June 23, 2026 · Aging And Long Term Care · 6,751 words · 23 speakers · 83 segments
Well, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us today for the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, hearing to decide our Senate bills. Today is my first committee hearing as chair. I am extremely grateful to the speaker who has appointed me to this position, and I am committed to the work ahead. In each meeting, I'm learning how underfunded and unappreciated this policy area has been and remains. There is a lot to be done. There is an immense amount of work happening in and around our Capitol today, and we are asking all Aging Committee members to join us now to do our due diligence to hear our Senate Aging-related bills and to move everyone on to their other committee hearings. Senators, your bills will be heard in file order, and to ensure members of the media and public have access to our proceedings today, this hearing will be streamed on the Assembly website, and members of the public can provide testimony in person here in room 444. If any member of the public in the room would like to speak during the public comment after a bill is presented, I ask that you approach the microphone at the appropriate time. We do not have a quorum, so we're going to proceed as a subcommittee in the absence of a quorum, and I'm going to be calling file item one, Senate Bill 837, Senator Reyes. Welcome.
Thank you.
You may begin.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and congratulations on the new assignment.
Thank you.
I'd like to now present SB 837, which requires aging and disability resource connection programs to offer disaster and emergency preparedness community education tailored to help older adults and people with disabilities stay safe during emergencies. Earlier this year, I stood with members of the Senate and Assembly at the Firefighters Memorial to read the names and ages of those who lost their lives during last year's Los Angeles fires. That moment underscored the urgency of this issue. The median age of those who died was 77, and at least one-third had mobility impairments. These tragic losses remind us that our emergency preparedness systems are not adequately serving people with access and functional needs. This bill addresses this critical gap in emergency preparedness and evacuation planning to make sure no one is left behind or vulnerable to these kinds of disasters. Joining me today in support are Dan Okunfuss from the Independent Living Centers and Carol Swartzlander from the California Commission on Aging.
Good afternoon, Chair and members of this committee. My name is Dan Okunfuss. I'm the public policy manager for the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers here in support of Senate Bill 837. and we are supporting Senate Bill 837, which seeks to remedy deficiencies in California disaster response infrastructure by ensuring that individual disabilities and older adults are not left behind when disaster strikes Specifically, Senate Bill 837 would require aging and disability resource connections, which are the local partnerships of the county area agencies on aging and independent living centers serving that area, providing disaster and emergency preparedness training tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. This training will help them prepare for and stay safe before, during, and after disasters and other emergencies. This bill reflects our mission at CFILC, which is to support independent living centers and their consumers through various programs that assist to maintain their lives in their homes and communities. One such program that CFLC is a holder on is the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program, which enables individuals with electricity-dependent medical devices to receive life-saving aid in the event of a public safety power shutoff, as well as other hazards events such as fires and earthquakes. And for these reasons, CFLCs please support the bill. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Chair and members of the committee. My name is Carol Swartzlander, and I'm the Executive Director of the California Commission on Aging. The commission is an independent body established in state law to serve as the principal advocate for older Californians before the governor, legislature, and state and federal agencies. In response to the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, the Commission convened an informational hearing in May 2025 to better understand the issues surrounding older adults and emergency response and recovery. The Commission heard from experts in emergency management, aging and disability services, long-term care, and community advocacy, many of whom were directly involved in the response effort. Insights from the hearing pointed to one unmistakable conclusion. Emergency preparedness, response, and recovery is an aging issue. Of the 30 identified victims in the Eaton and Palisades fire, all but four were either over the age of 65 or were living with a disability. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has become the norm in recent years. individuals over the age of 65 accounted for approximately 72 percent of the deaths in the 2017 Tubbs fire and 84 percent of deaths in the 2018 Camp Fire. These figures are a consequence of a flawed emergency preparedness system that does not fully consider those with access and functional needs, and as a result, leaves older adults and people with disabilities to fend for themselves during disasters. Further research documents that older adults are not prepared for the next natural disaster. National surveys show that fewer than one in three older adults have a comprehensive plan, and testimony from friends and family of the Eaton and Palisades fires stated many of the victims understood the danger they were in but had no way to evacuate without assistance. The Aging and Disability Resource Connection, or ADRC, network provides services and supports to older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. SB 837 would help encourage individuals preparedness by ensuring clients and care providers have access through their local ADRC to both critical training and the resources necessary to strengthen emergency preparedness and in turn promoting independence. As California continues to experience increasing devastating natural disasters and as our population ages, we must promote an emergency planning system that prioritizes enhancing resilience among older adults and people with disabilities rather than making them as an afterthought.
