AB 594

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law provides various services to persons with disabilities and older adults, which are overseen by the State Department of Social Services, including the In-Home Supportive Services program, and the development of guidelines in the implementation of local adult protective services programs, to assist them in living in the community instead of being placed in a facility. Existing law also vests in the Department of Rehabilitation the responsibility and authority for various programs, including the encouragement of the planning, development, and funding of independent living centers. Under existing law, the State Department of Mental Health is responsible for the administration of programs that serve older adults and persons with disabilities, including caregiver resource centers and the Statewide Resources Consultant. Existing law also establishes various programs under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Aging. This bill would enact the Community Care Modernization Act of 2011. The bill would establish the California Department of Adult and Aging Services in the California Health and Human Services Agency, for the purpose of maintaining individuals in their own homes, or the least restrictive homelike environments for as long as possible, by integrating services under a single agency, to establish stronger, more focused leadership for home- and community-based services for all older adults and persons with disabilities. The bill would provide for the appointment of the director of the department by the Governor, and would specify the director's duties. This bill would require the department to convene a stakeholder committee to assist the department in coordinating with other state agencies to transfer programs to the department, as specified. This bill would require the agency, in consultation with specified state entities, to develop a plan to transition home- and community-based programs for older adults and people with disabilities to the department, and to submit the transition plan to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2013. The bill would require the state level administration of the program and program staff for each originating department to be transferred to the California Department of Aging and Adult Services by specified dates.