SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will expand a successful program allowing low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive care in the safety of their own homes.

“I’m pleased the governor signed this commonsense law that will continue to allow our most vulnerable the choice of staying in their homes to avoid potential exposure to the coronavirus and also improve the quality of their lives,” Sen. Dodd said. “This program protects people who would be most at risk while saving taxpayer dollars that would be spent on outside care.”

The California Community Transitions program has transitioned 4,300 people from institutional settings over the past 12 years for an average savings of $60,000 per person per year. Last year, Sen. Dodd wrote Senate Bill 214, which helped the program assist people during the pandemic. His follow-up legislation, SB 281, ensures California conforms with updates in federal law, expanding eligibility to even more people.

The bill is co-sponsored by Disability Rights California and East Bay Innovations. It was approved with overwhelming support of the Legislature before being signed by Gov. Newsom.

“We are extremely appreciative to Sen. Dodd, the California Legislature and the governor for passage and signing of SB 281, which ensures that the California Community Transitions program will continue to assist hundreds of low-income people with disabilities and seniors to successfully transition from skilled nursing facilities back into their own homes,” said Tom Heinz, executive director of East Bay Innovations.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd [2].