BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AJR 8
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AJR
8 (Brown)
As Amended April 15, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Aging |7-0 |Brown, Hadley, | |
| | |Gipson, Gray, Levine, | |
| | |Lopez, Mathis | |
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SUMMARY: Recognizes the 50th Anniversary of the Older Americans
Act of 1965, affirm support thereof, and encourage the
reauthorization of the Act with adequate funding to reflect the
growing population that benefits from its services. Specifically,
this resolution:
1)Finds that the State Legislature acknowledges the 50th
anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA);
2)Acknowledges the OAA's influence upon the improved economic,
well-being and improved quality of life for elders in the state;
3)Highlights the establishment of the "aging network," which
consists of local area agencies on aging and their partner
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community-based organizations and lead by the Administration on
Aging (AoA) in Washington, D.C.;
4)Acknowledges the OAA's focus upon elders in greatest economic
and/or social need by targeting their needs and services that
keep them independent longer, offer employment opportunities to
low income older adults, as well as targeted research, education
and training;
5)Acknowledges the special attention to Native Populations, while
paying tribute to the generation of new beneficiaries, also
known as "baby-boomers," and the influences they will create;
6)Resolves that the Legislature memorialize the 50th anniversary
of the implementation of the OAA, commends the many
contributions of it, supports the reauthorization of the OAA
with adequate funding; and,
7)Directs the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to distribute copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, the Speaker of the House, and the Majority Leader
of the Senate, and to every member of the California Legislative
Delegation to Washington, D.C.
Background: The Older Americans Act of 1965 (as amended in 2006,
Public Law 109-365) was passed to preserve the inherent dignity of
older individuals and assure equal opportunity to the full and
free enjoyment of, adequate income in retirement, the best
possible physical and mental health which science can make
available and without regard to economic status, obtaining and
maintaining suitable housing at costs which older citizens can
afford, full restorative services for those who require
institutional care, a comprehensive array of community-based,
long-term care services adequate to appropriately sustain older
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people in their communities and in their homes, including support
to family members and other persons providing voluntary care to
older individuals needing long-term care services, retirement in
health, honor, and dignity, after years of contribution to the
economy, participation in and contribution to meaningful activity
within the widest range of civic, cultural, educational and
training, and recreational opportunities, freedom, independence,
and the free exercise of individual initiative in planning and
managing their own lives, full participation in the planning and
operation of community-based services and programs provided for
their benefit, and, protection against abuse, neglect, and
exploitation.
The author underscores the current demographic realities for the
State of California which indicates that for about the next 14
years, roughly 1,000 people in the state will turn 65 each day.
Life-spans continue to be extended as health care advances
continue to reduce risk of conditions that once contributed to
shorter life-spans. The 65 and over cohort is currently growing
at a rate about three-times that of those under age 65. This
phenomenon will continue until the 65 and over population reaches
about 24% of the total population around 2050. Today,
California's 65 and over population represents about 12.5%, and
stands at about 5.1 million people. Within 10 years, those over
the age of 65 will represent about 18% of the population.
Supporting the needs of elders during the next several decades
remains a concern. Numerous reports, hearings, and legislative
proposals have pointed out the inadequacies of California's
patchwork of long-term care (LTC) programs, services, and policies
to support a growing cohort of older people. The combination of
fragmented jurisdictions which places the programs that seniors
need under the direction of multiple administrators, all of whom
operate under separate authorities and mandates, coupled with
resource constraints, and programmatic overlap and diffused
accountability, creates the impression that a great deal of work
is being performed, but the degree to which the same amount of
work could be done with focused leadership, coordination, and
accountability remains untested. Absent substantial reform of the
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state's aging and long-term care system, the costs of
over-institutionalization, lost productivity, and degraded quality
of life will remain the hallmark of California's efforts to serve
older people.
The state's economic recovery offers an opportunity to address an
unanswered call to action to build an LTC infrastructure that
meets the needs of aging and disabled adults, as well as those who
care for them, while economizing to contain unnecessary costs.
Analysis Prepared by:
Robert MacLaughlin / AGING & L.T.C. / (916)
319-3990
FN: 0000296