ALL RIGHT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU GUYS SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGING
AND LONG TERM CARE HEARING TO
DECIDE SENATE BILLS. THERE IS AN
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK HAPPENING
IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL TODAY.
WE ARE ASKING ALL AGING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO JOIN US NOW
TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO HEAR
OUR SENATE AGING RELATED BILLS
AND MOVE EVERYONE ON TO THEIR
OTHER COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
SENATORS, YOUR BILLS WILL BE
HEARD IN FILE ITEM ORDER 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 MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE
TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE IN ROOM
FOUR FOUR, FOUR. IF ANY MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ROOM WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT. AFTER A BILL IS
PRESENTED, I WILL ASK YOU TO
APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. SO AT THIS
TIME WE WILL PROCEED AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE. IN THE ABSENCE OF
A QUORUM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
START WITH SB 37. SENATOR ANNA
CABALLERO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT SB 37, WHICH WILL CREATE
A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE HOUSING
SUBSIDIES TO SENIOR ADULTS AND
ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
CALIFORNIANS ON A FIXED INCOME
FIND IT DIFFICULT TO AFFORD THE
RAPIDLY RISING RENT INCREASES.
MANY OF THESE CALIFORNIANS HAVE
SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES WORKING
AT LOW WAGE JOBS, HAVE SMALL
PENSIONS OR LIVE ON SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS. THEY ARE
INADEQUATE TO COVER THE RISING
RENTS. AS A RESULT, THEY FACE
INSECURITY, HOUSING INSECURITY
AND OUR ONE EMERGENCY AWAY FROM
HOMELESSNESS FOR EXTREMELY LOW
RENTERS, ROUGHLY EIGHT OUT OF
TEN SPEND MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR
MONTHLY INCOME ON RENT, AND
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
COMPRISE ABOUT 46% OF THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND
AS WE KNOW, AFRICAN AMERICAN
HOUSEHOLDS ARE MORE THAN FIVE
TIMES AS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
HOMELESSNESS WHEN COMPARED TO
THE GENERAL POPULATION. IF WE DO
NOTHING SENIOR ADULT
HOMELESSNESS, THOSE ARE
INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65
IS EXPECTED TO TRIPLE BY 2030,
LEAVING VULNERABLE SENIORS ON
THE STREET A KEY GOAL OF THE
CALIFORNIA. THE GOVERNOR'S
CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
IS TO PREVENT AND END ADULT
HOMELESSNESS. TARGETED PROGRAMS
SUCH AS SAFE HOME, SAFE PROGRAM
AND THE HOMELESS AND DISABILITY
ADVOCACY PROGRAM PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE TO HELP ADULTS
ACCESS HOUSING, INCLUDING THOSE
WHO ARE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICE
CLIENTS AND WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
SSI PAYMENTS. HOWEVER, NO
COMPREHENSIVE STATE PROGRAM
EXISTS THAT PROVIDES HOUSING
SUBSIDIES FOR OLDER AND DISABLED
ADULTS WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.
AGAIN, THERE'S NO STATE PROGRAM.
MEANWHILE, HOUSING CHOICE
VOUCHERS AND OTHER FEDERALLY
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROGRAMS
OFTEN TAKE YEARS FOR APPLICANTS
TO ACCESS. AND ONCE YOU SIGN UP
FOR THE PROGRAM, ONLY A FRACTION
BECOME ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. SB
37 WILL PROVIDE A RENT SUBSIDY
TARGETED TO OLDER ADULTS AND
ADULTS WITH DISABILITY, OR WHO
ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS. THE BILL WILL
ESTABLISH THE OLDER ADULTS AND
ADULTS WITH DISABILITY HOUSING
STABILITY ACT, WHICH IS NOT A
REALLY SEXY ACRONYM WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO OFFER
COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, CONTINUUMS OF
CARE, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
WITH THE RESOURCES, EXPERTISE,
AND CULTURAL COMPETENCIES TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SENIOR
INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
STUDIES SHOW THAT LOW INCOME
RENTERS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO
HOUSING SUBSIDIES ARE ABLE TO
REMAIN HOUSED OR TO EXIT
HOMELESSNESS FOR GOOD. PROVIDING
THESE SUBSIDIES FOR LOW INCOME
RENTERS IS ALSO MUCH CHEAPER
THAN PROVIDING SHELTERS FOR
HOMELESS PEOPLE, SO THE BILL IS
A COST EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR
ADDRESSING THE CRISIS. BY
INVESTING IN SUBSIDIES, WE CAN
REACH THE CALIFORNIA MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING'S GOAL TO END SENIOR
HOMELESSNESS. WITH ME HERE TO
TESTIFY TODAY IS YASMIN PILLARD
WITH JUSTICE AND AGING AND
HARRISON LINDER FROM LEADING AGE
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU SENATOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBER
RUBIO, YASMIN PILLARD HERE WITH
JUSTICE AND AGING, WERE ONE OF
THE CO-SPONSORS OF SB 37. AS
YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE
SENATOR, OLDER ADULT
HOMELESSNESS IS A CRISIS IN
CALIFORNIA. OLDER ADULTS
COMPRISE NEARLY HALF OF HOMELESS
CALIFORNIA ADULTS, AND OLDER
ADULTS ARE ALSO THE FASTEST
GROWING AGE GROUP OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE
STATE. OF THOSE OLDER ADULTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
ALMOST HALF ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME
AFTER THE AGE OF 50, SO THEY ARE
AGING INTO HOMELESSNESS. THE
PRIMARY FACTOR BEHIND THIS TREND
IS ECONOMIC. OLDER ADULTS LIVING
ON LOW FIXED INCOMES CANNOT KEEP
UP WITH CALIFORNIA'S RISING
RENTAL COSTS, AS WELL AS THE
RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE AND
OTHER BASIC LIVING EXPENSES. AS
OLDER RENTERS AGE, THEY FACE AN
INCREASED LIKELIHOOD THAT THEIR
FIXED INCOMES HAVEN'T KEPT UP
WITH ESCALATING RENTS OR THEY'VE
DEPLETED THEIR SAVINGS, OR
THEY'VE LOST A SPOUSE, RESULTING
IN OLDER RENTER HOUSEHOLDS AGE
75 AND OLDER ARE FACING THE
HIGHEST COST BURDENS. IT TAKES
JUST ONE CRISIS TO PUSH PEOPLE
ONTO THE STREETS. IN ORDER TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, THE STATE
MUST FOCUS ON PROVEN HOMELESS
PREVENTION STRATEGIES. AND A
KNOWN WAY TO DO THIS IS WITH
RENTAL SUBSIDIES. SB 37, LIKE
THE SENATOR MENTIONED, PROPOSES
TO CREATE A TARGETED RENTAL
SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM FOR OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO ARE AT IMMINENT
RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE
PROGRAM WOULD BEGIN IN UP TO
FIVE GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE
COUNTIES. UNDERSTANDING THAT
OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT
JUST A PROBLEM IN OUR URBAN
COUNTIES, BUT ALSO IN RURAL
AREAS. STUDIES SHOW THAT THESE
SHALLOW RENT SUBSIDIES ARE,
REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO STAY IN
THEIR HOMES. THE POLICY PROPOSAL
IN SB 37 HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY A
LARGE AND BROAD COALITION OF
ADVOCATES FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS, AND AGAIN, AS THE SENATOR
MENTIONED, ENDING AND PREVENTING
OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS IS A
KEY GOAL OF THE STATE'S MASTER
PLAN FOR AGING AND DESPITE THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET DEFICIT, WE CANNOT
HOLD BACK ON INVESTING IN
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. FOR
THESE REASONS. WE'RE REQUESTING
YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, AND THANK
YOU. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME. HELLO, CHAIR BAINES AND
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HARRISON
LINDER. I'M THE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING POLICY FOR
LEADINGAGE CALIFORNIA, ONE OF
THE CO-SPONSORS OF SB 37.
