BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1436 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1436 (Burke) - As Amended May 6, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Human Services |Vote:|7 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill allows In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) applicants and recipients to designate an authorized representative. AB 1436 Page 2 FISCAL EFFECT: Minor and absorbable costs to DSS to develop the form. Minor costs to counties to implement the procedure. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, the authorized representative function is critical in that it provides applicants and recipients with a self-directed pathway to receive needed assistance with complex rules and requirements of these programs. IHSS program applicants and recipients may struggle with increasingly complex and changing program rules; yet, while they may have family members and friends who are able to provide support, there is no formal process to designate these individuals as authorized representatives. This bill, according to the author, provides flexibility for an IHSS applicant or recipient to determine the duties of the authorized representative, and makes it clear that the authorized representative has a legal responsibility to act in the client's best interest. 2)Background. A number of programs administered by the state allow for, and set forth definitions and designation procedures regarding, authorized representatives in order to facilitate recipients' full participation in programs. These authorized representatives are permitted, within specified limits, to act on behalf of program applicants and participants typically for purposes of applying for services and other required program activities. AB 1436 Page 3 Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081