SB 837 initiates the process and I respectfully urge your aye vote Thank you so much for your testimony We have a quorum so I like the committee staff to establish a quorum real quick and then we'll finish with the rest of the presentation. Aarons? Here. Ellis? Here. Arambola? Here. Avala Farias? Jeff Gonzalez? Blanca Rubio? Here. Sharp Collins? Great, we have a quorum. Now I'd like to ask to see if anyone would like to add on and support. Been moved and seconded. Thank you.
Hello. Veronica Bravo, here for State Council on Developmental Disabilities, here in support of this very important bill. Thank you.
Brian Rutledge, California Association for Adult Day Services, in support.
Thank you. Anyone in opposition? Anyone would like to add on? Great. Well, we have a motion and a second. Bring it back to any members of the committee. Yes, Vice Chair Ellis.
Thank you for bringing this bill forward. I'm the oldest guy on the assembly floor and actually a freshman, and I had no idea of the challenges in our elder community. And so everything that I can do, I'm honored to help. So thank you very much for bringing this forward.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Chair. Any other comments? All right. Would you like to close?
Thank you so much. I just wanted to close by sharing the tragic story of a gentleman in the last fire, an elderly gentleman whose son had cerebral palsy, and he had called for an ambulance to take them down, to come and take them out of the harm of the fire. And when the family called to say, hey, can we come up and get you? They said, no, no, we already called an ambulance. We're just waiting for them. And unfortunately, the ambulance never came. and he and his son were not able to get out. And that just reminds us that we have to do more. We have to provide greater training. We have to provide more resources so that that tragedy doesn't happen again.
Thank you, Senator, and thank you for bringing this really important bill forward. We have all learned of how our most vulnerable have fared during a crisis, and it's important that we recognize self-determination often allows for older adults and people with disabilities the opportunity to live in their homes, but we also need to educate and empower them to what they may need in an emergency. Emergencies and natural disasters are going to happen, but knowledge is power, and I sincerely hope that this helps all of us in the next crisis. And with that we will call the roll Motion is due pass Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Emergency Management. Motion by Arambola, second by Blanca Rubio. Ahrens? Aye. Ahrens, aye. Ellis?
Aye. Ellis, aye.
Arambola? Aye. Arambola, aye. Avala Farias? Jeff Gonzalez? Blanca Rubio? Aye. Blanca Rubio, aye. Sharp Collins? All right. Looks like we'll leave that open for add-ons, but we thank you so much. Thank you very much. And next, we're going to go to file item 2, SB 971, Senator Choi. You may begin when you're ready.
Good afternoon, new chair. Congratulations, RNs and committee members. I would like to start by accepting the committee's amendments and thank them for their hard work. As oldest senator, I'm so proud to present Senate Bill 971, which would connect California's growing older adult population with community-based interventions to achieve healthy aging outcomes. SB 971 is geared toward the senior citizens to opportunities that allow for them to remain connected, informed, independent, and engage in their communities with respect to already existing local resources, including community colleges. While there are many programs for older adult education that are already providing classes and the curriculum, SB 971 promotes learning and engagement through local government entity participation to achieve specific healthy aging outcomes. SB 971 encourages collaborative partnership opportunities between local government entities and the systems that are working towards the same goal of serving seniors. SB 971 has received bipartisan support without a single no vote so far. With me today, I have Mr. Steve Lipson with the California Senior Legislature, who is sponsoring the bill, as well as Mr. Brian Rutledge with the California Association of Adult Day Services. I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SB 971 at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Mr. Lipson first. Go ahead.