LEADINGAGE CALIFORNIA IS THE
STATE'S LEADING ADVOCATE FOR
MISSION DRIVEN HOUSING, CARE AND
SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR OLDER
ADULTS. APPROXIMATELY 400 OF OUR
OVER 800 MEMBERS ARE NONPROFIT
PROVIDERS OF AFFORDABLE SENIOR
HOUSING. TODAY, AS MY CO-SPONSOR
MENTIONED, NEARLY HALF OF
CALIFORNIA'S UNHOUSED POPULATION
IS 50 AND OVER, AND OLDER ADULTS
CONTINUE TO BE THE FASTEST
GROWING COHORT OF CALIFORNIA'S
UNHOUSED POPULATION. THIS IS
PRIMARILY DUE TO THE GROWING
GULF BETWEEN HOUSING COSTS AND
THE FIXED INCOMES, LIKE SOCIAL
SECURITY AND SSI, THAT MANY
OLDER CALIFORNIANS RELY ON.
ACCORDING TO UCSF, ABOUT ONE
FIFTH OF CALIFORNIA'S ENTIRE
UNHOUSED POPULATION ARE PEOPLE
50 AND OLDER, EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IN CONTRAST TO THE COMMON
PORTRAYAL OF HOMELESSNESS AS
SOMETHING EXPERIENCED BY THOSE
WITH SEVERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ISSUES OR MENTAL ILLNESS, THESE
OLDER CALIFORNIANS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME
WERE LIKELY STABLY HOUSED BEFORE
THEY FELL INTO HOMELESSNESS. THE
MOST COMMON CAUSE FOR
HOMELESSNESS AMONG OLDER
CALIFORNIANS IS A SUDDEN LOSS OR
REDUCTION OF INCOME, AND A
SHALLOW RENT SUBSIDY, LIKE WHAT
IS PROPOSED IN SB 37, WOULD HAVE
BEEN ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM STABLY
HOUSED. LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA'S
AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING
PROVIDER MEMBERS HERE FROM OLDER
ADULTS LIKE THIS ON A NEAR DAILY
BASIS, HOPING FOR AN AVAILABLE,
AFFORDABLE UNIT IN ALMOST EVERY
CASE, THE BEST OUR MEMBERS CAN
DO IS PUT THEM ON THEIR YEARS
LONG WAITING LIST. ONCE UNHOUSED
OLDER ADULTS STRUGGLE MORE THAN
OTHERS TO ACCESS SERVICES AND
PERMANENT REHOUSING. ON AVERAGE,
IT TAKES TWO YEARS FROM THE TIME
AN OLDER ADULT BECOMES UNHOUSED
TO START ACCESSING SERVICES, AND
OLDER ADULTS WITH COMMON HEALTH
CONDITIONS SUCH AS INCONTINENCE
ARE BEING TURNED AWAY FROM
SHELTER BEDS, IN MANY CASES
CAUSING OLDER ADULTS TO REMAIN
UNHOUSED LONGER AND CREATING
MORE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. AS
UNHOUSED, OLDER ADULTS OFTEN
HAVE A FUNCTIONAL HEALTH STATUS
OF SOMEONE MUCH OLDER,
EXACERBATING CHRONIC DISEASE AND
DISABILITY, RESULTING IN HIGH
UTILIZATION OF OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEMS. SB 37 WOULD BEGIN TO
ADDRESS OLDER ADULT HOMELESSNESS
BY CREATING A THREE YEAR HOUSING
STABILIZATION PILOT AND UP TO
FIVE DIVERSE COUNTIES OR
GEOGRAPHIC REASONS FOR OLDER
ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES WHO ARE HOMELESS OR
AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS
. THIS BILL HAS BEEN FINE TUNED
OVER THREE YEARS OF WORK BY A
COALITION OF HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES EXPERTS,
AND INCLUDES SAFEGUARDS TO
ENSURE FUNDS GO TO THOSE WHO
NEED IT MOST. IT ALSO REQUIRES
THE STATE TO WORK WITH LOCAL
HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO MOVE
SUBSIDY RECIPIENTS ONTO LONG
TERM HUD SUBSIDIES, OR INCLUDING
VOUCHERS OR UNITS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS POLICY
SPACE, AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE
GOING TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM REAL
QUICK. DOCTOR BARNES HERE.
MATHIS. CERVANTES EASILY.
FRIEDMAN HERE. RODRIGUEZ. RUBIO
HERE. WE NOW HAVE A QUORUM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE
HERE, IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL,
CLIFTON WILSON, ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR
MADERA, MARIN AND FRESNO, ALSO
ON BEHALF OF THE CITIES OF LOS
ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA. AND
THEN LASTLY, ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY AND THE COUNTY OF SAN
FRANCISCO, ALL IN SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. LAUREN REBOVICH. I'M HERE
WITH HOUSING CALIFORNIA, AND I'M
ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, PAUL GONSALVES, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY OF 1000 OAKS
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. JASON
GAPPER WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S
ASSOCIATION IN SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON, CAROLINE GRINDER, ON
BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES IN SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ELIZABETH
ESPINOSA, ON BEHALF OF THE
COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS
ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS WELL AS
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY LIVING
NETWORK AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
JUSTIN GARRETT WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES IN SUPPORT. EDUARDO
RUBALCAVA, VOLUNTEER WITH AARP,
AARP, AND 3.2 MILLION AARP
MEMBERS HERE IN CALIFORNIA
STRONGLY SUPPORT SB 37. THANK
YOU. CAROL SWARTZLANDER,
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING
AND SUPPORT, CLAY KEMP AREA
AGENCY ON AGING OF SANTA CRUZ
AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES, AND
ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE
STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR THE MASTER PLAN FOR AGING.
SPEAKING IN A VERY STRONG
SUPPORT. I HAVE A MOVE BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER RUBIO AND SECOND
BY SOME MEMBER FRIEDMAN. ANYONE
IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL?
OKAY. SEEING AND HEARING NOTHING
ELSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR
ANNA CABALLERO, FOR BRINGING
THIS IMPORTANT BILL FORWARD. AND
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE
A PRINCIPAL COAUTHOR. THIS BILL
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OLDER
ADULT HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE
HEARD FROM EXPERTS ALL OF THE
DATA, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN
ANYTHING PUT IN PLAN IN ACTION
TO AMELIORATE THIS SITUATION. WE
SHARE REPRESENTING UNDERSERVED
AREAS HERE IN SACRAMENTO. SO I
JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THESE
AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITIES LIKE
OURS IN MORE URBAN SETTINGS. THE
AMOUNT OF SERVICES AND POINTS OF
CONTACT INCREASES, WHILE THERE
ARE ALWAYS FINANCIAL DEFICITS IN
SERVING OLDER ADULTS IN AREAS
LIKE KERN COUNTY AND YOURS, THEY
ARE EXACERBATED. HOUSING
SUBSIDIES ARE IMPORTANT IN
REMOTE AND UNDERSERVED COUNTIES
AS WELL, ANY OTHER MEMBERS
WISHING TO COMMENT ON THIS BILL,
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
SENATOR CABALLERO, IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO CLOSE THINGS, I KNOW
THAT YOU ARE VERY AWARE OF THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, IN
PARTICULAR THE SENIORS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, IT'S I APPRECIATE
YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING ME AS A PRINCIPAL
COAUTHOR, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
THE LIVES THAT OUR SENIORS HAVE
LED AND THE AND, AND THE CARE OR
LACK OF CARE WITH WHICH THEY
HAVE BEEN TREATED, IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEIR LAST YEARS ARE LIVED
IN COMFORT AND THAT THEY'RE NOT
ON THE STREETS. SO I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR I VOTE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, AND
THE AND THE MOTION IS TO DO PASS
AND REFER RE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
FILE ITEM ONE SB 37. DOCTOR
BAINES A MATHIS. CERVANTES.
