Lawmakers Pass Senator Dodd’s Emergency In-Home Supportive Services Bill

Monday, August 20, 2018

SACRAMENTO – A bill from Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will improve In-Home Supportive Services for those hit by natural disasters including wildfires won final legislative approval Monday and heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for a signature.

“We must continue to care for our disabled and elderly, even when disaster strikes,” Senator Dodd said. “This bill will ensure protection for our most vulnerable population.”

Senate Bill 1040 follows last year’s devastating fires and mudslides that exposed systemwide failures that prevented people from receiving continuous service while they were evacuated to emergency shelters. At the same time, caregivers, who earn very low wages, were left without paychecks. They provide personal care such as feeding, bathing, housecleaning and cooking.

The bill does several things. It clarifies that social workers may approve more hours for caregivers while prioritizing funds from the Office of Emergency Services for the repair of dwellings that are damaged or destroyed. It also codifies an expedited paycheck replacement policy for caregivers whose paychecks were lost or destroyed in a disaster. And it requires counties at the next update of their emergency response plans to make assessments that will ensure that services will continue to be provided during times of natural disaster.

“We can’t turn our backs on the elderly or infirm and we certainly can’t neglect the people who care for them,” Dodd said. “This bill brings a statewide approach to the challenge of ensuring a continuity of care, even in the event of disasters like the ones we’ve experienced over the past year.”

In-Home Supportive Services is the largest long-term care program in the state, helping about 500,000 low-income people with disabilities, including seniors, live safely at home rather than in costly facilities. A majority of them have incomes of less than $1,000 a month and have $2,000 or less in personal assets.

SB 1040 is sponsored by the California Association of Public Authorities for In-Home Supportive Services and is co-sponsored by the United Domestic Workers/AFSCME. Supporters include the California Commission on Aging.

“As California sees more and more devastating fires, earthquakes and floods year after year, it’s imperative that the needs of IHSS consumers not be an afterthought,” said Karen Kessler, executive directive of CAPA. “Senator Dodd’s legislation will help to ensure that IHSS consumers’ needs are met, and their unique and varied situations taken into consideration during and after natural disasters.”

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Senator Bill Dodd represents California’s 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa counties. You can learn more about Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.