BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 563
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
563 (Lopez) - As Amended May 4, 2015
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|Policy |Human Services |Vote:|7 - 0 |
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| |Aging and Long Term Care | |6 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY: This bill establishes a pilot program to address the
needs of aging individuals with developmental and intellectual
disabilities. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and
the California Department of Aging to develop, by January 1,
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2017, guidelines and protocols establishing best practices for
providing culturally competent services and supports to aging
consumers with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
2)Requires DDS to conduct a two-year pilot program that
implements those guidelines and protocols in three regional
centers, and requires DDS to submit a report to the
Legislature evaluating the pilot program by January 1, 2020,
as specified.
3)Establishes a January 1, 2021, sunset date for the pilot
program.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Annual costs to DDS of approximately $184,000 ($110,000 GF)
for 1.5 positions to develop best practices and guidelines for
the pilot projects.
2)Unknown, but potentially significant costs to DDS to implement
the pilot projects. The bill lacks sufficient detail to know
the extent of the work required.
3)Additional unknown costs to DDS to compile and produce a
report evaluating the pilot program and determining whether
the pilot program should be implemented statewide.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, "Under existing law, the
Department of Developmental Services is required to contract
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with the Regional Centers to provide needed services to
individuals with developmental disabilities through all stages
of their lives. Currently the Regional Center system provides
specific services for infants, children, adolescents and
adults. There is no specific Regional Center unit that
addresses the unique needs of older adults. Within the
developmental disability system, several individuals and
programs have independently attempted to fill the service gap
that is not met by the current DDS/Regional Center system.
This is indicative of the significant needs of older adults
with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as the
population continues to increase."
2)Background. The Lanterman Act guides the provision of services
and supports for Californian's with developmental
disabilities. Implementation of the Lanterman Act service
system is shared by DDS and a system of 21 regional centers
and four developmental centers. Separately, the California
Department of Aging contracts with 33 Area Agencies on Aging.
Geographically, both systems cover the entire state. Services
and programs within both systems intersect more and more as
families caring for developmental center clients become
eligible for area agency on aging services due to age, and
caregiving responsibilities.
The U.S. Census Bureau expects the nation's population to grow
from 314 million in 2012 to 400 million in 2050 (a 27%
increase), while the population of individuals age 65 and
older is expected to increase by 94%, and to make up more than
20% of the projected US population by 2050. Studies indicate
that the number of individuals over age 60 living in the
community with developmental disabilities will increase
considerably in the coming decades, reaching 1.4 million
nationwide by 2030. Increased life expectancy is one of the
major factors contributing to the growing number of older
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individuals with developmental disabilities, with the mean age
of death being 66 years in 1993, compared to 59 years in the
1970s and 33 years in the 1930s.
According to the DDS, "(T)he aging of parents or family
members directly affects the demand for developmental
services." For instance: "?an aging caregiver may require an
increased level of services and supports to maintain their
family member in the home. When these caregivers die, or are
no longer able to support their loved ones, alternative living
arrangements must be developed or located." DDS notes that
almost all forms of out-of-home care are more expensive than
supporting a person in their own home, and their own data
shows that the percentage of consumers living out of home
increases as they age.
This bill seeks to promote the interaction of the benefits and
best practices of the DDS and Department of Aging systems.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
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