ASSAIL. FRIEDMAN RODRIGUEZ.
BLANCO. RUBIO. THAT IS THREE
VOTES. BILLS ON CALL. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, SENATOR CABALLERO. NEXT
ITEM WE HAVE IS FILE ITEM TWO.
SB 1249. SENATOR ROTH. GOOD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, AND
MEMBERS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO
THANK THE CHAIR AND HER STAFF
FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY AND
COLLABORATIVELY WITH MY OFFICE
AND THE STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP
AMENDMENTS THAT GREATLY IMPROVE
THIS BILL. THE BILL SEEKS TO
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
CALIFORNIA'S RAPIDLY AGING
POPULATION BY MODERNIZING
CALIFORNIA'S OLDER CALIFORNIANS
ACT. CURRENTLY, AS YOU KNOW,
AGING SERVICES ARE DELIVERED BY
33 AREA AGENCIES ON AGING,
COVERING ALL 58 COUNTIES. THIS
NETWORK WAS FIRST PUT IN PLACE
NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE
OLDER ADULT POPULATION WAS MUCH
SMALLER AND LESS DIVERSE. A LOT
HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 50
YEARS, AND BY 2031, IN FOUR
CALIFORNIANS WILL BE AGED 60 OR
OLDER. THIS DRAMATIC DEMOGRAPHIC
SHIFT, AS WELL AS THE CHANGING
NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES, REQUIRES THAT WE
REEXAMINE HOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM
DELIVERS AGING SERVICES. THE
BILL MODERNIZES AND STRENGTHENS
THE STATE AGING SERVICES IN
SEVERAL WAYS, WHICH THE MOST
RECENT SET OF AMENDMENTS CLARIFY
AND OUTLINE IN MORE DETAIL. I
SHOULD NOTE THAT THE AMENDMENTS
WERE THE PRODUCT OF MANY
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH OUR
OFFICE TO SPONSOR THE COMMISSION
ON AGING, THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT ON AGING, WHO WILL BE
IMPLEMENTING THE BILL, COMMITTEE
STAFF AND C4 MEMBERS THAT
REPRESENT BOTH NONPROFIT AND
COUNTY RUN TRIPLE A'S. DURING
THESE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, C4
MEMBERS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT
THE BILL'S LACK OF CLARITY
REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT ON
AGING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS AND THE CONTENT TO BE
ADDRESSED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
RULES AND REGULATIONS. BY
PROVIDING THAT CLARITY, MEMBERS
OF C4, BOTH COUNTIES AND
NONPROFITS SHOULD FEEL ASSURED
THAT THERE WILL BE A CLEAR,
TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT
WELCOMES THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON
THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
BASICALLY, THE AMENDMENTS
OUTLINE THE ACTIONS THE
DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE IN
CONSULTATION WITH AREA AGENCIES
AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND THOSE
INCLUDE IDENTIFYING CORE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR ALL
LOCAL TRIPLE A'S TO PROVIDE,
UPDATING THE INTEREST RATE
FUNDING FORMULA BASED ON ANY
REVISED AREA. AGING ON AGING
AREA AGENCY ON AGING
DESIGNATIONS, AND ANY
MODIFICATIONS TO PLANNING
SERVICE AREA, BOUNDARY MAP.
SERVICE AREA MAP BOUNDARIES.
DEVELOPING OBJECTIVES. KEY
RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENTS FOR CORE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES. DEVELOPING AN
ENGAGEMENT PLAN TO INCREASE
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO
AGING SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR
OLDER ADULTS AND FAMILIES AND
UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS SUCH AS
BLACK, LATINO, INDIGENOUS, ASIAN
AMERICAN, AND LGBTQ PLUS ADULTS.
THROUGH A STATEWIDE ENGAGEMENT
PLAN. THE AMENDMENTS ALSO DEFINE
WHAT WILL BE ADDRESSED AT A
MINIMUM IN RULES AND REGULATIONS
IN THE PROCESS, WHICH WHICH ARE
THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO
DETERMINING AN AREA AGING ON
AREA AGENCY ON AGING DESIGNATION
, THE CRITERIA USED FOR AN AREA
AGENCY ON AGING DESIGNATION, AND
THREE THE CRITERIA USED TO
REMOVE AN AREA AGENCY ON AGING
DESIGNATION. SUBSTANTIVE AND
SUBSTANTIVE UPDATES TO THE
INTERSTATE FUNDING FORMULA.
BASICALLY, THE INTENT IS TO
ENSURE THAT CHANGES, IF ANY,
WILL BE NOTICED WITH ADEQUATE
TIME, DUE PROCESS, AND APPEALS.
AT ITS CORE, THE BILL FOCUSES ON
ENSURING THAT OLDER ADULTS
RECEIVE THE MOST COORDINATED
CARE DELIVERED BY THE ENTITY
THAT WOULD SERVE THEM BEST. I'M
PLEASED TO HAVE HERE WITH ME
TODAY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE BILL AND ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. MY FRIEND, FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND FORMER CHAIR
OF THIS COMMITTEE AND CURRENT
CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING. SO MEMBER
CHERYL BROWN, AS WELL AS THE
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND
CURRENT COMMISSIONER OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON AGING,
ELLEN SCHMIDLIN. THANK YOU. WOW,
IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I
DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THIS ON.
YES, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SIT ON
THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE, BUT IT'S
WONDERFUL TO BE BACK IN THE
CAPITOL AND BE DOING THIS MOST
IMPORTANT WORK. AS HE SAID, I AM
CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA
COMMISSION ON AGING, AND WE
SPONSORED THIS BILL. 1249 I
SUPPORT THIS BILL AND RECOGNIZE
ITS VALUE NOT JUST IN MY CURRENT
CAPACITY, BUT ALSO AS A FORMER
MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND
FORMER CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE
AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, A
CAREGIVER FOR MY HUSBAND. I
APPRECIATE THE VALUE AND OF THE
PROVISION AND THE QUALITY AND
THE CONSISTENT CORE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
THE BILL'S PROVISIONS BUILD ON
YEARS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT,
RESULTING IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR
AGING AND OUR STATE'S TEN YEAR
BLUEPRINT, AND I WORKED ON THAT
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE MASTER
PLAN ON AGING, SB 1249 ADVANCES
PRIORITIES OF THE MASTER PLAN
FOR AGING BY MODERNIZING. AS MY
FRIEND SAID HERE, AND
STRENGTHENING CALIFORNIA'S AGING
SERVICE NETWORK AND PREPARING
FOR 2030, WHEN ONE QUARTER OF
THE STATE'S POPULATION WILL BE
60 YEARS AND OLDER. CAN YOU
IMAGINE THE BILL'S PROVISIONS
BUILD ON YEARS OF STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT, RESULTING IN THAT
MASTER PLAN THAT I SPOKE OF AND
OUR STATE'S TEN YEAR BLUEPRINT?
