARENTLY I
FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR COURT. OH
MY GOD, I GOT TO GO TO THIS
ADDRESS. MY DAD'S LIKE, PLEASE
DON'T Þ PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP
THERE. AND CAN YOU PLEASE CALL
YOUR DEA RIGHT NOW? BECAUSE
YOU'RE BECAUSE THAT DOES NOT
SOUND RIGHT AT ALL. AND I'M GLAD
MY DAD DID THAT. SO THIS IS
IMPACTING NOT JUST FINANCIALLY,
BUT PHYSICALLY TOO. YOU CAN CALL
SOMEONE TO SHOW UP ANYWHERE. SO
IT'S A BIG, BIG CONCERN TO THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO
MEMBER PATTERSON, FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD, ANYTHING TO
CLOSE? I WANT TO, IN MY OFFICE,
EMILY WATSON WAS A BIG ADVOCATE
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL OUT OF
ALL THE MANY GREAT IDEAS WE HAVE
IN MY DISTRICT, AND IT'S
OBVIOUSLY A FANTASTIC IDEA. AND
ALSO, I DON'T REALLY CONSIDER
MIKE A SENIOR CITIZEN, BUT WITH
THAT, I ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE.
THAT'S. AWESOME. SO MOTION IS,
DO PASS. AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON PRIVACY AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION. OH, SORRY.
YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR A MOTION.
MOTION THANK YOU. MOTION BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODRIGUEZ AND
SECONDED BY MEMBER FRIEDMAN, AND
MOTION IS TO PASS AND REFER TO
THE COMMITTEE ON PRIVACY AND
CONSUMER PROTECTION. ITEM NUMBER
EIGHT, AB 30 207. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DOCTOR BAINS AYE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, MATHES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO. PATTERSON
AYE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BLANCA RUBIO
OKAY, SO THAT'S FOUR. WE'LL
LEAVE IT OPEN FOR OTHERS TO JOIN
ON LATER. THANK YOU SO MUCH
.
OKAY, YOU MAY PROCEED WHEN READY
.
ALL RIGHT, I WILL, THANK YOU
GUYS SO MUCH. I WILL START OUT
WITH AB 2620, SO GOOD AFTERNOON,
MEMBERS. AB 2620 REDUCES THE
NUMBER ON THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING FROM 25 TO
18 AND REQUIRES COMMISSIONERS TO
HAVE PROFESSIONAL LIVED OR
ACADEMIC EXPERTISE RELATED TO
AGING. IT ALSO DEFINES THE
COMMISSION AS AN ADVISORY BODY
RELATING TO THE BAGLEY-KEENE
OPEN MEETING ACT, AND ALLOWS THE
COMMISSION TO ENGAGE IN FEDERAL
ADVOCACY EFFORTS. THE COMMISSION
HAS HAD A STATUTORY COMPOSITION
OF 25 MEMBERS SINCE ITS
INCEPTION. DURING ITS EXISTENCE,
IT HAS NEVER HAD ALL COMMISSION
SEATS APPOINTED. HOWEVER, QUORUM
IS DICTATED BY THE NUMBER OF
THOSE COMPRISED TO SERVE,
INCLUDING VACANCIES, MAKING IT
DIFFICULT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS BY
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SERVING
COMMISSIONERS. ALLOWS THE
COMMISSION TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
ESTABLISH A QUORUM AND CONDUCT
BUSINESS, AND REQUIRING
EXPERTISE RELATED TO AGING FOR
ALL FUTURE APPOINTEES, ALLOWS
FOR MORE MEANINGFUL ADVOCACY
MOVING FORWARD. REDEFINING THE
COMMISSION AS AN ADVISORY BODY
ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY IN WAYS
IN WHICH COMMISSIONERS MAY
PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS AND WILL
LIKELY ALLOW FOR MORE GEOGRAPHIC
DIVERSITY ON THE COMMISSION.
