CALA News & Views | Issue 48 | Impact

TWO-YEAR BILLS SB 875 (Glazer) RCFE Referral Agencies – Support Statute regulating referral agencies and requiring basic consumer disclosure and protection will have to wait another year. While the language in this bill didn’t provide everything that all groups wanted, it did represent general agreements among many stakeholders negotiated over many years, while also responding to a prior veto by Gov. Newsom. Late concerns stalled the bill for now. SB 809 (Smallwood-Cuevas) California Fair Employment and Housing Act: Fair Chance Act: Conviction History – Oppose Unless Amended CALA was part of a large CalChamber-led coalition in opposition to this burdensome background check bill. The intent of the bill is to expand upon previous legislation to help previously incarcerated individuals who have served their time not to be intentionally excluded from the workforce. Unfortunately, for employers required by the state or other government entities to condition employment upon a background check, this bill would have created unnecessary obstacles. Initially the bill would not have allowed employers to restrict employment based on certain conviction history, which was resolved with amendments, but it would still require these employers to undergo a duplicative assessment and appeals process even though DSS has its own exemption and appeals process that cannot be bypassed. Other concerns include workplace posting requirements and extensive information that would have to be included in every job advertisement. SB 809 is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee, and we will continue to work to exempt senior living providers if it moves next year. 2024 ADVOCACY DAY SAVE THE DATE April 3, 2024 Stay tuned for more details. www.CAassistedliving.org

serving the elderly. Currently, only RCFEs that are associated with a skilled nursing facility have access to this program. AB 839 corrects that discrepancy. CALA secured amendments that enabled us to support this bill. AB 979 (Alvarez) Long-Term Care: Family Councils – Opposition Removed This bill modernizes the existing family council statute for RCFEs and SNFs primarily by recognizing virtual meetings and helping ensure designated individuals are aware of council meetings, among other things. CALA secured amendments to maintain the current response time for family council letters, maintain that “willful” interference is prohibited and maintain that residents in RCFEs will not be prohibited from activities during family council meetings, among other things. healthcare sector and for senior living due to the direct impact and significant wage pressures. Late amendments on the Assembly Floor that removed much of the opposition and secured the bill’s passage, established various phase-in schedules based on a number of factors including health care facility size, facility type and payor mix. The amendments also preempt city and county minimum wage ballot initiatives for 10 years and preempt local executive compensation cap ballot initiatives for six years. For RCFEs affiliated with an acute care provider or owned, operated or controlled by a hospital, and for licensed skilled nursing facilities operated or controlled by a hospital or health system, as defined, the minimum wage for all covered health care employees will be as follows: X From June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2026, inclusive, $21 per hour X From June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2028, inclusive, $23 per hour X From June 1, 2028, and until adjusted, $25 per hour CALA was part of a large opposition coalition. Thank you to members who wrote opposition letters and expressed opposition directly to legislators during CALA’s Day in Your District. CALA has been supportive of this bill’s goal of streamlining the complex elder abuse reporting process and appreciates the amendments that at least partially acknowledge situations involving dementia-related behaviors. CALA continues to have some concerns about reporting dementia-related altercations to law enforcement, however, federal law that requires such reports for nursing homes has set a precedent. As this bill, sponsored by the California’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association (CLTCOA), moves to the implementation phase, CALA will continue to work with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, the Alzheimer’s Association and other stakeholders on ways to mitigate any possible negative impact on those with dementia. SB 525 (Durazo) Minimum Wage: Health Care Workers – Oppose SB 525 imposes a $25 minimum wage for “health care workers” and will result in significant cost increases throughout the AB 1417 (Wood) Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse: Mandated Reporting – Opposition Removed

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