Good afternoon, Chair Ahrens and committee members. My name is Steve Lipson, Senior Senator with California Seniors Legislature and sponsor of SB 971. SB 971 establishes the Healthy Aging Community Partnerships Program. While the bill includes educational and enrichment activities, it is not primarily an education bill. It is a healthy aging bill designed to help older Californians remain connected, informed, engaged, and independent in their communities. For example, a local program might offer technology assistance, social engagement, activities, caregiver support resources, a congregate lunch program, or other opportunities that promote healthy aging and community connection. These activities are not simply educational. They are preventive. Helping older adults avoid isolation, remain engaged, access technology, and recognize scams are not simply quality of life issues. They are practical strategies that help people remain independent and age in place longer. Equally important, the bill encourages partnerships among organizations working to support healthy aging, independence, and aging in place. While the bill is located in the Health and Safety Code because it promotes healthy aging outcomes, it does not assign implementation responsibility to local health departments. Participation is entirely voluntary and subject to available local resources and partnerships. SB 971 simply provides communities with another flexible tool to support aging in place, social connection, and healthy aging. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chair. Members, thank you to Senator Choi for putting this bill forward. So I'm Brian Rutledge from the California Association for Adult Day Services. We represent 400-plus centers, primarily older folks, median age in the late 70s, 80s. So we're here to support SB 971 because it costs no money, it imposes no mandates, It encourages local partnerships, and it does that in support of older Californians. So every day our centers support seniors and family caregivers that are trying to remain connected. They're trying to remain engaged, but there's all sorts of barriers to doing that. That can be problems with technology. That can be financial fraud issues all around them. That can be caregiver stress. There's all sorts of pressures that we're all familiar with. So left unaddressed, these challenges can contribute to all sorts of health declines, anxiety, depression, loneliness, nothing that we want to see happen. Healthy aging is not simply about treating illness. It's about preventing it and avoiding decline before it occurs. So many of the activities contemplated by SB 971, whether that's technology assistance, social engagement, lifelong learning, those are relatively low-cost ways that communities can help older adults remain connected, independent, and keep their well-being high. So with that, SB 971 recognizes and tries to support community partnerships to do that. so we would ask respectfully for your aye vote. Thank you so much.
Are there anyone in the committee room would like to add on and support?
Jennifer Griffin from Access Central Coast in support.
Jason Sullivan, California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, in support.
Karen Jones, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services of San Luis Obispo County, in support.
Thank you very much. Any opposition? Anyone add on? Seeing none, taking it back to our committee. Any comments? Is there a motion? Moved and seconded? I'm going to ask you. Sometimes I'm aligned with our senior legislature, with Adult Day Services, with AARP and the Alzheimer's Association. But their testimony said that the bill imposes no mandates and it costs no money. And I'm trying to then understand what's not permitted currently under law that you're trying to fix with this piece of legislation. Which problem are you solving? as it appears you're placing a burden upon the public health departments that currently are stretched thin as it is, that I'd like to hear from you or your supporters why it's necessary for this piece of legislation in its current form.
May I?
Yeah, go ahead.
Thank you. So it doesn't actually, while the code lives in, it's a public health code, It doesn't impose a burden on the public health departments. The public health departments can act as partners just like any of the other organizations. So they're not forced into it. They aren't responsible for the success of the partnership. They don't have to participate in the partnership.
Secondary question. You had mentioned that this wasn't an education bill, but we've noted some opposition from our community colleges, which do a fair amount of adult education. While they didn't present today, I'm hoping to hear a response to why they were not a part of this bill thus far.
The opposition has been removed since originally quite a few adult senior citizen related bills were offered by community colleges. but now we specifically included community colleges because we don't want to touch them or discourage them continuing with the education programs so they are fine.
I'm happy to support this bill today as it's the chair's prerogative for us to move this bill forward. But I hope when we see it next, some of those answers about what we're trying to fix are clearer for us so that we can promote this, so we can talk about it, so that our communities can similarly benefit from it. Would appreciate that information, so I can go back to mine and tell them why it was a good vote for us to vote for your bill here today. With that, I move the vote. All right. Thank you so much. It looks like the bill has been moved. And then would you like to close, Senator?
Yeah, thank you. I like to thank both my Republican and Democrat colleagues who co this particular bill showing shared the commitment of California older adults as we all get aged together someday we get there and we need this program. For all human beings looking for our desires as well birthing, healthy birthing, healthy living, healthy aging and healthy dying. And this is a process, one of the healthy aging programs. So all Californians will benefit from this. I urge you.