WITH ME TODAY IS CAROL
SWARTZLANDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON
AGING AND THE SPONSOR OF AB
2620. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS CAROL SWARTZLANDER,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER BAINS FOR HER SUPPORT IN
AUTHORING AB 2620, A BILL
SEEKING TO UPDATE THE WELFARE
AND INSTITUTIONS CODE RELATED TO
THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS OF
THE COMMISSION ON AGING. AS I
SHARED IN EARLY EARLIER
TESTIMONY, THE COMMISSION IS
ESTABLISHED IN STATE STATUTE TO
SERVE AS THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE
FOR OLDER CALIFORNIANS. BUT WHAT
I FORGOT TO MENTION IS THAT
COMMISSIONERS REPRESENT THE
GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL
DIVERSITY OF THE STATE AND BRING
A WEALTH OF LIVED AND
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, BOTH
WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF
AGING. SO, AS MENTIONED,
CURRENTLY, THE COMMISSION IS
REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE COMPOSED
OF 25 COMMISSIONERS. HOWEVER, WE
HAVEN'T HAD MORE THAN 18 MEMBERS
SINCE 2008 YET. PURSUANT TO A
2011 OPINION BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, THE NUMBER OF
COMMISSIONERS REQUIRED TO
ESTABLISH A QUORUM IS BASED ON
25 APPOINTEES RATHER THAN 18. I
WANT TO THANK THE AGING AND
LONG-TUM CARE COMMITTEE FOR
DEMONSTRATING THE CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHING A
QUORUM, AND JUST NOTE THAT WE
HAVE TO HAVE 13 VERSUS TEN OF A
SIMPLE MAJORITY TO ESTABLISH OUR
QUORUM. SO AB 2620 SEEKS TO
CHANGE THE COMPOSITION FROM 25
TO 18 MEMBERS, REFLECTING THE
HISTORICAL AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
TO BE THE OPTIMAL SIZE. THE BILL
ALSO AMENDS THE GOVERNOR'S
APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE MORE
EFFICIENT, YET REFLECTS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE AREA. AGENCIES
ON AGING BY ENSURING TWO
APPOINTMENTS ARE NOMINATED FROM
AREA AGENCY ON AGING DIRECTORS
OR THE TRIPLE A COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA. AND FINALLY, THE
BILL DELETES OUTDATED
PROVISIONS. FOR EXAMPLE,
OBSOLETE LANGUAGE RELATED TO THE
STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE SENIOR
ADVOCATES, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE,
IS REMOVED. CSL IS NOW AN
INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR
SELECTING ITS DELEGATES, SO AB
26 20TH MAY NOT BE THE MOST
EXCITING PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS
YEAR, BUT IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR
US. IT WILL BETTER POSITION THE
COMMISSION TO BE A MORE
EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGE FRIENDLY
CALIFORNIA AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU. SECOND. AND
WITH THAT, ANYONE ELSE IN
SUPPORT COME FORWARD JASON
GABBERT WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. MICHAEL
COSTA WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCY ON
AGING IN SUPPORT. SELENA
HORNBACK WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM
IN SUPPORT SEEING NONE. ANYONE
IN OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE.
WE'LL BRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS. COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE. I BELIEVE THERE IS
A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO WITH
THAT, SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO
CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
I VOTE. THANK YOU SECRETARY
CORDERO. ITEM NUMBER FIVE AB
2620 MOTION BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN, SECOND BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. MOTION IS Dð
PASS AND RE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. DOCTOR BAINS.
AYE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. MATHES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO. PATTERSON
AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BLANCA RUBIO.
OKAY, WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL CALL
OPEN. NEXT ONE. WE HAVE AB 2636.
WHEN YOU'RE READY. AWESOME
AWESOME. SO GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MEMBERS AB 2636
MODERNIZES TERMS OF USE
THROUGHOUT THE OLDER
CALIFORNIANS ACT AND REPEALS
OBSOLETE PROVISIONS THAT ALSO
UPDATES FINDINGS AND
DECLARATIONS RELATING TO
STATISTICS AND ISSUES OF CONCERN
FOR OLDER CALIFORNIANS. THIS
MEASURE ALSO INCREASES
FLEXIBILITY TO AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. AS WE
BUILD TOWARDS A FUTURE WITH A
RAPIDLY INCREASING POPULATION OF
OLDER CALIFORNIANS, WE NEED TO
HAVE CALIFORNIA CODES REFLECT
CURRENT TERMS OF USE AND BE
REFLECTIVE OF CURRENT PROGRAMS
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE AGING
IN THE STATE. MODERNIZING THE
OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT IS
IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE AND ITS
POPULATION AT ALL AGES. THE
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING HAS GIVEN US NEW
FRAMEWORK MOVING FORWARD.
LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT, AND
UPDATING CURRENT TERMS OF USE
AND IDENTIFYING OUTDATED
LANGUAGE IS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS
REGULAR LEGISLATION. IN THIS
CODE SECTION, FLEXIBILITY IN
PROGRAM DELIVERY ALLOWS OUR
DIVERSE STATE TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF INDIVIDUALS LOCALLY AND IN A
PLACE AND SPACE THAT MEETS THEIR
UNIQUE NEEDS. WITH ME TODAY IS
MICHAEL COSTA, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON
AGING. THANK YOU. YOU ACTUALLY
SAY THAT BETTER THAN I DO. I'M
GOING TO REFER TO IT C-40A, I
THINK, FROM HERE ON OUT. SO I'M
MICHAEL COSTA, I'M EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF C40. WE ARE AN
ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS THE
31 OUT OF THE 33 AREA AGENCIES
ON AGING IN CALIFORNIA, AND WE
AND AREA AGENCIES ON AGING ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, MANAGING A NUMBER OF
PROGRAMS THAT REALLY ORIGINATED
EITHER IN THE OLDER AMERICANS
ACT OR THE OLDER CALIFORNIANS
ACT. SO WHAT I APPRECIATE VERY
MUCH BEING HERE TODAY. THANK
YOU, TO CHAIR BANES AND MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE FOR BEING HERE,
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I
THINK THIS BILL BASICALLY DOES
THREE THINGS. IT AS, AS CHAIR
BAINES HAS SAID, IT UPGRADES THE
TERMS AND UPDATES SO THAT WE USE
CURRENT LANGUAGE. IT ALSO
REMOVES SOME OBSOLETE PROVISIONS
. BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON TWO
THINGS THAT IT DOES, WHICH
ACTUALLY ARE VERY EXCITING. AND
NEED TO BE NOTED. THE FIRST IS
EXPANDS THE POLICY, THE PRIME
DIRECTIVE OF THE GRENLAND, OLDER
CALIFORNIANS ACT. HISTORICALLY,
THE FOCUS WAS ON OLDER, FRAIL
INDIVIDUALS AND WHO ARE ALSO
VULNERABLE. NOW THE FOCUS HAS
WILL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE
OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THE
GREATEST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
NEEDS. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT, THAT'S ACTUALLY AN
EXPANSION OF THE SCOPE. IT'S
ALSO CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL
REGULATION AND FEDERAL LAW,
WHICH IS ALSO AND FEDERAL POLICY
MAKERS WHO HAVE KIND OF EXPANDED
THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE
CATCHMENT, FOR WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING IS AGING POLICY MAKERS.
AND SO THAT'S ON THE POLICY SIDE
ON THE PROGRAM SIDE, THE
LANGUAGE IN THE BILL, IN THE
BILL THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED,
ACTUALLY, RECOGNIZES THE FACT
THAT PROGRAMS HAVE ACTUALLY ALSO
INCREASED IN SCOPE, SINCE 1996,
WHICH WAS WHEN MEL GRANLUND WAS
ORIGINALLY PASSED, AND THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THE
SCOPE OF WHAT, PEOPLE YOU KNOW,
WHAT AREA AGENCIES AND OTHER
AGING SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
ACTUALLY PROVIDING IS REFLECTED
IN THE ACT. SO WE NOW WANT TO
ADD LANGUAGE THAT RECOGNIZES THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE INTEGRATION OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES
AS ESSENTIAL TO BEING ABLE TO
AGE IN PLACE. WE WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
PROGRAMS RELATED TO ECONOMIC
SECURITY, TO CULTURALLY
SENSITIVE AND RELEVANT PROGRAMS,
AND ALSO, TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT
WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED
LINKAGES IN THE ACT. AND WHICH
HAS EXPANDED INTO CASE
MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL
CONNECTEDNESS, AND OTHER KINDS
OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THAT
REALLY WOULD HELP DEAL WITH A
NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT OLDER
INDIVIDUALS FACE TODAY. SO THIS
IS I THINK WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT
THIS IS THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE
POSITIONING THE AGING SERVICE
NETWORK IN CALIFORNIA, TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE
SCOPE OF THE ACT, BE ABLE TO
BETTER ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT
OLDER INDIVIDUALS SOULS FACE. SO
I WOULD ASK RESPECT FOR AN AYE
VOTE ON SB 2636. THERE'S A
MOTION. SECOND, THERE'S A
MOTION. AND SECOND, WITH THAT,
ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM FOR
SUPPORT COME FORWARD. JASON WITH
THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT PETER HANSEL ON BEHALF
OF AARP CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL. AGAIN, DUE TO THE
LATENESS OF OUR POSITION, WE OUR
LETTER IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE
ANALYSIS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT. KATHY VOSPER, REPRESENTING
LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA, ALSO IN
SUPPORT. MONICA KIRKLAND WITH
THE SENIOR SERVICES COALITION OF
ALAMEDA COUNTY IN STRONG SUPPORT
. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
RICHARD WHITE CHAIR OF THE
ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE NAPA
SOLANO AREA AGENCY, ON AGING,
FOLLOWING UP A LETTER OF SUPPORT
WITH ANOTHER VOTER FOR SUPPORT
FOR THIS BILL. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU. ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT?
SEEING NONE. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO COMMITTEE. BUT
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS WITH THAT ASSEMBLY
MEMBER? WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE
OR BE ASKED FOR YOUR VOTE? THANK
YOU. OKAY. SECRETARY CORDERO,
ITEM NUMBER SIX, AB 2636. MOTION
WAS BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER FRIEDMAN,
SECOND BY RODRIGUEZ. MOTION BY.