I'M ELLEN SCHMIEDING. IT'S GOOD
TO BE HERE AND SEE YOU ALL
TODAY. I AM CURRENTLY SERVING ON
THE COMMISSION ON AGING. I'M THE
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND A
CURRENT COMMISSIONER THAT'S HERE
IN SUPPORT OF SB 1249. THANK
YOU, SENATOR ROTH. I HAVE 28
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS THE
FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
WITH SAINT PAUL SENIOR SERVICES
AND A DIRECTOR OF THE TRIPLE A
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. I'VE SEEN
MANY OF THE PRESSING CHALLENGES
THAT FACE OLDER CALIFORNIA, ONES
THAT ALL REQUIRE A NEW WAY OF
THINKING AND ACTING. WE KNOW
THAT THESE INCLUDE CHALLENGES
LIKE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
AS WE JUST HEARD ON THE PREVIOUS
PRESENTATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
AND INCREASING RATES OF
ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA. IN
2022, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING
CONVENED Kò AREA AGENCY ON AGING
AND COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS,
INCLUDING OUR COMMISSION ON
AGING, TO LAUNCH THE CALIFORNIA
2030 INITIATIVE. MORE THAN 200
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS WERE HELD
, WITH ALL 33 TRIPLE A'S IN THE
STATE PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROCESS. THIS BILL NOW RESPONDS
TO NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND
WERE REQUIRED TO DO SO, AND IT
INCLUDES A RESPONSE TO THE 2030
RECOMMENDATIONS TO IDENTIFY CORE
SERVICES, CREATE PERFORMANCE
METRICS, FOCUS ON THOSE WITH THE
GREATEST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
NEED, AND DEVELOP POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES THAT AFFIRM THIS
CRITICAL ROLE OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS IN PROVIDING AGING
SERVICES. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE
UPDATING THE INTERSTATE FUNDING
FORMULA AND DEVELOPING A
CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PLAN TO
RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF
AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR OLDER
ADULTS. SO THE DEPARTMENT ON
AGING HAS THEIR HANDS FULL AND
CAN ONLY SUCCEED WITH THE
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION. OUR
CURRENT PLANNING AND SERVICE
AREA BOUNDARIES WERE LAST
ADJUSTED IN THE LATE 70S. A LOT
HAS CHANGED THE STATE'S
POPULATION OVER 65 WAS JUST 10%
AT THAT TIME, AND THE MAJORITY
OF OUR ELDERS WERE WHITE OR
CAUCASIAN. HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED?
I BELIEVE THAT SB 1249 WILL
IMPROVE EQUITY, QUALITY AND
CONSISTENCY OF SERVICES PROVIDED
TO OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR
FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF WHERE
THEY LIVE IN THE STATE. IN
DEVELOPING AND REFINING THE
BILL'S PROVISIONS, THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGING, AS WELL AS
THE COMMISSION AND MY FRIEND
SENATOR ROTH AND HIS STAFF AND
THE COMMITTEE HAVE CONDUCTED
NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING STAKEHOLDERS
AND INTERESTED PARTIES. AS A
RESULT OF THESE MEETINGS, THE
RECENT AMENDMENT. LET'S ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS REGARDING THE
PROCESS FOR LETTERS OF INTENT
BEING SENT BY THE COUNTIES TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING, AS WELL
AS THE ASSURANCE THAT THE CORE
PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED WILL BE
THOSE FUNDED THROUGH THE OLDER
AMERICANS ACT. THE BILL REQUIRES
CDA TO CONTINUE THIS OPEN
PROCESS THROUGH CONSULTATION
WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ALL REGULATIONS
RELATED TO THIS BILL. THIS
TRANSPARENT PROCESS BUILDS UPON
THE PREVIOUS COLLABORATIVE
EFFORTS TO BUILD AN AGING
NETWORK THAT PROVIDES EFFECTIVE,
NECESSARY SERVICES THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. FINALLY, I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE
HARD WORK OF SENATOR ROTH AND
HIS STAFF AND ELIZABETH FULLER,
THE CHIEF CONSULTING FOR THE
ASSEMBLY AGING AND LONG TERM
CARE COMMITTEE, WHO CONVENED THE
MEETINGS WITH MANY INTERESTED
PARTIES AND SPENT MANY HOURS
CRAFTING THE MOST RECENT
AMENDMENTS. I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
, AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE AND
ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND PASS THE
BILL. 1249 AUTHORED BY BY NONE
OTHER THAN SENATOR ROTH. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. MOVED BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER RUBIO, SECONDED
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODRIGUEZ,
WELCOME TO THE CHAMBERS, IT'S AN
HONOR TO HAVE YOU BACK, WE'LL GO
AHEAD AND PROCEED TO ANYONE IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS CATHY MOSS WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING. WE WANT TO
RESTATE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE
MADE. WE REALLY VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT. ALL THE WORK DONE BY
YOUR STAFF. WE REALLY THANK
SENATOR ROTH AND HIS STAFF AS
WELL. AND CERTAINLY THE
DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING WITH US
TO MAKE THIS A BETTER BILL. WE
NOW SUPPORT. WE ARE SORRY OUR
LETTER DIDN'T GET INTO MUCH
LATER. IT JUST GOT IN THE LAST
HOUR. SO WE DO SUPPORT THE BILL.
WE NEEDED TIME TO VET THE
LANGUAGE. WE DO STILL HAVE SOME
LINGERING CONCERNS AS IT RELATES
TO MOVING FORWARD AND
REALIGNMENT, BUT WHAT IT WILL
MEAN FISCALLY TO LOCAL AREAS,
MAKING SURE WE CAN PROVIDE ALL
THOSE SERVICES TO SENIORS. BUT
WE DO KNOW WE HAVE GOOD PARTNERS
TO WORK WITH AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO DOING THAT. SO AGAIN, THANK
YOU. WE DO SUPPORT. YASMEEN
PELLET WITH JUSTICE AND AGING
AND SUPPORT. JASON GEPHARDT WITH
THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION IN
SUPPORT. SELENA KOBE HORNBACK
WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSISTED
LIVING ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT.
ELIZABETH ESPINOSA ON BEHALF OF
THE COUNTY RIVERSIDE IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. AGAIN EDUARDO
RUBALCAVA AARP VOLUNTEER
REPRESENTING 3.2 MILLION AARP
VOLUNTEERS HERE IN THE GREAT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, STRONGLY
SUPPORT SB THIS BILL. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANYONE IN OPPOSITION? SPEAKERS
HAVE TWO MINUTES. DO YOU WANT ME
AT THE TABLE AS THE OPPOSITION
VOICE OR YOU WOULD LIKE, ELLEN'S
NODDING YES TO ME, SO I'LL NEVER
PASS UP A INVITATION. WELCOME.
THANKS. THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION, CLAY KEMP,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TRIPLE
A OF SANTA CRUZ AND MONTEREY AND
SAN BENITO COUNTIES, WE ARE
SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION, A COUPLE
THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT THE AMENDMENTS
ARE GREAT. REALLY HAPPY TO SEE
THOSE, THANK THE SENATOR AND
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR PUTTING
THOSE IN PLACE. MUCH IMPROVED.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS WE STILL
NEED TO ADDRESS, I THINK. AND
JUST SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE, I'M
SPEAKING ABOUT THAT. AND THESE
ARE ALL MY NORMAL ALLIES. SO
IT'S A LITTLE BIT AWKWARD TO
SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING. BUT A COUPLE OF
WAYS TO IMPROVE THE BILL. I
TOTALLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF
SETTING CRITERIA BY WHICH TRIPLE
A'S ARE MEASURED. I THINK THERE
NEEDS TO BE A MORE EQUITY IN
THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE THE BILL
CURRENTLY FOCUSES ON NONPROFITS
AND ON JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT,
AND IT SEEMS LIKE COUNTIES ARE
HELD EXEMPT FROM THAT CRITERIA.
SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO JUST
CREATE A MORE LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD ABOUT THAT AND MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT THE CRITERIA, IS HELD
TO ALL TRIPLE A'S, NOT JUST
CERTAIN ONES, ALSO CONCERNED
ABOUT THE PRIORITY SETTING BY
THE STATE, THE OLDER AMERICANS
ACT ALLOWS FOR LOCAL PRIORITY
AND DETERMINATION OF WHAT
SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN
EACH LOCAL AREA, BECAUSE WE KNOW
NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL. WE KNOW
THAT WHAT'S GOOD AND WHAT WORKS
IN SOME PLACE LIKE RURAL SAN
BENITO COUNTY, IS REALLY
DIFFERENT THAN DOWNTOWN LOS
ANGELES OR IN THE FAR NORTH,
ETC. ETC. SO REALLY LIKE TO,
JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE SIZE
DOESN'T FIT ALL. ANOTHER PIECE
OF THAT IS THAT FUNDING WE
RECEIVE COMES CATEGORICALLY
CALIFORNIA ONLY PROVIDES FUNDING
IN ONE CATEGORY, AND THAT'S
SENIOR NUTRITION. SO IF WE'RE
GOING TO REPRIORITIZE SERVICES
TO PROVIDE ANY MEANINGFUL
SERVICES, THERE NEEDS TO BE
RESOURCES THAT GO WITH IT. THE
ONLY WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE
SHIFTING MONEY AWAY FROM
NUTRITION. AND DUE TO SOME
COMPLEXITIES OF THE FUNDING, WE
COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE STATE
FUNDING. WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE
FEDERAL NUTRITION HOME DELIVERED
MEALS, DOLLARS INTO WHATEVER THE
STATE DETERMINES AS PRIORITY.
