CALA News & Views | Issue 51 | Impact

Broad Innovations to Benefit California’s Older Adults Supporting

supported and were signed into law. AB 2541 (Bains) brings together experts to develop police officer training to help with individuals that wander and ensure broader communication and coordination among and within local jurisdictions. AB 2680 (Aguiar-Curry) renames the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee and expands membership. AB 2689 (Bains) extends the tax checkoff for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Research Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund to Jan. 1, 2032. SB 639 (Limon) requires medical professionals whose patient population is 25% or more age 65 or older to take at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course related to geriatric medicine or the care of older patients.

CALA prides itself on being a critical partner with an important role in the broader long-term services and supports system. With that in mind, CALA engages on a wide range of issues that benefit the system as a whole. CALA supported three bills that help strengthen the LTSS system. Governor Newsom signed the bills, and they will become effective Jan. 1, 2025. AB 2207 (Reyes) expands several state boards and commissions to add various representatives, including the executive director of the California Commission on Aging and other representatives from organizations that serve or advocate on behalf of older adults. AB 2620 (Bains) makes changes that allow the commission to function more easily and requires commissioners to have some professional, lived or academic expertise relating to aging. SB 1249 (Roth) strengthens the Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state to help ensure a well organized and efficient LTSS infrastructure, which is vital to meet growing demand by older Californians.

In addition, there were several bills relating to dementia care that benefit the broader LTSS system that CALA

CALA NEWS & VIEWS I ISSUE 51 | NOVEMBER 2024

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