Assembly Standing Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care

If any member of the public in the room would like to testify today, I will ask you to approach the microphone after each Assembly member presents their bill. We also accept written testimony through the position letter portal with instructions on the committee's website, and you can find the email for the committee there as well. We will be using a moderated telephone service through which any witness can add their position to a bill.

Our call-in number for add-on support and opposition is 877-692-8957 and the PIN is number 131544. Again, the number is 877-692-8957 and the PIN is 131544. Please call when the author begins a bill presentation. The operator on the line will give you instructions on how to be placed in the queue based on whether you support or oppose the bill. If you are calling in, please eliminate all background noise. This includes muting your live stream broadcast and your smart devices to reduce sound issues.

If you are having problems with the moderated phone service, you can call my capital office at 916-319-2035 and staff will be there to try to help. Thank you for bearing with us as we implement methods to continue to serve the people of California. All right. With that, let's call the role to establish a quorum. Secretary, please call the roll.

Bains. Ta. Alvarez. Present. Haney, Present. Nguyen. Here. Joe Patterson. Reyes. Rubio. Here.

Awesome. All right, so first on the roll is hearing of AB 820. Assembly member. Right. No, wait.

First we want to do a motion to adopt.

Okay, so can we do a motion to adopt the committee rules? Awesome.

Bains. Aye. Alvarez. Aye. Haney. Aye. Nguyen. Aye. Patterson. Reyes. Rubio.

Awesome. And the committee rules are adopted. All right. And then we're going to hearing on AB 845 first. All right, so, Assemblymember Alvarez, please proceed and present your bill. AB 845.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Appreciate the opportunity to come before the committee and talk about AB 845. AB 845 would create an administrator that would oversee the mental and behavioral health statistics for older adults and adjudicate proper measures and plans to accommodate the needs of our elders. Although we have numerous amounts of mental health care services for those who seek help. We lack those services, in many cases, for older adults who may be suffering from behavioral and mental health crisis.

In fact, we have put millions of dollars, the state has, over the last several years, into mental health services throughout the state. But not a single dollar has been put into specialized mental health services for older adults. According to the World Health Organization, over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder. Mental health has been, and still is, stigmatized throughout our community.

But in the older generation in particular, they sometimes either do not know or refuse to get the mental health help that they need. Studies have demonstrated that there is a distinguishable correlation between an older adult's declining health and their declining physical health. With the help of the older adult behavioral health administrator that will be appointed through this bill, we as a state will find out what we can do better to help the elderly who are suffering from mental and behavioral health issues.

At its core, we want to make sure that there is an administrator to analyze statistics and the data to determine a starting point to aid the elderly with their mental and behavioral health, whether it is through expanding programs that exist or improving those programs. With that being said, I would like to introduce a witness in support. Paul Simmons is with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of California, who are sponsors of this bill. And I'll turn it over to Bill.

Thank you. And thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. First, I'd like to say, as an older adult, I support this bill. But, yeah, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at its core, works with people with mood disorders, depression, bipolar, and other associated ailments and challenges. And as someone mentioned, a lot of older adults develop these later on because they're under more physical pressure, more sociological pressure, et cetera.

And it's true, there aren't that many programs really focused on what the older adults need. Now, these older adults are really people who maybe did not get the resources they needed when they were transition-age youth, when they were children when they were young adults. And yet we put a lot of effort and a lot of resources, particularly into the schools and getting mental health education into the schools and working with that.

So this administrator would, of course, be reporting quite a bit to the different agencies, MHSOAC, because it's probably going to be under the MHSA funding and other things. But I hope that when this goes into effect, that this administrator also coordinates the fact that when we do improve these programs, when we do get the information and the data that we need to help these people that he also is involved with making sure that the public knows that these resources are out there.

In fact, that's one of the big challenges we have today, is that we put billions of dollars through the MHSA and other programs, and yet the public doesn't know how to access them. They don't even know they exist. So it's my hope that as this data comes together with the different agencies and the Oversight Commission, et cetera, that a mechanism come into place so that everyone knows what we're doing for the older adults and how we can help them. So we do support this bill, and we really do hope that it goes through. We ask for your aye vote.

