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CALIFORNIA SENIOR LEGISLATURE 

     MEMBER NEWS 

APRIL 2012


TOPICS INSIDE
CODE 402 Promotion
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June Mini-Conference 
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Proposals are Bills! 
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Members in Action
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2012 Proposal Form
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Important Meeting Dates
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CCoA Report on Caregiving

   

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Upcoming Meetings

 

The members of the Legislative Committee will meet on July 9-11, 2012, in Sacramento to review and assign proposals to committees. The meeting will begin at 1pm at the Vagabond Inn. 

 

The members of the Joint Rules Committee will meet at the Newport Beach Radisson on June  11, 2012 at 1pm.

 

Meeting minutes from the April meetings are posted at www.4csl.org.

  

ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2012

 

OCTOBER 29 through NOVEMBER 1, 2012. Mark your calendars!  The Citizen Hotel has been reserved in Sacramento for the CSL Annual Legislative Session. The State of California Meeting Management Program (MMP) has been a huge asset for all planning and meeting arrangements for this event.  Details regarding reservations and travel will be sent out to members in the near future.

Click here to view the Abbreviated Agenda

JRC Update  

 

Hello all, we are excited about the Summer Conference in Newport Beach.  This has been planned to educate CSL members on proposal ins and outs.  From how to find material about an issue, writing the proposal, submitting, and then speaking at the fall conference, so it makes it into the top 10.  Now the work is not done, the author of the proposal needs to follow it as the Legislative Committee walks the halls to get it carried, then once it is assigned a bill number, the CSL author needs to help in seeing that it goes through committee and finally is chaptered.

 

This conference is for one half of the CSL, the Southern half of about 60 CSL members.  Also included are those new members who joined CSL after our 2011 October Session.  If all goes well, then we will plan a Northern California Conference in early in 2013.  Thanks to Evelyn Tom for all the work she is doing in putting on the Southern California Mini-Conference.

 

The JRC has been able to secure carry-over funds to support these conferences.  These are funds that were not spent in the past and are currently part of the CSL Surplus Money Investment Fund (SMIF).  Thanks to Herb Schwartz for his help.

 

 

CODE 402 PROMOTION 

We have distributed the 30 second Public Service Announcement (PSA) to 70 television stations throughout the State. This distribution occurred the week prior to tax deadline day to promote the opportunity for Californians to contribute to the California Fund for Senior Citizen's (Code 402) using the Form 540 tax return. I urge members to use this PSA or others by sending to local TV stations and partner community-based organizations and request that they post on their web sites, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter accounts. Click below to access Code 402 promotional material:

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30-second PSA 

60-second PSA

Press Release -English

Press Release -Spanish

Code 402 Postcard

Code 402 YouTube Video

 

PROPOSAL INFORMATION FORM DUE MAY 1ST

 

As of this week, we have only received approximately half of the number of proposals that we desire for a successful session.  Help us meet or beat our goal of 70 Proposals for 2012!  The 2012 Proposal Information Form is available here and also on the web site at www.4csl.org. . 

 

All members must get their proposals in - using the proposal information form- by the deadline of May 1, 2012

 

Thank you all for your help as we work together in representing approximately 4.5 million aging Californians.

-Don MacAllister Chair 
Joint Rules Committee

 

 

JUNE MINI-CONFERENCE

 

The California Senior Legislature has scheduled a mini-conference in Newport Beach June 12 -14, 2012.  This conference is designed to enhance members' proposal development skills and strengthen relationships.  This first conference is by invitation only and will include members of the Joint Rules Committee, Legislative Committee, new members (joined after Oct 2011 Session) and Southern California Members (below Kern County).

The number of attendees must be limited to manage and maintain the quality of the conference.  Therefore, members may not attend at their own expense.  If the June conference proves to be successful, then a Northern California Mini-Conference will be scheduled at a future date.

 

Invitations will be sent out to those members that are invited with details on travel arrangements, agenda and further conference details by May 1, 2012.

