Senior News December, 2003 Vol. 24. No. 12

 

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.

New donations will feed frail seniors seven meals a week

Task force looks at ways to protect seniors from multiple Rx interactions

Twenty issues rise to level of priority for seniors

Many qualify for food stamps

First anniversary of veggie meals

HSU Over-60 Program still the best deal for seniors

Saving money by using over-the-counter medications

Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue!

Brought to you by

California Senior Legislature
Twenty issues rise to level of priority for seniors
by Mary Dennison and Thea Gast

Fifteen state and five federal proposals for legislation were selected by the California Senior Legislature at its 23rd annual legislative session in October. Most of the state proposals address needs of frail elders and disabled adults. All of the state proposals require little or no state funding.

The media was out in full force for two days as Governor-elect Schwarzenegger was at the Capitol. But so was Brooke Shields who was making a Hallmark TV movie. After all, this is California.

State proposals
Assembly Proposal (AP)-1. Hearing Aid Costs would require hearing aid providers to charge actual costs approved by the Department of Health Services.

AP-4. Purpose of Prescriptions would require that all prescriptions contain a notice of the intended purpose of the drug, unless waived by the patient.  

AP-5. Skilled Nursing Facility Patient Examinations would require each charge nurse in a skilled nursing facility to conduct physical evaluations of each patient under their charge every 24 hours.

AP-6. Disabled Telephone Service Certification would authorize secondary health service providers to certify eligibility for disabled access telecommunications programs.

AP-7. Skilled Nursing Facility Dental Screening would require that a dental hygienist prescreening report be included in the formulation of a personalized treatment plan for prospective residents of skilled nursing facilities.

AP-8. ADA Transportation Availability would require Americans with Disabilities Act transportation systems to educate their employees regarding ADA requirements and to publish the availability of ADA systems in the media.

AP-11. Long-Term Care Facility Civil Liability would increase the civil liability limits of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities from $500 to $5,000 and apply it to both current and former residents and to an expanded scope of rights.

AP-12. IHSS Caregiver Background Checks would require In-Home Support Services caregivers to submit fingerprints and undergo a background criminal history check to determine suitability.

AP-14. Elder Abuse Prevention Month would proclaim the month of May every year as Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Month and call on all Californians to take action to prevent mistreatment.

AP-17. Hearsay Exception in Elder Abuse Cases would create an exception to the hearsay rules in misdemeanor prosecutions involving the unjustifiable physical or mental suffering of an elder or dependent adult.

Senate Proposal (SP)-3. Hotel Handicapped Compatibility would require hotels and motels to comply with ADA guidelines and to provide rubber mats or other non-skid surfaces and grab bars in tub and shower areas.

SP-5. Mobile Home Park Homeowner's Rights would provide homeowners in mobile home parks the first right of refusal when parks are sold under specified conditions.

SP-6. Disabled Persons License and Identification Card would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to imprint the wheelchair symbol on drivers' licenses and photo ID cards for disabled persons showing proof of disability.     

SP-8. Home Assistance Workers Background Checks would authorize Area Agencies on Aging to obtain criminal record information for current or prospective home caregivers.

SP-10. Long-Term Care Facility Elder Death Reviews would require long-term care facilities to report deaths to the medical examiner or coroner and require mandatory reporters to report abuse to the medical examiner or coroner.

Federal Proposals
Assembly Federal Proposal (AFP)-1. Prescription Drug Cost Disclosure. This proposal requires pharmacies to list on the receipt the cash price for a prescription for a senior citizen in addition to the customer's co-payment.

Senate Federal Proposal (SFP)-1. Telemarketing Credit Card Billing would require credit card issuers to obtain affirmative written consent prior to billing for telemarketing matters.

SFP-2. Social Security Offsets Elimination would restore full social security benefits by repealing government pension offset and windfall elimination.

SFP-4. Veteran Medical Benefits Package would restore medical benefits package eligibility for veterans in the lowest priority group.

SFP-5. Safer Older Driver Motor Vehicles would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in coordination with others, to promote motor vehicle designs and safety standards that improve(the safety of glder adults in vehicles.

Mary Dennison and Thea Gast are the Senior Senator and Senior Assembly Member, respectively, representing Humboldt and Del Norte counties. They and other members of the California Senior Legislature will now be seeking members of the regular legislature to sponsor these proposals and bring them through the committee process into law.  

Editor's note: In future issues of Senior News, we'll delve into what is behind the need for these proposals and follow their journey in the state legislature. The CSL has around a 60 percent success rate in having their proposals be ultimately reflected in California law. All of us at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center appreciate their legislative activism for the senior population.