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California Senior Legislature Newsletter
 
MEMBER NEWS
May 2013
Improving the Quality of Life for Aging Californians
CHAIR'S CORNER
By Don MacAllister

We are almost halfway through our year and in our last 45 days of the 2012-2013 budget. At our JRC meeting on May 20-21, we approved the 2013-2014 budget.

We have had lots of activity:

  • LEG committee has been hard at work getting our ten proposals to our elected officials. So far, seven have been picked up and moving through the system. Thanks, Chair Rosenberg & your Committee.
  • We had our mid-year conference in Sacramento and it was a success. Thank you to all who helped. We had a good turnout. Thank you Senior Assembly Member Rolfe and your committee.
  • San Diego Caucus: is moving right along, our first new one this year. Keep up the good work!
  • Central Valley Caucus: (Fresno area) held their first meeting and they are hard at work on their proposals for this year.
  • East Desert Area Caucus: (this is San Bernardino, Riverside, Palm Springs, & Imperial Valley areas). They have their first meeting planned in June. Good luck to you all and thanks to Senior Assembly Member Sullivan for pulling everyone together.

We all should be happy with our new Caucuses this gives our members a chance during the year to meet and review senior issues and work together in creating proposals for the CSL conference.

 

The date has been set and hotel chosen for our 33rd annual conference. Mark your calendars for the week of October 28th and the Hyatt Hotel will serve as the host hotel. CSL each year needs to wait for the State to confirm when we can use the Capitol for our conference, i.e. when the Legislature is not in session. More will be out shortly from your Planning Committee headed by Senior Senator Alice Loh & Senior Assembly Member Evelyn Tom.

 

Keep pushing Code 402, many people file extensions. We are closing the gap. In the last report we were lagging by about 20%, but now are closer to 10% behind.

 

Please use our web site www.4CSL.org for your day-to-day needs. Everything is there and up to date.

 

Have a great Spring!

 

Don MacAllister, Chair

Joint Rules Committee

 

CSL Member Activity
Terry Sonnefeld
Senior Assembly Member Terry Sonnefeld attends Senior Health Fair featured in Tracy Press

Senior Assembly Member Terry Sonnefeld was one of the 35 vendors on site at the Lolly Hansen Senior Center Health Fair in Tracy on May 1, 2013. Assembly Member Sonnefeld was there to inform and promote the CSL among Tracy's senior community.  His picture (seen here) was in the Tracy Press along with a feature about the Fair and other events taking place in May in celebration of Older Americans Month.  
  

Promoting CSL on a cruise

 

I wanted to share what happened when I was on a 15 day Panama Cruise and found myself talking about CSL.

 

It was a strange situation to be discussing CSLwith vacationing strangers, but I took the opportunity to introduce about 300 fellow California travelers to CSL.  This happened when people asked what I was doing now that I was retired, and of course I asked if they had heard about CSL.  No one knew what I was talking about and their eyes lit up as I described the new laws that CSL helped to develop and enact into law.

 

I downloaded the '402' card and the CSL one page description from the CSL website, had copies made, and distributed them.  In essence, I gave an impromptu 20 minute presentation on the cruise.  The largest group that was interested were Veterans from WWII, Vietnam, Korea and Afghanistan.

 

So, why am I telling you all this? It is because, even with the radio and proposed TV ads, the best communication is still "WORD - OF - MOUTH".

 

If each member would promote CSL when the opportunity presents itself, we can get the word out.

 

I would like to encourage all of you to promote CSL at every opportunity. The best opening for discussing CSL is when someone asks "What are you doing now that you are retired?"

 

-Senior Assembly Member Evelyn Tom

 

 

A Message from Assembly Member Shirley Krohn:
 

Many of you met Tania Wood at the last couple of CSL October Sessions.  Tania was a student volunteer from Chico State.  She is also responsible for researching and writing a proposal that is now AB 663 (Gomez) which would require training in cultural competency and sensitivity in aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender minority issues.  

 

Tania was the volunteer secretary for the Social and Community Service Policy Committee for two years.  Last year, she joined me in testifying before another policy committee about this proposal.  When this proposal was picked up by Gomez, Tania wanted to be involved in testifying before committee in Sacramento. 

 

I asked her to tell me about the experience and I have included some of her feedback.  She was joined by a member from Equality California, as well as Lauren Rolfe our CSL colleague.  Tania had prepared some statements, but when asked to testify first she claimed to have felt flustered and indicated her heart began to race, and her voice she thought was pretty wobbly. 

 

Tania is an example of my student project with the universities where the whole experience from beginning to end is realized.  Because of her experience working on legislation, she could now be quite interested in a political future.  

 

One quote she mentioned was the response from Assembly Member Ammiano during the vote in committee..."The Old Queen Votes Aye!" which I thought was priceless.

 

-Senior Assembly Member Shirley Krohn 

 
33rd Annual Legislative Session
October 2013
 
The contract for CSL's 33rd annual legislative session has been approved! Session will be held October 28-31, 2013.  The Hyatt Hotel located across from the State Capitol: 1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, will be the host hotel this year.  Click Oct. Session Schedule to view the abbreviated schedule.
 
Members can expect to receive a Session packet with complete details on how to make reservations, travel, and menu options by July 15, 2013.
 
**If you need business cards or a name badge   CLICK HERE  for the order form.  Please send forms to the CSL office by the end of July to ensure you 
receive your order in time for session!!!