 

 

HOW TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

 

  • We need members to sell ads for the 2012 Session Program Booklet.  Ad order forms and prices will be distributed to all members.
  • Do you have a relationship with a corporation or business that might be interested in becoming a CSL 2012 Session donor or sponsor?  Forward their information to the office at jbailey@seniorleg.ca.gov.
  • Have you heard a great inspirational speaker recently?  The Session Planning Sub-Committee is looking for suggestions for keynote speakers.  Please forward ideas to the office at jbailey@seniorleg.ca.gov.
  • Use photos and PSAs to promote CSL to your local community via Newspapers, radio and television. 
  • Chair of Joint Rules, Don MacAllister has requested all members sign the Code of Ethics form and return to the office.  Click here to view and print the Code of Ethics

 

TRAVEL PROCEDURES

 

If you need to make travel arrangements for CSL sponsored travel, please remember to email the office at jbailey@seniorleg.ca.gov with your requested flight, time, date, departure and arrival cities.  Also include in the email any special room requests or needs.  Please submit all Travel Expense Claims to the office as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days after the travel.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 CSL PROPOSALS ARE NOW LEGISLATIVE BILLS

  

The following 2012 California Senior Legislature proposals are now in legislative bill form (brief summaries are provided):

  

SENATE BILLS 

 

SB 1047 (Senator Elaine Alquist)

Establishes a missing person advisory called "Silver Alert" to protect persons suffering from dementia-related conditions and who as a result, might wander away from home. 

SP-10 Senior Senator Joe Murphy (Tracy)

 

SB 1198 (Senator Ron Calderon)

Homeless Senior Veterans: Increased Benefits

Creates the State Cal-Vet Program to raise awareness of senior homeless veterans' programs and to provide rental housing benefits for them.

AP-24 Senior Assembly Member Art Serrin (Carlsbad)

 

ASSEMBLY BILLS  

 

AB 2010 (Assemblymember Susan Bonilla)

Reverse Mortgage Transparency Act 

Requires reverse mortgages to allow the borrower to determine the consequences of the mortgage based on their personal situation, financial circumstances, or health, short and long-term care needs.

AP-32  Senior Assembly Member Shirley Krohn (Walnut Creek)

  

 

AB 1525 (Assemblymember Michael Allen)

Financial Elder Abuse: Money Transmitters

Requires that money wire transfer services be included in the definition of mandatory reporters of suspected financial elder abuse.

AP-15 Senior Assembly Member Charles Molnar (Santa Cruz)

  

AB 2141 (Assemblymember Jim Silva)

Requires that a two-year punishment enhancement be added for identity theft from a victim aged 65 years or older. 

AP-11 Senior Assembly Member Dieter Kammerer (Fountain Valley)

 

AB 1737 (Assemblymember Wilmer Carter)

Amends the Mello-Granlund Older Californian's Act to define disability.

SP-18 (2007 proposal) former Senior Senator Kitty Mesler (Fontana)

 

AB 2374 (Assemblymember Roger Hernandez)

Prohibits a consumer credit card reporting agency from charging a person who is 65 years old or older a fee placing a security freeze on his/her credit report.

AP-25 Senior Assembly Member Richard Shontz (West Hills)

  

TWO-YEAR ASSEMBLY AND SENATE BILLS

 

AB 579 (Assemblymember Monning)

Mobile Home Loss of Equity

Permits the award of attorney's fees and, in some cases, other litigation expenses, to a local governmental entity in an action brought by the owner of a mobilehome park to challenge the validity or application of a local ordinance, rule, regulation, or initiative measure that regulates space rent or is intended to benefit or protect residents in a mobilehome park, if the local governmental entity is determined to be the prevailing party.

2011 CSL Proposal AP-23/Molnar (Santa Cruz)

 

SB 345 (Senator Lois Wolk)

Ensures that that the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has the ability to act independently to fulfill Federal and State mandates on behalf of residents of California's long-term care facilities.

2011 CSL Proposal AP-32/Krohn (Walnut Creek)

 

BILLS CSL IS SUPPORTING

 

 

AB 1224 (Committee on Veterans Affairs)

Veteran's Farm and Home Purchases Employment Training Panel

Revises existing law relating to forfeiture and calculation of net gain in connection with the sale of a cooperative dwelling trust.  Eliminates the requirement that the higher down payment calculation be based on the veterans' credit worthiness.

 

AB 1225 (Committee on Veterans Affairs)

Cemeteries:  Veteran's Commmemorative Property

Requires a  person or entity, except a municipal corportation, that owns or controls a cemetary where veteran's commemorative property has been placed that wishes to sell, trade or transfer veteran's property to petition the Cemetary and Funeral Bureau for permission for disposition of the property.

 

AB 1714 (Assembly Member Linda Halderman)

In-Home Supportive Services: Providers

Adds the felony offenses of forgery, embezzlement, extortion and identity theft to the list of criminal convictions that would preclude an applicant from providing supportive services. 

