Public Policy

Key Legislative Issues

Our expert policy team leads the charge to change public policy to address the crisis in Long-Term Services and Supports funding, pushes for favorable legislation for affordable senior housing, and actively works to advance public policy to address the acute shortage of workers in the aging services field. Below are our 2021-2022 key legislative priority issues: 

By leveraging our position, LeadingAge California continues to lead Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) financing efforts, create a clearinghouse for LTSS information, and support CADA.

LeadingAge California works with the Department of Housing & Community Development and help ensure that low to moderate-income older adults receive their fair share of new housing dollars through member initiatives for existing and new developments.

Through partnerships with associations, the California Future Health Workforce Commission, and others, LeadingAge California is spearheading a workforce package enabling recruitment and retention. Visit the Workforce Blueprint for Action for more information.

 

2022 Legislative Priorities

Prevent and End Homelessness Among Older Adults

Targeted Rent Stabilization Programs for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

LeadingAge California has been working with Justice in Aging, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles to  create a targeted rent stabilization program to prevent and end homelessness among older adults and people with disabilities.

The rent stabilization program will fund housing subsidies that meet the specific needs of acutely low-income older adults and people with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness using predictive indicators.

The program seeks to ensure that people receiving subsidies under the program will be able to transition into permanent affordable housing through the Section 8 voucher program, or other federally subsidized affordable housing program.

Although this initiative is not moving forward this year, LeadingAge California and our partners intend to pursue the Targeted Rent Stabilization Program in 2023.

Link to fact sheet

 

Address the Healthcare Gap for Low-Income Older Adults 

Healthier Homes: Age in Place Pilot

LeadingAge California was successful in obtaining $12.5 million for the California Department of Aging to issue grants to nonprofits in eight counties – Contra Costa, Fresno, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, Shasta and Sonoma. In each county, the nonprofit grantee would employ a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Community Health Worker (CHW) to work in three affordable housing sites.

Together, the RN and CHW work to create and implement a formal strategy for coordinating services to help meet residents’ needs, including wellness assessments, care coordination, chronic disease management and care transitions.

The Healthier Homes Model empowers older adults to become more involved in their own health care and results in better health outcomes and more sustained independence.

LeadingAge California will work with the California Department of Aging to implement this grant program. 

Link to fact sheet

 

Assist Long-term Care Providers with Emergency Preparedness and Planning 

Long-Term Care Mutual Aid Plan

LeadingAge California supports the creation of a Long-Term Care Mutual Aid Program, administered by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to facilitate invaluable coordination between long-term care facilities and local governments. The Mutual Aid Program will establish local resiliency and coordinated strategies between long-term care facilities for equipment, staffing, planning, training, and disaster exercises to support the senior living industry and emergency responders.

 

The pandemic, coupled with recent natural disasters, has highlighted the need for better coordination of long-term care mutual aid resources. During recent fires, long-term care facilities were forced to evacuate. With no mutual aid system in place for long-term care, providers struggled to find open licensed beds for high-acuity evacuees, transportation, PPE and more.

LeadingAge California intends to continue prioritizing the Long-Term Care Mutual Aid Program next year through a sponsored bill and correlating state budget proposal. 

Link to fact sheet



2022 Legislative Wrap-Up

See what key bills were passed and vetoed in 2022.

  

Technical Briefs

  • CNA Renewals
  • End of Life Option Act
  • SB 219: LGBT Facility Resident's Bill of Rights
  • SNF/Nursing Facility Medicare Emergency Preparedness Rule
  • RCFE Absentee Notification Plans/Elopement Policies/Procedures
  • Resident Representation on Nonprofit CCRC Boards of Directors
  • Technical Bulletin: How to Become Certified as a CNA in California
  • Using Resident Referral Agencies in a Multi-Level Community

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