CODE 402
Contributions to Code 402 on California State Income Tax Check-Off are down approx. 10%($18,142) from this time last year.  Many people are late in filing their taxes, so keep promoting it as much as possible!  To remain on the Tax Check-Off, the CSL must collect a minimum of $250,000 in contributions by the end of the year.  As of April 30th, our report total was $168,182.
 
You can view CSL's TV commercial here:
  View our videos on YouTube
 
CSL Power Point Presentation
 
Attached is a Power Point Presentation created by Senior Assembly Member Shirley Krohn.  This is a great resource for members to use to promote the California Senior Legislature. 

It provides information about:
  • CSL 
  • October session and our legislative process 
  • The development of proposals into Bills/ Law 
  • Advocating for CSL 
  • Funding and Contributions

Whether you print it as a handout or use it for presentations, it is a wonderful guide to the foundation and operation of the California Senior Legislature!

 
Travel Expense Claims for  FY 2012-13 
Due by June 7, 2013

In order to receive reimbursement for CSL related travel expenses that occurred during Fiscal Year 2012-13, all TEC's must be submitted to the CSL office by June 7, 2013.  The CSL office must have all TEC's processed and sent to the Department of General Services by the end of the fiscal year. 
 
Please send any outstanding TEC forms to the office no later than June 7, 2013:
1020 N street, Room #513
Sacramento, CA 95814
2013 pocket directory
2013 Pocket Directory of the California Legislature

 

The 2013 Pocket Directory includes legislators, staff, complete committee and caucus information, and much more.

It provides phone/fax numbers, addresses, e-mails, and other information for CA State Senators and Assembly Members.

 

If you would like a copy of the Capitol Directory please e-mail Kristin Bowling with your request:   [email protected] 

CSL PROPOSALS = LEGISLATIVE BILLS

There are several proposals developed by Senior Senators
and Assembly Members that are now in legislative bill form.

AB 247 - Personal Income Tax: Voluntary Contribution: California Fund for Senior Citizens

AKA CSL Sunset Clause 

Assembly Member Wagner

(SP-10 Jim Levy)

 

AB 396 - Labeling of Prescription Drugs

Assembly Member Fox

(AP-8 Senior Assembly Marcia Gould)

 

AB 477 - Mandated Reporting for Notaries Public

Assembly Member Chau

(AP-7 Glasmeier)

 

AB 663 - Adult Residential Facilities: Training:

LGBT Issues

Assembly Member Gomez

(AP-19 Krohn)

         

AB 918 - Emergency Transportation

Assembly Member Cooley

(AP-2 Bloch)

 

SB 129 - Telephone Service: Deaf, Hearing Impaired and Disabled Access

Assembly Member Wright

(AP-13 Kammerer)

  

SJR 4 - Reauthorization of the Federal Older Americans Act

Senator Monning

(AFP-1 Agor)

For more information, visit www.4csl.org

 

Support and Sponsorship for Non CSL Bills

 

 CSL Sponsored Bills

Bill #

Bill Name

Author

SB 156

Conservatorships and Guardianships: Attorney's fees

  Beall

 

 

 

 

 

 

CSL Supported Bills

Bill #

Bill Name

Author

AB 5

Homelessness

Ammiano

AB 140

Undue Influence

Dickinson

AB 261

Residential Care Facilities: Elderly: Fees: Charges

Chesbro

AB 299

Pharmacy

Holden

AB 322

Home Care Services Act of 2013

Yamada

AB 364

Community Care Facilities: Unannounced Visits

Calderon

AB 381

Estates and Trusts: Undue Influence and Elder Abuse

Chau

AB 403

Solid Waste: Home-Generated Sharps

Stone

AB 462

Fire Protection: Residential Care Facilities

Stone

AB 553

Reverse Mortgages: Notifications

Medina

AB 581

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly

Ammiano

AB 961

Health Facilities: Investigations: Disclosure

Levine

AB 1136

Pharmacists: Drug Disclosures

Levine

AB 1217

Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act of 2013

Lowenthal

SB 50

Telecommunications: Pay Telephones

Lieu

SB 60

Victims: Human Trafficking: Elder and Dependent

Wright

SB 354

Department of Veterans Affairs: Outcomes for Veterans

Roth

SB 609

Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Wolk

SB 761

Family Temporary Disability Insurance

DeSaulnier

SB 770

Unemployment Compensation: Disability Benefits

Jackson

 

 

Legislative Committee Meeting June 3-4 2013
Chair and Vice Chairs Only 
 
The Chair and Vice Chairs of the Legislative Committee will be meeting in early June to go over the 2013 proposals submitted by CSL members. The purpose of the meeting is to go over each submission and identify any similar proposals so that authors can be contacted to work with each other to consolidate and avoid any duplicate proposals.  Please remember proposals are due in the office by June 1, 2013.
 

 Joint Rules Committee Meetings

 

September 16-17, 2013                   Sacramento

Legislative Committee Meetings

 

June 3-4, 2013                                   Sacramento

(Chair & Vice Chairs Only)

      

July 8-9, 2013                                     Sacramento

August 12-13, 2013                           Sacramento     


 

 

Joint Rules Committee

 

Don MacAllister, Chair

[email protected]

___________

Legislative Committee

 

Julia Rosenberg, Chair

[email protected]

                                                                   

California Senior Legislature

1020 N Street, Room 513

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 552-8056 Office

(916) 552-8013 Fax

www.4csl.org

 

Janice Bailey, Operations Manager

[email protected]

 

Kirstin Bowling, Office Technician

[email protected]