AND WE THINK THAT'S NOT A GREAT
MODEL. COULD YOU PLEASE WRAP UP
COMMENTS? DEFINITELY WRAP UP,
DIVERSITY OF ALL TRIPLE A'S. I
THINK IS A DIVERSITY IN TRIPLE A
MODELS I THINK IS A STRONG ASSET
OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW. THERE'S
THINGS WE CAN DO AS NONPROFITS
THAT COUNTY BASED SYSTEMS CAN'T.
AND THERE'S THINGS THAT COUNTY
BASED SYSTEMS CAN DO THAT
NONPROFITS CAN'T. SO THE ENTIRE
NETWORK HAS REALLY STRENGTHENED
BY HAVING THAT MIXTURE OF
SERVICE TYPES. AND WE WOULD JUST
ENCOURAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT
EQUITY REMAINS IN THAT DIVERSITY
IN AGENCY STRUCTURE CONTINUES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE
IN OPPOSITION. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, TO THE SPONSORS OF THE
BILL AND TO THE OPPOSITION,
LET'S DEFINITELY WORK ON
ESTABLISHING THIS BILL AS IT HAS
SEEN A LENGTHY AND ROBUST
DISCUSSION IN THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE PROCESS, THANK YOU,
SENATOR ROTH, FOR BRINGING THIS
BILL BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. I
THINK THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY
IS A REFLECTION OF THE DEEPLY
INVOLVED AGING COMMITTEE PROCESS
AND THE CONCERNS THAT REMAIN
WILL ULTIMATELY FIND RESOLUTION
THROUGH THE MANDATED RULES AND
REGULATIONS DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF
THIS BILL. I ENCOURAGE AND I
KNOW THERE'S STILL PROCESSES TO
BE HAPPENING AND, YOU KNOW,
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE
OPPOSITION AS WELL. AND I HAVE
FOR DEFINITE, FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT SENATOR ROTH WILL CONTINUE
NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKS ON THAT,
WITH THAT, ANYONE ELSE FROM THE
COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. CLERK, IF
YOU CAN PLEASE CALL ROLL. THE
MOTION IS Dð PASS AND WE REFER
TO THE COMMITTEE ON
APPROPRIATIONS. FILE ITEM TWO SB
1249. DOCTOR BAINS I MATHIS
CERVANTES EASILY. FRIEDMAN.
RODRIGUEZ. BLANCO RUBIO. HI. AS
FOR VOTES, THE BILL IS OUT.
WE'LL LEAVE THE ROLL CALL OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, MEMBERS, FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHERS. RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO
TAKE THIS. WAIT A MINUTE TO TAKE
A PICTURE OF HERE TO I THINK.
YEAH. OH. THANK YOU. HEY
FREDDIE. HOW YOU DOING? MAY BE
MEMBER BROWN. I GOT A HAVE A
HAVE THEY BEEN. WE ARE CURRENTLY
JUST WAITING FOR SENATOR WAHAB
AND SENATOR ALLEN TO MAKE THEIR
WAY TO THE CHAMBERS. AND WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH OUR FINAL TWO
BILLS. THANK YOU.
SENATOR ALLEN, WELCOME TO THE
CHAMBERS. WE'LL PROCEED WITH
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. SB 1406. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE THE, THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO PRESENT, LET ME LET ME FIRST
START BY THANKING THE COMMITTEE
AND THE CHAIR FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND FEEDBACK ON
THIS BILL, WHICH ULTIMATELY IS
ALL ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND
FAIRNESS FOR SENIORS. WE KNOW
THAT SENIORS ARE THE FASTEST
GROWING POPULATION OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. YOU
KNOW, BY BETWEEN 2017, 2021, THE
HOMELESS POPULATION, SORRY, THE
SENIOR POPULATION ONLY GREW BY
7. YET THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 55
AND OVER WHO SOUGHT HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES INCREASED BY 84. OF
COURSE, WE HAD THE PANDEMIC IN
THERE AND OTHER OTHER SHOCKS TO
OUR OUR ECONOMY, BUT, WHAT A
WILD DATA POINT, BY 2030, THE
NUMBER OF SENIORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS
EXPECTED TO TRIPLE, AND SO,
AMIDST THIS GROWING CRISIS, WE
HAVE THIS PROLIFERATION OF
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, ALSO
KNOWN AS RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY.
RCAF'S WE ALWAYS COME UP WITH
GREAT ACRONYMS. AND THEY IN MANY
CASES HAVE BEEN RAISING THE
COST. THE RATES THAT THEY CHARGE
RESIDENTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. AND
NOW YOU SEE A PROLIFERATION OF
INVESTORS, REGIONAL COMPANIES,
INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE TRUSTS
HAVE BEEN JUMPING INTO THE
BUSINESS. SO WE SAW AN INDUSTRY
SURVEY THAT SHOWED SOMETHING
LIKE HALF OF THE OPERATORS IN
THE BUSINESS OF ASSISTED LIVING
EARN RETURNS OF 20% OR MORE
ABOVE THE COST TO RUN THE
FACILITIES. AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. YOU KNOW, IT'S
OPEN, OPEN MARKET. BUT, BUT
LET'S REMEMBER WHO WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE ON THE ON THE SERVICE
RECIPIENT END, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
OLDER PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD, YOU
KNOW, THOSE THAT ACTUALLY CAN
AFFORD AN ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITY OFTENTIMES FIND THEIR
LIFE SAVINGS TOTALLY DRAINED
FROM THE EXPERIENCE, AND UNLIKE
RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES WHERE
CARE IS GENERALLY PAID FOR BY
MEDICAID, ASSISTANT RESIDENT,
ASSISTANT LIVING RESIDENTS OR
THEIR FAMILIES USUALLY SHOULDER
THE FULL COST, I, YOU KNOW, MOST
SENIORS ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.
RATES HAVE SOARED WELL ABOVE THE
RATE OF INFLATION OR SOCIAL
SECURITY COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENTS. AND SO THIS BILL
SEEKS TO STEP INTO THIS AREA. BY
GIVING ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS
AND THEIR FAMILIES A GREATER
AUTONOMY OVER THEIR CARE, AND
HELP TO AVOID UNDUE FINANCIAL
BURDENS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST
HEARD SOME HORROR STORIES, MANY,
MANY ACTUALLY, OF FAMILIES THAT
ARE, PEOPLE WHOSE, WHOSE, WHOSE
ENTIRE LIFE SAVINGS HAVE BEEN
DRAINED, NEW COSTS THAT THAT
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN FIND OUT ABOUT
UNTIL THEIR LOVED ONE IS DEAD.