Thank you, Senator. And thank you for accepting the suggested committee amendments as well. We have to recognize that older adult education is an important role that our community colleges are playing. I do not think that they have formally lifted opposition, but I know that they are committed to continue working with you. Thank you, Assemblymember Rambula, for highlighting that. And this does highlight older adult learning. As the new chair of this policy space, I am seeing news in a new lens. My local paper, the San Jose Mercury News, highlighted the importance of lifelong learning over this past weekend. As this population ages, we need to be ever mindful of challenging the mind and how it continues, how it continued and how this population ages. We need to be ever mindful of challenging the mind and how continued learning can help older adults be independent, confident, and increase social connection and purpose. Continued learning is a public health strategy. Because this bill has been dual referred and policy deadlines, the Assembly Committee on Health has agreed to amend the bill in their jurisdiction. This bill will leave today as a due pass, and any of the concerns raised, I'm sure we will be taking another look at it as it goes into health. So with that, clerk, would you please call the roll? File item 2, SB 971. Motion do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Health. Motion by Jeff Gonzalez. Second by Blanca Rubio. Aarons? Aye. Aarons, aye. Ellis? Aye. Ellis, aye. Arambola? Aye. Arambola, aye. Avala Farias? Jeff Gonzalez? Aye. Jeff Gonzalez, aye. Blanca Rubio, aye. Blanca Rubio, aye. Sharp Collins, aye. That's five votes. That bill is out. We'll leave rest on call. Thank you very much. I see our budget chair, I believe. Yes. Wonderful. Senator Laird.
Well, at this time of year, you're my budget chair, too.
Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members.
I'm here to present Senate Bill 1261, which ensures that aging and disability resource connections, which are known as ADRCs, statewide may continue operating during major transitions that affect aging agencies. In San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, the local area agency on aging is de-designating. At the same time, Ventura County will consider stepping down from its role as one of these next year. Under current law, these changes would force the ADRCs serving the three counties to close, even though community members still depend on their services every day. This bill allows an ADRC to continue operating for at least one year and up to two years if its area agency on aging and ILC can no longer serve in its operator role ensuring that these essential services to seniors remain uninterrupted while a replacement partner is designated The bill has no registered opposition. It's had no no votes. With me to testify are Jennifer Griffin, Executive Director of Access Central Coast, and Christina Mills, Executive Director of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. And at the appropriate time, I would respectfully request an iPhone.
Good morning, or good afternoon, Chair Ains and members, and congratulations as well.
Thank you.
My name is Jennifer Griffin, and I'm the Executive Director of Access Central Coast, serving Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. And I'm here in strong support of SB 1261. On the Central Coast, we currently have two ADRCs, and both have faced serious instability. In Ventura County, the Board of Supervisors paused the revocation of the Area Agency on Aging, but that pause is temporary, and without SB 1261, it simply delays disruption. It does not prevent it. In Santa Barbara and in San Luis Obispo counties, the situation is even more immediate. Without this bill, our current ADRC would be terminated. A new area agency on aging has already been selected, and we are very excited to be partnering. They are excited to be partnering with us as ADRC. But losing critical ADRC funding and our designation simply because the partner is not the original one is unacceptable, and it punishes the community for an administrative transition outside of its control. This disruption does have real consequences. Last year, our ADRC served 11,912 individuals, and this year we are projected to serve about twice that many people. Of those that we've served, 7,768, about 65%, were aged 60 or older. More than 20% were identified as being at risk of institutionalization, and we supported 126 individuals as they worked to return from institutional settings back into the community living. Our team also provided more than 45,000 follow-up contacts and home visits to help people remain safely connected to the services that they needed. These numbers represent real people and real moments of need. When an ADRC is interrupted, families trying to bring a loved one home from a hospital or nursing facility lose a trusted point of contact. Individuals who want to remain safely in their homes lose guidance on how to access services and avoid institutional care. SB 1261 offers a practical solution. It allows ADRCs to remain intact during transition so that communities can maintain continuity and people can continue to receive receiving support without interruption. On the Central Coast, we are working really hard to maintain these partnerships and ensure older adults, people with disabilities, and their families do not experience a gap in support. And SB 1261 makes that possible. I respectfully ask for your support later on. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Ahrens and members. Chair Ahrens, welcome to the committee. Thank you. We're looking to meet you. My name is Christina Mills. I'm the Executive Director of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. I look forward to working with you. My organization represents 33 of the area agencies on aging across the state, and I'm here in strong support of 1261 as a proud sponsor of the bill. This bill is about continuity of support services. Aging and Disability Resource Centers, ADRCs, serve a critical entry point serve as a critical entry point into community-based cost-effective long-term services and supports. They provide trusted person-centered information and assistance to help people remain safely in their homes and communities. For many ADRCs are where everything begins, where navigation starts. They help individuals and families navigate how to bring a loved one home from an institutional setting, whether a hospital, a nursing facility, or even incarceration. They connect older adults to home-delivered meals, health care counseling, and so much more. They support people with disabilities who often fall in between the cracks and help them avoid costly institutional care. These services are not only the right supports, they are the building blocks for California's No Wrong Door system, which we all continue to work towards. But under current law, when an ADRC partner undergoes a transition, the ADRC designation can be lost. When that happens, services don't just pause. They unfortunately disappear. SB 1261 provides a simple, practical fix. It ensures continuity of ADRC services during transitions so individuals do not lose access to this critical entry point. This bill does not create a new program. It preserves what is already working in our state and needs to be expanded. At a time when Californians' older adult population is growing, we cannot afford disruption in access to vital services and supports needed to thrive. SB 1261 ensures that the door stays open. And on behalf of C4A and our members, I respectfully ask you for your support. Thank you. Thank you. The bill has been moved and seconded. Are there anyone in the committee hearing that would like to add on in support? Please come forward.
