BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator Elaine K. Alquist, Chair
BILL NO: AB 2920
A
AUTHOR: Leno
B
VERSION: June 20, 2006
HEARING DATE: June 27, 2006
2
FISCAL: Appropriations
9
2
CONSULTANT:
0
Sue North
SUBJECT
Seniors
SUMMARY
Requires the California Department of Aging (CDA) to ensure
that all programs administered by CDA and the Area Agencies
on Aging (AAAs) account for the needs of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders.
ABSTRACT
Specifically, this bill:
1) Makes findings and declarations which include:
a) The effects of lifelong experiences of marginalization
place LGBT seniors at high risk for isolation, poverty,
homelessness, and premature institutionalization;
b) Many LGBT seniors avoid accessing elder programs and
services, even when their health and safety and security
depend on it;
c) LGBT seniors often lack social and family support
networks available to non-LGBT seniors;
Continued---
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d) LGBT seniors are denied many vital financial benefits
provided to heterosexual married couples including Social
Security benefits and equal long-term care insurance
protections;
e) The number of people 65 years of age and older in
California is expected to double to 6.5 million by the year
2020, thereby increasing the number of LBGT seniors who are
receiving inadequate services;
f) The state needs to ensure that the needs of LGBT
seniors as well as other underrepresented groups are
adequately assessed during the planning and development of
programs and services will increase access to the programs
administered by CDA and the AAAs; and,
g) California leads the nation in the protections it
affords to LGBT persons. Including the needs of LGBT
seniors and other underrepresented groups in the needs
assessment and Area Plan process will help the state to be
a model for change in other states and at the federal
level.
2) Specifies that CDA shall ensure that programs and
services provided through the Older Americans Act and the
Older Californians Act in each planning and service area
are available to all older adults regardless of physical or
mental disabilities, language barriers, cultural or social
isolation, including that caused by actual or perceived
racial and ethnic status, ancestry, national origin,
religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, familial
status, sexual orientation, or by any other basis set forth
in Section 12921 of the Government Code, or by association
with a person or persons with one or more of these actual
or perceived characteristics, that restrict an individual's
ability to perform normal daily tasks or that threaten his
or her capacity to live independently.
3) Specifies that CDA shall require each AAA to include
the needs of LGBT seniors in their needs assessments and
Area Plans.
4) Requires CDA to provide technical assistance to the
AAAs for the training of program staff, volunteers, and
contractors regarding the unique needs of LGBT seniors.
5) Empowers CDA to adopt any regulations necessary to
implement to the provisions of the bill.
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FISCAL IMPACT
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
increased General Fund (GF) costs to CDA to provide
technical assistance estimated at $60,000 and increased GF
costs of $330,000 to AAAs to include the needs of LGBT
seniors in their needs assessments and area plans.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
California has 33 AAAs that provide a wide range of
services designed to keep older adults and adults with
disabilities independent and in their own homes and
communities
for as long as possible. AAAs serve as the focal point for
local aging issues and concerns.
To ensure that programs and services funded by the AAA
adequately serve the older adults within each community,
AAAs are required to conduct a needs assessment every four
years to document the service needs of community residents
and address gaps in the service network. The needs
assessment process typically includes a community-wide
survey, community meetings, and information received from
stakeholders. California Code of Regulations (Title 22,
Division 1.8, Chapter 3, Article 3) requires that each
needs assessment include all of the following: the target
populations, the types of existing and potential needs of
older individuals in the community, the services or
resources that currently are available, as well as any
constraints (waiting lists, geographic limitations,
quality), an estimate of unmet needs or barriers to access,
demographic information, and data from other agencies. The
information received through the needs assessment process
guides the AAA in identifying the service priorities for
the Area Plan.
Every four years, CDA is required by federal law to submit
a State Plan on Aging to the federal Administration on
Aging. The 2005-2009 State Plan on Aging includes a
summary of AAA needs assessment findings. Statewide, AAAs
have indicated that older
adults often do not know how to secure available services
and that information on what services exist and how to
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access them is one of the most pressing needs. The
promising practices to expand outreach and information
identified in the State Plan on Aging includes establishing
many more activities targeting diverse cultural and ethnic
groups, which in some areas included creating neighborhood
partnerships with African American, Asian Pacific Islander,
and LGBT groups.
In addition, the State Plan on Aging includes in its
priorities for 2005-2009 the facilitation of diversity
training for CDA staff and external stakeholders to promote
cultural competence and sensitivity in providing services
so that ethnic and cultural differences are not a barrier
to accessing services.
Prior Vote History:
Assembly Floor 48-32
Assembly Appropriations 13-5
Assembly Aging & Long Term Care3-1
POSITIONS
Support: Equality California (Sponsor)
Lambda Letters Project
The Center of Orange County
NASW, California Chapter
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
American Society on Aging
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central
Coast
Spectrum Center
National Association of Social Workers,
California Chapter
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Lavender Seniors of the East Bay
City of West Hollywood
Oppose: California Family Council
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