SO, WHAT ARE WE SEEKING TO DO
HERE? WE WANT TO. WE'RE
REQUIRING FACILITIES TO PROVIDE
A DETAILED JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY
RATE INCREASE WHILE CAPPING
ANNUAL INCREASES AT 5, PLUS THE
PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE COST OF
LIVING INDEX, PLUS ONE HALF THE
PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE ANNUAL
MEDIAN WAGE. SO WE GIVE A LOT
OF, OF LEEWAY. BUT WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE FOLKS
REALLY SEE THEIR RATES UP, THAT
THERE HAS TO BE SOME
JUSTIFICATION. AND THEN WE ALSO
ASK THAT WE EXTEND THE NOTICE
PERIOD FOR RATE INCREASES FROM
60 TO 90 DAYS, TO GIVE SENIORS
AND THEIR FAMILIES THE NECESSARY
TIME TO DETERMINE IF THEY CAN
AFFORD THE HIGHER RATES, OR IF
THEY SHOULD APPEAL THE RATE
CHANGE, OR FIND AN ALTERNATIVE
SETTING THAT MIGHT WORK BETTER
FOR THEM, THIS IS NOT LIKE A
RESTAURANT THAT JACKS UP ITS
RATES, AND YOU CAN MAKE A QUICK
DECISION AS YOU WANT TO EAT
THERE OR NOT. THESE ARE PLACES
WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING AND
OFTENTIMES THESE THE PEOPLE ARE
VERY VULNERABLE. THEY DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. SO I DO
WANT TO THANK ALL THE
STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED
ENGAGEMENT ON THE BILL. IF THE
BILL MOVES FORWARD TODAY, I'M
VERY COMMITTED TO ENSURING
ADEQUATE TIME FOR DISCUSSIONS
WITH EVERYONE TO ADDRESS
REMAINING CONCERNS ABOUT THE CAP
IN THE RARE EVENT OF FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP AND, JOINING ME TODAY
HERE IS TONY CHICOTEL FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR NURSING
HOME REFORM, TO PROVIDE SOME
EXPERT, EXPERT TESTIMONY ON
THIS, ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I'M
TONY CHICOTEL, SENIOR STAFF
ATTORNEY FOR CALIFORNIA
ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME
REFORM. WE'RE THE SPONSOR OF THE
BILL. AND, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT
TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL
OF ITS HELP IN TRYING TO CRAFT,
AMENDMENTS THAT WORK FOR
EVERYBODY AND PUTTING A LOT OF
TIME AND EFFORT ON THAT. SO OVER
THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE
GENERALLY OPERATE A HOTLINE FOR
CALIFORNIA'S LONG TERM CARE
CONSUMERS IN CALIFORNIA AND
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. AND OVER
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE
HAD AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF
CALLS RELATED TO RCAF RATE
INCREASES, BEYOND WHAT WE WOULD
NORMALLY GET 30, 40, 50. I CITED
IN OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT. ONE
FACILITY IN RIVERSIDE INCREASED
THEIR RATES BY 265% WHEN THEY
HAD A MANAGEMENT CHANGE.
RESIDENTS ARE VERY ILL SUITED
FOR THESE ENORMOUS RATE
INCREASES, THEY HAVE FIXED
INCOMES AND DWINDLING ASSETS.
THE NEW YORK TIMES RECENTLY DID
A SERIES ON THE ENORMOUS COSTS
THEY CALLED THE SERIES DYING
BROKE AND CALLED THE FEES,
OFTENTIMES CRUSHINGLY HIGH. SO
SB 1406 CAPS RATE INCREASES.
SIMILARLY SIMILARLY TO HOW WE
CAP RENT INCREASES IN ALL RENTAL
UNITS USING A FORMULA THAT TAKES
INTO ACCOUNT GENERAL INFLATION
PLUS WAGE INCREASES FOR THE
CAREGIVERS, 1406 ALSO GIVES
RESIDENTS 90 DAYS INSTEAD OF 60
DAYS. ADVANCE NOTICE OF RATE
INCREASES. THIS WILL ADDRESS THE
FACT THAT THE DISABLED RESIDENTS
OF OUR CDFIS HAVE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES IN FINDING AND MOVING
INTO NEW HOMES WHEN THEY ARE
PRICED OUT OF THEIR CURRENT
HOME, MORE TIME WILL BE VERY
HELPFUL TO THEM, SB 1406
CLARIFIES AND EXPANDS RATE
INCREASE PROTECTIONS FOR
ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS AND
THUS PROVIDES HOUSING STABILITY
FOR A HIGHLY VULNERABLE
POPULATION OF CALIFORNIANS WITH
LIMITED HOUSING OPTIONS AND
STOPS EXCESSIVE RATE INCREASES
IN ASSISTED LIVING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE IN
SUPPORT? SEEING NONE. ANYONE IN
OPPOSITION.
YOU GUYS HAVE TWO MINUTES EACH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. AMBER KING
WITH LEADINGAGE CALIFORNIA,
REPRESENTING NONPROFIT PROVIDERS
OF CARE SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR
OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING OUR CFE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE HERE IN
RESPECTFUL OPPOSITION. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD
WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND THE
SPONSOR AND THE COMMITTEE STAFF,
WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF
WHERE THE BILL IS AT THIS
CURRENT POINT, WE UNFORTUNATELY
ARE STILL IN OPPOSITION TO, THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WE
BELIEVE, COULD COME ABOUT IF
THIS BILL WERE TO, TO BECOME LAW
IN ITS CURRENT FORM, WE HOPE TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR
AND SPONSOR TO ADDRESS THOSE
ARCHIVES THAT, ARE IN FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP AND MAY NEED TO
INCREASE THEIR RATES ABOVE THE
CAP. THE FORMULA THAT IS IN THE
BILL. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE
CHOOSING TO SERVE OLDER ADULTS
WITH INCREASED HIGHER LEVELS OF
NEED. AND WITH THAT, THEY'RE
HAVING TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR,
CLINICAL STAFF AT A MUCH HIGHER
RATE. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE
CHOOSING TO EMPLOY RNS AND LVNS,
TO STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TREAT ALL
OF THOSE PATIENTS, AND THAT COST
IS NOT NECESSARILY COVERED BY
THE WAGE INDEX FORMULA THAT'S
INCLUDED IN THE BILL, AND SO WE
CONTINUE TO HOPE TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND WORK OUT OUR
DIFFERENCES IN THAT SPACE, AS
THE OLDER ADULT DEMOGRAPHIC IS
SHIFTING IN CALIFORNIA, LEADING
EDGE CALIFORNIA REMAINS
COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESS
TO LONG TERM CARE SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS, INCLUDING OUR CFE. AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
NOT HINDERING THAT PROGRESS WITH
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RICK JENSEN,
AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
NORTH STAR SENIOR LIVING AND A
BOARD MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION. WE
ARE BASED IN REDDING,
CALIFORNIA, WE CURRENTLY OPERATE
18 ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SERVE
ABOUT 1500 OLDER ADULTS IN
CALIFORNIA. I'M HERE TODAY IN MY
ROLE AS A CALIFORNIA BOARD
MEMBER OR CAL BOARD MEMBER TO
EXPRESS OUR GREAT APPRECIATION
TO THE AUTHOR, THE SPONSOR, AND
ALSO TO THIS COMMITTEE,
PARTICULARLY LIZ, WHO HAVE
REALLY HELPED US WORK THROUGH
OUR DIFFERENCES AND TO ENSURE
THE INTEGRITY OF THE MODEL OF
CARE OF ASSISTED LIVING, WHICH
IS A CRITICAL AND NECESSARY
MODEL FOR OUR SENIORS AND THEIR
FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. I I, I SHUDDER JUST
A LITTLE BIT, WITH THE
INTRODUCTION A LITTLE BIT,
BECAUSE THIS IS A GREAT SERVICE
INDUSTRY FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT
SOMEWHERE FOR THEIR MOM OR DAD
TO GO TO AND NEED SOMEWHERE FOR
THEIR MOM OR DAD TO GO AND IT
NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE A VIABLE
BUSINESS OPTION, AND I DO
APPRECIATE, THOUGH, ALL OF THE
WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THE,
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THE WORK
BEHIND THE SCENES, BECAUSE AT
THIS POINT, THE, CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION IS
GRATEFULLY REMOVING OUR
OPPOSITION, TO THIS BILL. AND WE
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S WORK IN
