CalWORKs

AB 1560 (Fuentes) – Support
As Amended on May 25, 2012

AB 1560, by Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes, will help low-income families who are eligible for the state’s Medi-Cal program to also receive CalFresh nutritional benefits. 

Specifically, AB 1560 would waive the gross income test for any individual who receives, or is eligible to receive, Medi-Cal medical benefits. The measure would also allow those who live in households with those who receive or are eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits to qualify for the CalFresh program. 

CSAC supports AB 1560, which was passed by the Senate Human Services Committee on July 2. It is set for hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 6. 

AB 1640 (Mitchell) – Support
As Amended on May 25, 2012

AB 1640, by Assembly Member Holly Mitchell, would change the state’s CalWORKs statute to allow for pregnant women (with no other children in the household) to become eligible for CalWORKs basic needs grants and full-scope 1931(b) Medi-Cal benefits upon verification of a pregnancy.
CSAC supports AB 1640, which was passed by the Senate Human Services Committee on July 2. It is set for hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 6. 

AB 1998 (Achadjian) – Support
As Amended on May 25, 2012

AB 1998, by Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, would help bridge the “digital divide” by allowing counties to donate surplus computer property directly to recipients of public assistance to aid in employment and assistance efforts.

CSAC supports AB 1998, which is on the Senate’s Third Reading File (floor).

Medi-Cal

SB 1528 (Steinberg) – Support
As Amended on June 27, 2012

SB 1528, by Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, would give counties and the state additional options to collect owed medical expenses.

Currently, counties and the state have a right of action to file a lien for medical expenses only in if the client/patient receive a judgment in a case. Senate Bill 1528 would expand the county’s options by allowing for collections on settlements, compromises, arbitration awards, mediation settlements, or recovery of past medical expenses obtained by the client/patient. 

CSAC supports SB 1528 as amended June 27; the Assembly Judiciary Committee passed the measure on July 3. SB 1528 is on the Assembly’s Third Reading File (floor).

Public Health

SB 1329 (Simitian) – Support
As Amended on June 26, 2012

SB 1329, by Senator Joe Simitian, would simplify the way counties may establish a local prescription drug collection and distribution program.
Senator Simitian’s SB 798, signed into law in 2005, allows counties that pass a local ordinance to collect unused prescription medications from skilled nursing facilities and pharmaceutical manufacturers for the purpose of distributing these surplus supplies to those who may not be able to afford medications. This program has been successfully implemented in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. SB 1329 would simplify the process for counties to authorize a program by a Board of Supervisors action or by the action of the county’s public health officer. The bill also widens the pool of entities that may participate in a local program thereby casting a wider net for eligible pharmaceuticals available for the program.

CSAC and the County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC) support SB 1329, which is now on the Assembly’s Third Reading File (floor).

Child Welfare Services

AB 1712 (Beall) – Support
As Amended on June 21, 2012

AB 1712, by Assembly Member Jim Beall, is a technical clean up measure relating to 2010’s Fostering Connections to Success Act. The Act extended foster care services to youth up to age 21 and helps the state draw down additional foster care funding from the federal government. 

AB 1712 was created with input from counties, foster family agencies, and myriad other stakeholders, all with a singular goal in mind: To make foster care services as accessible and efficient as possible for all youth and non-minor dependents that need them. 

AB 1712 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 6.

Adult Protective Services

AB 2149 (Butler) – Support
As Amended on June 26, 2012 

AB 2149, by Assembly Member Betsy Butler, would allow victims of elder abuse to continue to contact, cooperate with or file a claim of elder abuse regardless of whether a civil settlement action has been rendered. It would go into effect on January 1, 2013. 

AB 2149 is on the Senate’s Third Reading File (floor).