 

AB 2009 (Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani)

Communicable Disease:  Influenza Vaccinations

Adds children under the age of 18 among those who have priority to receive the vaccine.  This should minimize the spread of influenza to other high risk groups, including senior citizens.

 

AB 2149 (Assembly Member Betsey Butler)

Banning Gag Clauses in Elder Abuse

Prevents legal settlements between an elderly person and another party from including gag clauses preventing an elderly victim of financial and physical abuse, from reporting the abuse to law enforcement or adult protective services.

 

AB 2550 (Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter)

Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Requires the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to perform enumerated duties to provide for the health, safety, welfare and rights, and to ensure timely access to services provided by the office.

 

SB 663 (Senator Lou Correa)

Veterans:  Homeless Veterans

Requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to include specified information in its strategic plan related to homeless Veterans.  It also requires submission of a strategic plan to the Chairmen of the Assembly and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs.

 

SB 924 (Senator Curren Price)

Physical Therapists:  Direct Access To Services

Specifies that patients may access physical therapy directly.  Requires the therapist to refer the patient to another healing arts practitioner if the therapist has reason to believe the patient requires treatment beyond that scope of practice.

 

SB 1170 (Senator Mark Leno)

Senior Insurance

Makes it unlawful for an insurance agent to deliver to a person 65 years or older a living trust or other legal document other than insurance documents.  Specifies guidelines for advance notice of meetings and advertisements to protect persons 65 years or over.

 

SB 1184 (Senator Ellen Corbett)

Senior Insurance, Veterans Benefits

Prohibits an insurance broker or agent from participating in, being associated with, or employing any party that participates in, or is associated with the obtaining of veterans benefits for a senior, unless procedural safeguards are in place to ensure there is no financial incentive to refer the policyholder to any government benefits program.

 

SB 1228 (Senator Elaine Alquist)

Small House Nursing Homes

Allows small house style nursing homes to be eligible for licensing as a nursing home under the Health and Safety code, if they meet the criteria. 

 

SB 1258 (Senators Lois Wolk and Lou Correa)

Department of Veteran Affairs:  Monitoring Outcomes for Veterans

Requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to establish a system for monitoring specified outcomes for Veterans.  Ensures the needs of Veterans are being addressed.

 

SB 1438 (Senator Elaine Alquist)

Long-Term Care Insurance Task Force

Requires the Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance to convene a task force to study how to best design a statewide long-term care insurance program for Californians. 

 

Homeowners Bill of Rights (Attorney General Kamala Harris)

 

Provides much needed reform in the areas of mortgage and foreclosures.  Ends banks foreclosing while homeowners are in the midst of loss mitigation or modifications processes.

 

     

 

Read more information about hearing dates and other issues related to these bills by visiting the CSL website at www.4csl.org.

 

Senior Assembly Member Mary Ella Anderson Humboldt County (Planning and Service Area 1) was featured recently in an article in the April 2012 Humboldt Senior News. The article provided an update on CSL Legislation (see page 4). Click Here to Read Article

 

Senior Assembly Member Dieter Kammerer of Orange County (Planning and Service Area 22) was featured in the March 2012 Fountain Valley Senior Center Newsletter (see page 2).  Click here to view the Newsletter

 


Celebrating Caregiving in California
 
The California Commission on Aging (CCoA) focused its efforts in 2011 on informal caregiving.  The Commission explored the range of federal and state caregiving programs, local program innovation, and the continuing concerns of caregivers and those who hope to meet their needs.    As a result of this research CCoA published a report in March 2012, title Celebrating Caregiving in California.

 

 

MEETINGS TO NOTE

 

Joint Rules Committee 

February 6-8, 2012                                 Sacramento
April 17-18, 2012                                     Sacramento

June 11-14, 2012                                    Southern Cal -Training Conference  

September 10-11, 2012                          Sacramento 

October 29- November 1, 2012           Sacramento -The Citizen Hotel

 

Legislative Committee 

February 7-8, 2012                                 Sacramento

April 11-12, 2012                                    Sacramento

June 11-14, 2012                                   Southern Cal -Training Conference

July 9-11, 2012                                       Sacramento- Assign Proposals to Committee

September 11-12, 2012                         Sacramento

October 29- November 1, 2012          Sacramento -The Citizen Hotel 

 

California Commission on Aging 

June 5-6, 2012                                        Sacramento