GETTING US TO THAT POINT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE
ELSE IN OPPOSITION? THÀNH. MADAM
CHAIRMAN AND ROXANNE GOULD WITH
A VERY DEEP VOICE TODAY. IT MUST
BE ALLERGIES. I'M REPRESENTING
SIX BEDS, AN ASSOCIATION OF
SMALL RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY. SIX
BEDS OR FEWER. WE'D LIKE TO
THANK THE AUTHOR FOR GOING ABOVE
AND BEYOND AND INCLUDING
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DIALOG, AND
FOR ACCEPTING MANY AMENDMENTS
AND YOUR INCREDIBLY TALENTED
STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US. WE
WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE
CAVEAT IF THE TWO PARTIES AGREE
TO A HIGHER RATE DUE TO WHATEVER
CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WOULD REMOVE
OUR OPPOSITION. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THE COMMITTEE WAS NOTIFIED
EARLIER TODAY THAT THIS BILL IS
NOW MOVING TO THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AS A
DUAL REFERRAL, THIS IS ANOTHER
MEASURE THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT
TIME PUT INTO AMENDMENTS. AND I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK
DONE PRIOR TO THIS HEARING. I
KNOW STAFF FROM THE AUTHOR'S
OFFICE, COMMITTEE STAFF AND
SPONSOR AND STAKEHOLDERS HAVE
WORKED COLLABORATIVELY. I WANT
TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK EVERYONE,
WE NEED TO HOLD TIGHT TO OUR
VALUES AS WE MOVE. AGING POLICY
FORWARD. THE AMENDMENT TAKEN
LAST WEEK, REMOVING THE
PROVISIONS RELATING TO REFUSING
SERVICE WAS A HUGE HURDLE. ALL
INVOLVED SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE
NEED TO SEE RESIDENTS AS FELLOW
HUMANS AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD
DEMANDS A LONGER, HEALTHIER
CONVERSATION ON COMMITTEE STAFF
REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING ON
THAT POLICY AS SOON AS WE END
THIS SESSION, BUT WE DO NEED TO
FIND A BALANCE HERE, AND I WISH
WE COULD HAVE FOUND A RESOLUTION
BEFORE THIS BILL WAS HEARD
TODAY. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE TIGHT
CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE WHEN WE ARE
HEARING BILLS IN THE SECOND
HOUSE. I KNOW THE AUTHOR
RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO WORK WITH
FACILITIES THAT CANNOT OPERATE
UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF THIS
BILL, AND WE HAVE TO FIND A
SOLUTION. DAILY CONVERSATIONS
ARE HAPPENING, AND I'M CONFIDENT
BY THE TIME THIS BILL MOVES
THROUGH THE SECOND POLICY
COMMITTEE AND APPROPRIATIONS, WE
WILL HAVE LANGUAGE THAT ALL
PARTIES FEEL MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
WE CAN'T FAVOR ONE TYPE OF
FACILITY OVER ANOTHER. I WANT TO
SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY. MOVING
FORWARD, BUT WILL AGAIN, STRESS.
THAT THE AUTHOR AND SPONSOR WORK
TOGETHER TO FIND RESOLUTION
THÀNH FOR FACILITIES IN
FINANCIAL DISTRESS, ANYTHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD, SENATOR
ALLEN, TO CLOSE, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND WE
ARE TRYING TO FIND SOME SORT OF
MECHANISM, WHERE WHERE FOLKS IN
FINANCIAL DISTRESS CAN, CAN GET
SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS FINDING
FAIRNESS ACROSS THE BOARD,
NONPROFITS FOR PROFIT. SO I
MEAN, THE FOLKS AROUND THE TABLE
KNOW ALL ABOUT HOW WE'RE
STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO FIND
SOME, SOME, SOME GOOD COMMON
GROUND ON THE LANGUAGE. BUT BUT
I DO WANT TO JUST REITERATE MY
THANKS. AND I YOU KNOW, IT'S
TRUE THAT THERE ARE SOME, THERE
ARE SOME BAD ACTORS, BUT THERE
ARE SO MANY GREAT ACTORS IN THIS
SPACE, WHO ARE WHO ARE PROVIDING
AN IMPORTANT SERVICE FOR OUR FOR
OUR ELDERLY AND FOR OUR AGING.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO GROW AND THRIVE.
AND WE ALL ULTIMATELY, THIS IS,
QUITE FRANKLY, ABOUT CREATING
CONFIDENCE IN THE MARKET SO THAT
FAMILIES AND PEOPLE IN NEED FEEL
CONFIDENT GOING TO THESE
FACILITIES, THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO BE WELL TREATED. THAT AND
HOPEFULLY THIS THIS BILL WILL
ACTUALLY REWARD ALL THE GOOD
ACTORS IN THIS SPACE, BY, YOU
KNOW, SO BECAUSE, BECAUSE OUR,
OUR FAMILIES WILL FEEL BETTER,
WE'LL FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT
ABOUT SENDING OUR LOVED ONES TO
THESE FACILITIES. THAT'S WHAT
THIS IS ULTIMATELY ALL ABOUT.
AND SO IT'S IN THAT SPIRIT THAT
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS, MADAM CHAIR, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK
ON HONING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE
BILL. THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGING
THINGS WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE
WITH IN TERMS OF LANDING
SPECIFICS, BUT I VERY MUCH WOULD
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS AND ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH
. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? THANK YOU, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR, FOR THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE PUT INTO IT. I'VE WORKED
WITH SENATOR ALLEN ON GREAT
NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE, SO I'M
CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN COME TO
AN AGREEMENT. I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT, NO UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES COME FROM THIS. FOR
THOSE GOOD ACTORS YOU MENTIONED,
YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINALLY THE
INTENT IS FOR THE BAD ACTORS,
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING RIGHT
BY OUR FAMILIES, SHOULD BE ABLE
TO, TO FIND SOME REMEDY OR TO,
TO BE COMPENSATED, OR AT LEAST
EVEN IF A KIND WORD OF, HEY, YOU
GUYS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB,
BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES WE
TEND TO PAINT EVERYBODY WITH THE
SAME BRUSH, AND THE GOOD ACTORS
ARE PENALIZED OVER THAT. SO
AGAIN, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL WORK
WITH BOTH SIDES TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYBODY, OR EVERYTHING IS
DONE FAIRLY AND NOT, YOU KNOW,
REALLY THROW A WRENCH IN THE
SYSTEM. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU
AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH
THE SENATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
COME TO AN AGREEMENT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO, MEMBER
RUBIO. ALL RIGHT. MOVED BY
SENATOR RUBIO, SECONDED BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL Ó. THE MOTION IS DUE PASS.
AND WE REFER TO THE COMMITTEE ON
HUMAN SERVICES, ITEM NUMBER
FOUR, SB 14 ZERO SIX, BY SENATOR
ALLEN, DOCTOR BAINS. AYE. MATHIS
CERVANTES. AYE. EASILY FRIEDMAN.
RODRIGUEZ A BLANCO. RUBIO A.
THAT IS FIVE VOTES. THE BILL IS
OUT. WE WILL HOLD FOR ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS THAT ARE ABSENT. WE HAVE
ONE LAST BILL. SB 1352 WAITING
FOR SENATOR WAHAB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR, FOR
JOINING US. IF YOU CAN COME
FORWARD AND WE'LL GET STARTED ON
FILE ITEM NUMBER THREE, SB 1352.
THANK YOU.
RIGHT HERE ON THE RIGHT. THANK
YOU. GUYS ALL RIGHT. CHAIR,
COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK ON THE
AMENDMENTS. I WILL BE ACCEPTING
THEM. SB 1352 ENSURES
INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS OF
CONTINUING CARE. RETIREMENT
COMMUNITIES, ALSO KNOWN AS CRCS,
ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR CIVIL
RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW WHEN THEY
SIGN CONTRACTS TO LIVE THERE.
