BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 1377 (Nguyen) - Cognitively impaired adults: caregiver resource centers ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: April 12, 2016 |Policy Vote: HEALTH 9 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: April 25, 2016 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 1377 would appropriate $3.3 million from the General Fund each year to provide support for Caregiver Resource Centers. The bill would also clarify that services provided by Caregiver Resource Centers may be provided through remote technologies. Fiscal Impact: Ongoing appropriation of $3.3 million per year for support of Caregiver Resource Centers (General Fund). No significant costs are anticipated due to the change in law specifically allowing most services to be provides through remote technologies. Under current practice, Caregiver Resource Centers are allowed to provide services through remote technologies such as telephone, the internet, or other services. To the extent that Caregiver Resources Centers do make use of such technologies, they may be able to provide services to the public at lower cost. SB 1377 (Nguyen) Page 1 of ? Background: Under current law, Caregiver Resource Centers are authorized to provide services to the caregivers of cognitively impaired adults - such as individuals with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other degenerative diseases. Caregiver Resource Centers generally provide support services to caregivers, such as education and training or emotional support services. In addition, Caregiver Resource Centers provide respite care to cognitively impaired adults. Respite services are used to provide care to a cognitively impaired adult for a limited amount of time so that caregivers have some relief from the constant demands of caring for a loved one. Respite services can be provided in the home or in other settings such as adult day care centers. There are eleven Caregiver Resource Centers in the state. Funding for Caregiver Resource Centers has gone from a high of $12.2 million in 2000-01 to a low of $2.9 million from 2009-10 to 2014-15. In 2015-16, funding was increased to $4.9 million (which is the amount proposed in the 2016-17 budget as well). All funding for Caregiver Resource Centers comes from the General Fund. Proposed Law: SB 1377 would appropriate $3.3 million from the General Fund each year to provide support for Caregiver Resource Centers. The bill would also clarify that services provided by Caregiver Resource Centers may be provided through remote technologies (except for respite services). -- END --