Andrew Mendoza on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association in support.
Dan Okenfoss on behalf of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers in support.
Again, David Feinberg, represent AARP in support of the bill.
Jason Sullivan Halpern, California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, in strong support.
Karen Jones, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services of San Luis Obispo County, also in support.
Thank you. We don't have any opposition on file, but anyone would like to come in opposition? Anyone adding on? Seeing none. Turning it back to any committee members. Assemblymember Gonzalez.
I want to thank the author on this. I've spoken significantly on disability rights as my son when he turned 23. I was under the Office of the Aging. A lot of people don't know that. and we have fought on the Capitol. We've fought for disability rights and we'll continue to fight for that IHSS. This bill, I want to thank the author, is a lifeline. It's not just, hey, let's keep a certification up. It's a lifeline. It really is, especially for the disability community and for those entering in that new season of life, the salt and pepper season. It's definitely a lifeline. And so not only do I support this bill I look forward to asking the author to be a co when appropriate Thank you Assemblymember Gonzales Seeing no other comments would you like to close Senator First I appreciate everybody that testified and I particularly appreciate the two witnesses and the comments from the dais. I think they make the case for this bill, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Senator. I am learning
about the area agencies on aging and the important work that they do in each area. It is concerning, to know that you can simply walk away from providing service. I think this is a measured approach to continuity of service, and as the Budget Sub-2 Chair, Dr. Corey Jackson, has committed to learning more about these services as they provide and will be doing site visits in the fall, and I plan to join him as my new role as Chair. Any disruption to services to vulnerable adults should concern all of us. It is all of our responsibility. I take that very seriously, and I appreciate you bringing this bill forward. So with that being said, Clerk, would you please call the roll on item 4, SB 1261. The motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved by Senator Arambola. Second by Jeff Gonzalez. Aarons? Aye. Aarons, aye. Ellis? Aye. Ellis, aye. Arambola? Aye. Arambola, aye. Avala Farias. Jeff Gonzalez.
Aye.
Jeff Gonzalez, aye. Blanca Rubio.
Aye.
Blanca Rubio, aye. Sharp Collins. All right. That bill is out with five. We'll leave the rest of it for the roll. And now we are going to go to SB 991, Senator Mandjavar. I understand that Assemblymember Gonzalez will be presenting on their behalf, and I will be approving that. Thank you. Thank you.
991 Elder Abuse Accountability on behalf of Senator Menjavar. Currently, if we look up a specific residential care facility and there was a violation associated with it, it would be categorized broadly as violation of residents' rights rather than by the specific type of abuse. We can tell if a facility had rat infestation or if staff were found to have scammed an elder resident in writing them a $30,000 check. A resident having bed sores would be categorized the same as a resident getting assaulted. That's why SB 991 is important because it will ensure that we are promoting elder abuse accountability and residential care facilities for the elderly. By using categories found in existing statute, we are asking to clearly define types of abuse such as physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, financial abuse, isolation, mental suffering, neglect, and these are just to name a few. By doing so, we can improve how substantiated reports of abuse and neglected are categorized by the California Department of Social Services and their public-facing licensing and enforcement database Because the current umbrella category doesn allow for family members looking for a facility to clearly know what type of violations are occurring and it doesn allow policymakers to address matters if we don know the specific form of violation Now, testifying in support of this bill are Karen Jones, Executive Director of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Services in San Luis Obispo County, and Jason Sullivan Halpern, Executive Director of California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association.
