Senior News November, 2003 Vol. 24. No. 11

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Book Arts Guild meets monthly to create and learn

Are we meeting the challenges of serving rural seniors?

California Senior Legislature meets in October

From Sunday jams to public performance, the Jefferson State Boondock Band plays on...

CR did an outstanding job on the third annual event

Come to first membership meeting of new nonprofit

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Area Agency on Aging
California Senior Legislature meets in October
by Chris Martinek

Senior Senator Mary Dennison and Senior Assembly Member Thea Gast attended the 23rd annual session of the California Senior Legislature in Sacramento in October. Dennison of Eureka and Gast of Arcata represent Humboldt and Del Norte counties in the CSL. They were among the 120 senior leaders from throughout California who participated in the annual session Oct. 20-23.

The CSL's primary purpose is to identify and prioritize senior citizen's concerns, develop proposals and advocate for their passage in the California State Legislature. The CSL works closely with the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Councils of California (TACC) and many other senior groups that are part of the state's aging network.

Each October, the CSL convenes a legislative session in the chambers and hearing rooms of the State Capitol where members present and hear testimony, debate the issues and vote to approve or not approve the senior members' various legislative proposals. Of the approved proposals, the members adopt state and federal priorities.

Senior legislators then seek state lawmakers to author the CSL priority proposals and work throughout the year to ensure adoption of the legislative bills. Since its inception, the CSL has had an excellent track record of accomplishmens with better than 70 percent of its proposals being passed into law.

The CSL is a nonpartisan body of volunteers made up of 40 senior senators and 80 senior assembly members 60 years of age and older. The members are elected by their peers in even-numbered years and represent seniors in the 33 Area Agency on Aging service areas throughout California. The first CSL annual legislative session was convened in 1981. Dennison has been a member since 1998 and Gast since 2000.

CSL is supported by the California Fund for Senior Citizens and sponsored by the California Commission on Aging. It is funded entirely through the voluntary contributions column of the state income tax form where taxpayers may check off any full dollar amount as a gift to the California Fund for Senior Citizens (Line 54). It can also receive direct contributions to its off-tax-season fund, the California Foundation on Aging. All contributions to this fund are tax deductible. Donations may also be made by sending checks payable to the CFOA/CSL, PO Box 660951, Sacramento, CA 95866.

Chris Martinek is planner for the Area Agency on Aging. Next month: the 15 top state priorities and the five top federal priorities.