Awesome. So is there anyone in the room who wishes to add on in support?

...

Thank you. Amber King with Leading Age California, here in support. Thank you.

Leza Coleman with the California Commission on Aging, in support.

Awesome. And then, operator, please open the line for additional support, but limit your support to name and affiliation only.

Of course. Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to speak in support, you may press star, then zero, or one, then zero. I do apologize. And there's currently no one in the queue, Madam.

Thank you so much. We do not have any recorded opposition, but is there anyone here in opposition to this measure? Operator, is there anyone on the line to add on in opposition?

There's currently no one dialed in at this time.

Awesome. Are there any questions from the committee on AB 845? Awesome. Assemblymember Alvarez, would you like to close on your bill?

Thank all of you. I think I've had a conversation with everybody on the dais about the importance of making sure we are taking care of our older adults. I appreciate the time that you've given to me, and I know that you serve on this committee because you believe in that. And we hope that this bill is part of the many things to come through this committee that will address the concerns with making sure we're serving the older population. And I ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Assemblymember Alvarez, for this bill. It's really, really important work. As a doctor, working in family medicine, serving our aging population, the number of big leading cause of adverse reactions to our elderly are adverse drug reactions. And that happens directly because you can't see the same provider over and over again. And a lot of times there are multiple medications.

And if the new medication is added on and that is working in opposition with another medication that you're on, it can lead to very severe medical out. So I would like to thank you again for this bill. There's a leading cause of mental health problems overall, but to bring awareness specifically to our aging population is very important. So I thank you for your efforts on this, and you definitely have my support. There were drafting issues dealing with the past dates on the measure as well.

Thank you for accepting the committee amendments. And then this bill has been. Okay, so this bill has been dual referred with passage out of the Assembly, Aging and Long Term Care. This bill moves to the Assembly Committee, and we have a motion by Assemblymember T. And then Assemblymember Nguyen seconded. This motion is do pass is amended and referred to the Committee on Health. Secretary, please call the roll.

Bains. Aye. Ta. Aye. Alvarez. Aye. Haney. Aye. Nguyen. Aye. Nguyen, aye. Patterson. Reyes. Aye. Reyes, aye. Rubio. Aye. Rubio, aye.

Seven ayes, zero noes. The bill is out. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. And then, Assembly Member Reyes, if you can present AB 820.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to begin by accepting the Committee's amendments and thank your staff for working with my staff. So I'm pleased to present AB 820. This bill is going to require that older adults be represented on seven state boards, commissions, and advisory committees which focus on health care, workforce development, and homelessness. Clearly, we see that the older population is growing. Here I am. The gentleman the witness was talking about, how it will affect him.

These are things that already affect me and my colleagues, my younger colleagues. One day, you too will not only sit on this Committee, but will be benefiting from the Committee. By 2030, we know that 60-year olds and older will be more racially and ethnically diverse and make up quarter of the population of the State of California. We're living longer. I think the last study had us almost living an average of almost 81 years of age.

Not only are we the fastest growing in the population, but also the fastest growing in homelessness. We need to make sure that when we have a board or a commission that deals with homelessness, that we have somebody there who is a senior. Workforce also, we're seeing many people who are unretiring coming back to the workforce. If we're going to talk about workforce, we should have somebody who is a senior who is also participating.

So there are lots of things that the bill will do, specifically with the various boards. Now here to testify and support are Lisa Coleman, the Legislative Director for the Commission on Aging, and Nina Wheeler Hornwell, Associate Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement for AARP California.

Thank you, Chair and Assembly Members. My name is Lisa Coleman. I am the Legislative Director for the California Commission on Aging and I am delighted to be here representing as a sponsor organization in support of AB 820. The California Commission on Aging is established in statute as an independent advisory body, the principal advocate before the governor, the Legislature, the state, and federal departments and agencies on behalf of California's older adults. Our commission members reflect the wide range of demographics and expertise reflective in our state.