Thank you. My name is Karen Jones, and I'm the Executive Director of the Ombudsman Services in San Luis Obispo County. In San Luis Obispo County, in a residential care facility for the elderly that is licensed by Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division, A facility staff person walked into a resident's private room and found a male staff person sexually assaulting the resident. The resident was highly intelligent, fully competent, but had a medical condition that left her unable to talk or move her body. The licensing agency cited the facility for violating the resident's rights. Weeks earlier, at another residential care facility for the elderly, a staff person was observed failing to wear a mask. This was during COVID. That facility was also cited for a violation of residents' rights. I cannot say it loud enough that a sexual assault and failing to wear a mask that are not on the same level of harm. But that is what the community care licensing information system currently implies solely because of the lack of regulations to accurately classify abuse. Unfortunately, these were not limited one-time incidents. Over the past two years, San Luis Obispo County has experienced multiple situations where residents were abused in facilities and community care licensing cited the facility for residents' rights violation. This includes residents tied with bedsheets, with garbage bags, and with belts. When we have met with community care licensing about this issue, we were told that the licensing agency does not have a specific regulation or law they can use to classify abuse as abuse. SB991 gives community care licensing staff the language and the tools they need to accurately report abuse, and I thank you for your time and your yes vote on SB991.
Thank you. Thank you for that testimony. Would you like to go ahead?
Good afternoon, Assembly members. My name is Jason Sullivan Halpern, and I'm the director of the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, or CALCOA, the sponsor of SB991. Abuse and neglect are among the most common complaints reported to California's local long-term care ombudsman programs. Last year, Ombudsman received 2,088 complaints involving abuse and RCFEs, nearly as many as all care-related complaints combined. The year prior, abuse was the single most common complaint category reported in these facilities. When abuse is suspected, mandated reporters are required to report it using the same definitions in the Welfare Institution Code that the bill cites. Ombudsmen who receive and investigate these reports alongside the department must also categorize allegations according to the type of abuse involved. However, when the department substantiates abuse and publishes its findings on the transparency website, those violations are often reported broadly as violations of residents' rights to be free from abuse, not as abuse. As a result, consumers, families, advocates, and policymakers often cannot tell what type of abuse occurred or identify patterns. A citation for a violation of the right to be free from abuse does not clearly communicate whether a resident was physically assaulted financially exploited sexually abused neglected or abandoned This is a citation for a violation of the right to be free from abuse does not clearly communicate whether a resident was physically assaulted financially exploited sexually abused neglected or abandoned Victims and their families deserve greater transparency. SB 991 requires the department to identify the specific type of abuse demonstrated by the evidence when it substantiates a violation and to display that information on the public-facing databases it already maintains. The bill does not change reporting requirements, investigations, burdens of proof, enforcement authority, or appeal rights. Licensing program analysts are already trained to investigate abuse allegations using the same statutory definitions, and SB 991 ensures that when abuse is substantiated, the department communicates those findings more clearly to the public using the information it already collects. We respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Is there anyone who would like to add on in support? Please come forward.
Andrew Mendoza on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association in support.
Becca Kramer on behalf of California Low Income Consumer Coalition in support.
Gina Frisbee as an individual in support. Good job, Chair.
Jennifer Pardini from California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform in support.
David Feinberg, representing AARP. We are in support of the bill.
Michael Haswell as an individual in support.
Max Martinez as an individual in support.
Robbie Silver, as an individual, in respectful support.
Thank you.
Jennifer Griffin, Access Central Coast, the independent living center that serves San Luis Obispo in full support.
Great. Thank you. Thank you to my entire staff for coming and offering their support to this bill on my first hearing. I appreciate that so much. This building is nothing without our amazing staff. So thank you. Any in opposition? Seeing none. Anyone would like to add on? Twitters? Great. Is there a motion? Moved and seconded? Yes, please.
I have to ask the Chair, since you're jumping onto the grenade, to present this bill here today. But I'm trying to understand, and I'm going to support it wholeheartedly. I had done some work several years past to lower the age within the adult protective services to 60 from 65. And I'm wondering if there are similar limitations within our CFEs or if there is an ability for us to make sure that we're looking at citations that start earlier. we had noticed that when you move that age lower, we're better able to capture much of the fraud and the abuse and what that you're describing here today. It may be a separate bill from what we're presenting, but wanted to make sure it was a part of the discussion, as that may be something to work on in a subsequent year. But hoping you could provide some updates on that.