DO PASS AND RE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. DOCTOR BAINS.
AYE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER. MATTHIS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO. PATTERSON
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ. AYE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BLANCA RUBIO.
OKAY, WE HAVE THREE. WE'LL LEAVE
IT OPEN FOR MISSING MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. CAN WE GET MOTIONS ON
THE TWO BILLS? MOTION TO C¯.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 2047.
THANK THESE TWO. THESE TWO. OKAY
WE WILL NEED A MOTION FOR AB
2075. AND THEN A MOTION FOR AB
2207. CLERK CAN YOU OPEN THE
ROLL? WELCOME BACK. OKAY, WE'LL
GO BACK TO. ITEM NUMBER ONE AB
1989, JO PATTERSON. ITEM NUMBER
TWO, AB 2075 BY MR. ALVAREZ.
MOTION FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CERVANTES. SECOND BY MR.
RODRIGUEZ. MOTION THÀNH IS Dð
PASS AND RE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DOCTOR BAINS AYE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. MATHIS,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. CERVANTES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. FRIEDMAN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO PATTERSON
SAID MEMBER. RODRIGUEZ. AYE.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. BLANCA RUBIO.
THE BILL. THE BILL HAS FOUR
VOTES. WE WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO ADD ON.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, AB 2207 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES. MOTION
WAS BY CERVANTES, SECOND BY MR.
RODRIGUEZ. MOTION IS Dð PASS AND
RE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON
HUMAN SERVICES ASSEMBLY MEMBER
DOCTOR BAINS. AYE. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MATHIS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
CERVANTES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
FRIEDMAN ASSEMBLY MEMBER. JO.
PATTERSON. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
RODRIGUEZ ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
BLANCA RUBIO. BEALL BILL HAS
FOUR VOTES. WE'LL LEAVE IT OPEN
FOR ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO SHOW UP
. ITEM NUMBER FIVE AB 2620.
DOCTOR BAINS CALLING ABSENT
MEMBERS. CERVANTES JO PATTERSON.
OH, SORRY. I WENT OUT OF WORDS.
I WENT OUT OF ORDER. EVERYONE
APOLOGIES. ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR,
AB 2410 CALLING ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JO PATTERSON,
ITEM NUMBER 62636. BYE. DOCTOR.
BAINS CALLING ABSENT MEMBERS.
FRIEDMAN. HI JO. PATTERSON.
ASSEMBLY ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AB
2685. BYE. ASSEMBLYWOMAN ORTEGA
CALLING ABSENT MEMBERS.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN CERVANTES, ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT AB 3207 CALLING
ABSENT MEMBERS. CERVANTES RIGHT.
THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY. WE'LL LEAVE
THE CALL OPEN FOR ANOTHER FIVE
MINUTES. IF THERE ARE ANY
MEMBERS IN HOUSE, IF THEY CAN
COME OVER AND VOTE. CALL MR.
PATTERSON CALLING MR. PATTERSON
.
ITEM NUMBER ONE AB 1989 CALLING
ABSENT. MEMBER JO PATTERSON I.
ITEM NUMBER TWO. AB 2075.
CALLING ABSENT. MEMBER JO
PATTERSON. ITEM NUMBER THREE
CALLING AB 2207 CALLING ABSENT.
MEMBER JO PATTERSON. ITEM NUMBER
FOUR AB 2410 CALLING ABSENT.
MEMBER JO PATTERSON. I ITEM
NUMBER FIVE AB 2620 CALLING
ABSENT. MEMBER JO PATTERSON.
ITEM NUMBER SIX AB 2636. CALLING
ABSENT MEMBER JO PATTERSON. ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN AB TWO SIX. OH,
THOSE GOT OUT. ALL BILLS HAVE
BEEN VOTED ON. THIS ADJOURNS THE
COMMITTEE ON AGING AND LONG TUM
CARE AND ALL THE BILLS ARE OUT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, FOR MY
BUSINESS. SEE YOU LATER. OH. YOU
DID. OH. YOU'RE GOOD. GOOD. YEAH
GREAT JOB. YEAH I. KNOW.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. YES MY
BOSS WOULD LIKE. TO.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LET PEOPLE
KNOW WHO I. THANK YOU. OH,
YOU'RE WELCOME. REALLY? THE
CREDIT. CREDIT FOR THE ACCOUNT
STARTED. ON THE NØ. I KNOW THAT
THE CHARTER. I DON'T GET TO SAY
NO. YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY. JUST
GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT. ONE. TWO.
THREE. ONE. TWO. THREE. THANK
YOU. WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GRAB A SELFIE WITH YOU.
WATCH NOW. COME BACK. THIS ONE?
YEAH.