Our commissioners have many decades of experience within the world of aging and supporting industries. AB 820 recognizes the value of those decades of professional experience and the need to have those voices at the table when the state is doing its business. In California, task force, councils, commissions, and workgroups provide the foundation for systemic change, giving individuals who represent these larger groups a voice in government.

When these advocacy workgroups are working correctly, they allow citizens to influence the decisions that shape the quality of life for the residents of our state. Appointees are responsible for advising, renewing policy, and developing recommendations to address the issues facing the groups they represent. While the current authority for making appointments does not exclude representation by individuals who represent the needs and perspectives of older adults, this bill says that it fails to recognize that these individuals need to be a requirement on these commissions.

Considering the changing demographics, the increasing older adult population, the increasing population of older adults with disabilities, it's not just important that we promote their engagement, it is essential. The disability community has an expression, nothing about us without us. The commission's chair, former Assembly Member Cheryl Brown, puts it a little differently. She says, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu.

So whatever phrase you want to use, the absence of the representation of older adults may result in systems failing those very older adults that are growing and needing your support the fastest. Assembly Bill 820 promotes equity and participation of those statewide agencies, program providers, and advocacy organizations that serve and advocate for the needs of older adults. I thank you for your time and ask for your aye vote.

So good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, and Members. Thank you so much for this opportunity to speak about the importance of AB 820. I'm Nina Wheeler Hornwell with AARP California. I have been with the organization for 25 years and in Sacramento for 21 years, serving as an advocate for older Californians, of which I am now one. We have witnessed important strides over the past few years to better prioritize and focus resources on policy improvements that will benefit older Californians.

The master plan for aging and increased attention from many legislators is seen and appreciated. At the same time, genuine progress in uplifting older Californians is only possible when our voices are present on the committees and workgroups where critical decisions are made. In my long time with AARP, I have personally witnessed what happens when policy that impacts older Californians is enacted without the voices of older Californians seated at the table. What's worse, poor decisions and policy choices are nearly impossible to rectify once they are finalized.

In almost every case, including older Californians and their advocates in the decision making process leads to better policy choices and better outcomes for older Californians. So, in the spirit of the master plan for aging and our expanded definition of diversity and inclusion to include older Californians and persons with disabilities, AB 820 is a critical and necessary step to ensure that we are indeed building a California for all ages and abilities. Thank you again for this opportunity to address the Committee to express our support for AB 820, and we certainly would welcome your aye vote on this vote.

Thank you so much. Is there anyone in the room who wishes to add on in support?

Thank you. Amber King with Leading Age California, here in support.

Good afternoon. Ryan Souza with the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in support. Thank you.

All right, and then, Operator, is there any additional support? And please open the line for additional support, but limit your support to name and affiliation only.

Currently still no one dialed in, Madam Chair.

Perfect. All right. We do not have any recorded opposition, but is there anyone here in opposition to this measure? Seeing none. Operators or anyone on the line to add on in opposition?

There is none.

Okay. Are there any questions from the Committee on AB 820? And then, Assembly Member Reyes, would you like to close on your bill?

Ask for your aye vote.

Awesome. Assemblywoman Reyes, I wanted to thank you very much for this bill. This is very, very important. One of the commissions that you listed on there is the Health Workforce Council, and that was a council I was supposed to be on had I not run for office. But I served previously on that council, as it used to be, the Song-Brown Commission. And having the importance of a voice specifically for our aging population is so critical.

So I just want to thank you so much for this bill. It's a super, super excellent idea, and you have my full support on this. And with that, I also wanted to add that representation matters, and I will always be a voice for my district. And we must ensure all state commissions, boards, task forces, and committees are geographically diverse as well. And I am pleased to co-author this bill moving forward. Is there a motion? Yes, we did, and there was a second. And the motion before us is do pass as amended and re-refer to the Appropriations Committee. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

You have seven ayes, zero noes. Congratulations, as pass out of Committee, and then seeing no further business before us, we'll leave it open for just about five more minutes.

Hearing is adjourned.