WHEN INDEPENDENT LIVING
RESIDENTS SIGN THEIR CONTRACTS,
THE EXTENT OF THEIR RIGHTS ARE
NOT DISCLOSED TO THEM. MANY
RESIDENTS THEN REMAIN UNAWARE OF
THEIR RESIDENT OF THEIR RIGHTS
AND FEEL UNCERTAIN ABOUT
ASSERTING THEM. CRCS ARE
LICENSED AS RESIDENTIAL CARE
FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY. ALSO
KNOWN AS RCF EASE. EXISTING LAW
REQUIRES RESIDENTS RECEIVE A
COPY OF THE CCRC BILL OF RIGHTS
UPON SIGNING THEIR CONTRACT. SB
1352 REQUIRES RESIDENTS ALSO
RECEIVE A COPY OF THE RCF BILL
OF RIGHTS AND IF THEY ARE MOVED
TO SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, A
BILL OF RIGHTS SPECIFIC TO THEM
SHALL BE PROVIDED. I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE MY FIRST WITNESS,
TONY CHICOTEL, SENIOR STAFF
ATTORNEY OF THE CALIFORNIA
ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME
REFORM. KANNER AND MARGARET
GRIFFIN, PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA
CONTINUING CARE RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, TONY CHICOTEL WITH
KANNER, CRCS ARE IDENTIFIED BY
HAVING MULTIPLE LEVELS OF CARE.
THAT'S WHAT DISTINGUISHES THEM
FROM OTHER LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES. THEY'RE EACH
LICENSED DIFFERENTLY. THERE'S
DIFFERENT SETS OF RIGHTS AND
LEVELS OF CARE RELATED TO THE
RESIDENTS, AND DIFFERENT
PROTECTIONS, THAT WE OFFER THEM
THROUGH THE REGULATIONS AND
STATUTES. SO MATCHING THE LIST
OF RIGHTS TO THE RESIDENTS, SB
1352 MATCHES THE LEVEL OF CARE
TO THE RESIDENTS RIGHTS THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE INFORMED
OF. IT'S SIMPLE. IT'S
INFORMATIVE. KNOWING THE RIGHTS
IS THE FIRST STEP TO MAKING SURE
THERE'S COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE
RIGHTS. AND OFTENTIMES THE MOST
IMPORTANT STEP, RESIDENTS OF
CRCS TEND TO BE PRETTY
SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS, PRETTY
SAVVY INDIVIDUALS, AND I'M
CONFIDENT THAT BEING MORE AWARE,
BEING MADE MORE AWARE OF THEIR
RIGHTS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN
ENSURING BETTER COMPLIANCE IN
THE FACILITIES. SO RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU
. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON
, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. I'M MARGARET
GRIFFIN, PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA CONTINUING CARE
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, OR CALCA,
A RESIDENT OF A CCRC IN DAVIS,
CALCA IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION
WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS
REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR
SENIORS LIVING IN CRCS. AND WE
ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF SB
1352. WELL, IT'S TRUE THAT ALL
CRCS ARE LICENSED AS RCF AND THE
RCF VÆ SECTION OF THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CODE DOES ADDRESS
RESIDENTS BEING FREE FROM
DISCRIMINATION. BUT IN ADDITION
TO, HOPEFULLY OUR RESIDENTS
BEING COMPETENT, THEY'RE ALSO IN
THEIR 80S AND 90S. AND EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE COVERED BY MOST
SECTIONS OF THE RCF STATUTE, I
REALLY CAN ONLY THINK OF MAYBE A
COUPLE OF MY FELLOW RESIDENTS
WHO WOULD THINK TO LOOK THERE
FOR INFORMATION ON THEIR RIGHTS.
THEY WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO
LOOK AT THE CCRC SECTION OF THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, AND
THERE IS A BILL OF RIGHTS IN
THAT SECTION. BUT TO CITE ONE
DEFICIENCY, THAT LIST DOES NOT
ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF
DISCRIMINATION. AND WITH
BULLYING DISCRIMINATORY
PRACTICES, MORE EVIDENT IN OUR
SOCIETY TODAY, THIS OMISSION IS
WORSE THAN PROBLEMATIC. CURRENT
LAW DOES REQUIRE THAT A COPY OF
THE CCRC RIGHTS BE GIVEN TO
PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS PRIOR TO
CONTRACT EXECUTION, THAT THE
RIGHTS BE ATTACHED TO EVERY
CONTRACT, AND THAT THEY BE
PROMINENTLY POSTED AT THE
FACILITY. BUT AGAIN, THAT
VERSION, THAT LIST OF RIGHTS
DOES NOT ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION.
I'M AWARE OF AN INCIDENT AT ONE
CRC, CCRC, WHERE IT WAS
SUGGESTED TO A GAY COUPLE THAT
THEY TONE IT DOWN A BIT BECAUSE
MANAGEMENT WAS CONCERNED THAT
THEY WOULD GET A REPUTATION AS
BEING A GAY FACILITY,
STIPULATING THE
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISIONS
PROVIDED IN SB 1352 AND THAT
THEY WILL BE UPHELD IS
IMPORTANT, AS THESE PROVISIONS
WILL SERVE TO INFORM, REASSURE
AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS. SINCE
THESE RIGHTS ARE NOT SPECIFIED
IN OUR SECTION OF THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CODE AT THE VERY LEAST,
THEY NEED TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO
RESIDENTS SO THAT WE CAN BE
AWARE OF THESE RIGHTS AND
PROTECTIONS. AS FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. ANYONE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL, PLEASE COME FORWARD. MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, PETER KELLISON, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION, WE
WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR, HER
STAFF, SPECIAL THANKS TO YOUR
STAFF. WE'VE HAD MANY
DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE, LOTS
OF GOING AROUND, AND WE'RE VERY
PLEASED TO SUPPORT THE BILL AS
AS AMENDED HERE. ANYONE ELSE IN
SUPPORT? ANYONE IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR WAHAB, FOR
THIS BILL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
WITNESSES TESTIFYING, THE
ANALYSIS REFLECTS THE CLARIFYING
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ACCEPTING THEM THIS MORNING,
THE COMMITTEE WAS NOTIFIED THAT
THIS BILL IS NOW MOVING TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN
SERVICES TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS
AND ALLOW THEM TO HEAR THIS BILL
NEXT TUESDAY. THIS BILL WILL
MOVE AS A DUE PASS, AND THE
CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS WILL BE
TAKEN IN THE NEXT COMMITTEE. ANY
MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS MOVE
BY SOME MEMBER. RUBIO, SECONDED
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER SALIH, WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? SENATOR
WAHAB, WE ASK FOR AN AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SB
1352, SENATOR WAHAB, MOTION IS
DUE PASS. AND WE REFER TO THE
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES.
CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
DOCTOR. BAINES. AYE. MATHIS
CERVANTES, A SALIH, A FRIEDMAN,
A RODRIGUEZ, A BLANCO. RUBIO A.
THAT IS SIX. THE BILL IS OUT. WE
WILL KEEP THE ROLL OPEN FOR.
GOOD. WE CAN JUST GO. OH, WE ARE
GOOD. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
FILE ITEM ONE SB 37 CERVANTES
RODRIGUEZ I'M SORRY. EASILY. SIX
VOTES. FILE ITEM, SB 37 IS NOW
OUT WITH SIX VOTES. FILE ITEM
TWO. SB 1249. CERVANTES EASILY.
SB 1249 IS NOW OUT WITH SIX
VOTES. ROLL CALL FOR FILE. ITEM
FOUR, FILE ITEM FOUR SB 14 ZERO
SIX. EASILY. NO THE BILL IS OUT.
EYES FIVE NO'S ONE. WE WILL NOW
ADJOURN THIS MEETING. THANK YOU
GUYS SO MUCH. 128 ADRIN HAS
ADJOURNED.
TRAILFINDERS