CALA News & Views | Issue 57 | Impact

Strengthening Protections for Older Adults

SB 991 (Menjivar) changes the way DSS categorizes abuse, beginning July 1, 2029, to provide more accurate and transparent information. Rather than citing as a resident rights violation, abuse will be categorized as physical abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, financial exploitation or abuse, involuntary seclusion or isolation, mental abuse or suffering, or neglect. AB 871 (Stefani) requires additional training for financial institutions in detecting elder financial abuse and reporting to the FBI.

SB 991

AB 871

Bills Stopped: Protecting Operational Flexibility for RCFEs

SB 29 (Laird) was a two-year bill that would have permanently extended a temporary policy allowing successors to recover unlimited predeath pain-and suffering damages. Originally enacted to address COVID-era court backlogs, the provision expired on Jan. 1, 2026, after SB 29 failed to advance. AB 1898 (Schultz) would have imposed new workplace AI disclosure requirements, created a private right of action, and allowed stricter local regulations, potentially limiting technologies that support resident safety. CALA was part of the CalChamber coalition seeking employer-friendly amendments. AB 2064 (Sharp-Collins) and AB 2095 (Lee) would have expanded employment protections related to criminal history without accommodating statutory background check requirements applicable to senior living providers.

SB 29

AB 1898

AB 2064 AB 2095