Sen. Dodd’s Community Care Bill Clears Legislature

SACRAMENTO – Amid concerns about the impact of the coronavirus on nursing homes, the Legislature late Monday approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to allow seniors and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes, improving their lives and reducing their risk of exposure.

“Looking out for our most vulnerable populations, especially during the pandemic, is a top priority,” Sen. Dodd said. “My bill allows us to do that and actually save taxpayer money at the same time. It really is commonsense policy that ensures everyone comes out ahead. I thank my fellow lawmakers for their support and look forward to Gov. Newsom signing it into law.”

Senate Bill 214 would allow low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive support in making the transition from skilled nursing facilities to receiving care in their homes, getting residents in the most integrated community settings possible. It allows for the expansion of an existing program. The program, California Community Transitions, successfully transitioned 3,629 from institutional settings since 2007 for an average savings of $60,000 per person per year.

The bill is co-sponsored by Disability Rights California and East Bay Innovations.

“COVID-19 is putting older individuals at high risk for becoming critically ill very quickly, and nursing homes have become tragic hotspots for virus transmission and deaths,” said Tom Heinz, East Bay Transitions’ executive director. “Over 40% of COVID-19 deaths to date have been related to nursing homes, with even higher rates of infection.  It is critical that individuals residing in institutional settings have access to transition services to enable them to move back into the community, into their homes, or into the homes of loved ones.”

The bill now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.

###

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.