Yeah, I think I can help with that.
So generally in the adult residential facility for the elderly world of community care licensing, people under the age of 65 are generally going to be in an adult residential facility. And each residential facility for the elderly can have people under the age of 65, but they have to be compatible and they can't be the majority of the residents. So in the residential facility for the elderly, we do have kind of a range of people, typically 50 and up, but mostly 65 and over. And it would be very good at some point to look at adding the whole spectrum of community care licensed facilities. But for our purposes, our jurisdiction, so to speak, is going to be on the residential facility for the elderly. I'm happy to support this bill today, but through the chair, that may be a space for you to think about in following years. If those community residentials or RCFEs can get into alignment with where APS is by lowering that age, we would be providing more protection. And I think we should be doing all we can to make sure that these horrendous crimes are both cited and found as early as we can.
That's a very good point, Dr. Arambula, and we'll be sure to note that as this moves forward in this policy space. I think there's a motion and a second. Assemblymember, would you like to close?
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and congratulations. We need to do better by our older adults and ensure we have a clear picture of the types of abuse occurring in residential care facilities. I thank my colleague for identifying other ways in which we can enhance this and look forward to the future and working together not only with Senator Mandivar, but with others. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you, Assemblymember, and to the abudsman who do amazing work on behalf
of the residents, I want to thank you. On behalf of the legislature, thank you for coming to Sacramento for your testimony. Thank you to the Senator for bringing this measure forward. Transparency is very important in government. We need to empower our residents and families when making important life decisions. We need to hold tight on our values as we move aging policy forward. This bill is necessary, and I will say that any abuse is not going to be tolerated. We are going to pass this bill. We are going to do much more, but abuse in this manner is going to be zero tolerance, and we are going to be looking at introducing much more policy focus on reining this in so that that never happens to any family or any resident again, and I really appreciate the brave words said today. With that, there's been a motion and second. Clerk, will you please call the roll. On file item 3, SB 991, motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Human Services. Motion by Dr. Arambula, second by Assemblymember Ellis. Aarons? Aye. Aarons, aye. Ellis? Aye. Ellis, aye. Arambula? Aye. Arambula, aye. Avalafarias? Jeff Gonzalez?
Aye.
Jeff Gonzalez, aye. Blanca Rubio?
Aye.
Blanca Rubio, aye. Sharp Collins? That's five, so that vote is out. We'll leave the roll open. Thank you so much. And it appears that we have a couple of members who are going to be coming in and adding on,
so we are going to leave the roll open, and our very capable vice chair, Assemblymember Ellis, will be taking the con.
Thank you so much, everyone. Good job. Thank you. Thank you. File item one SB 837 by Senator Reyes The motion is do pass and re to the Committee on Emergency Management Jeff Gonzalez? Jeff Gonzalez, aye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Okay Okay. We're going to add on. Dr. Collins. File item 1, SB 837, Senator Reyes. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Emergency Management. Sharp Collins. Aye. Sharp Collins, aye. File item 2, SB 971 by Senator Choi. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Health. Sharp Collins. Sharp Collins, aye. File item 3, SB 991 by Senator Menjavar. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Human Services. Sharp Collins. Sharp Collins, aye. File Item 4, SB 1261, Laird. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Sharp-Collins. Sharp-Collins, aye. Thank you, guys. Thank you very much. We are still leaving the roll open for... That's right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Thank you. All right. Hello, Assemblymember. Welcome. Thank you so much for taking care of the people's business. We have our final committee member here, and with that, I will turn it back to committee staff to open the roll. File Item 1, SB 837 by Senator Reyes. Motion is due pass and re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. Avala Farias? Aye. Avala Farias, aye. File Item 2, SB 971 by Senator Choi. The motion is due pass and re-referred to the Committee on Health. Avala Farias? Aye. Avala Farias, aye. SB 991 by Senator Menjivar. File item 3. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Human Services. Avala Farias? Aye. Avala Farias, aye. File item 4, SB 1261 by Senator Laird. Motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations. Avala Farias? Aye. Avala Farias, aye. Thank you so much for waiting for that. Thank you, Assemblymember. And with that, I believe this adjourns the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.