California State
Public Policy News
InThis Issue
–– State Advocacy Day a Success!
–– Alzheimer’s Association Proposes
Dementia Training
–– New Leader Proposes Caregiver Tax Credit
–– 2,612 New Bills Introduced at State Capitol
–– Taxpayers Contribute $483,449 to Alzheimer’s
Research
–– State Policy Director Appointed to Alzheimer’s
Advisory Group
–– Watch for 2017 Alzheimer’s Clinical
Care Guideline
Spring 2017
Edition
Advocates enjoyed meeting the 38 newly elected members of
the state legislature, as well as reconnecting with long-time staff
working on health and aging issues.
Alzheimer’s Association Proposes
Dementia Training
In the fall, the Alzheimer’s Association
identified Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
training as its highest public policy
priority for 2017. CNAs provide vital
direct care in hospitals, nursing homes,
residential care facilities, home health
and hospice, yet, they receive fewer
than two hours of classroom instruction on Alzheimer’s and related
dementia before they’re certified. To address critical training needs
across settings, the Alzheimer’s Association sought a legislative
State Advocacy Day a Success!
Nearly 300 advocates descended on the state capitol to
encourage legislators to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s
priority legislative and budget proposals (see below). This year,
record numbers of persons living with dementia joined teams
that personally visited all 120 legislative offices. Also joining the
group were key partners
representing Caregiver
Resource Centers, most of the
California Commissioners on
Aging and clinicians from the
California Alzheimer’s Disease
Centers.
In the morning session, the
audience honored legislators of
the year: Senator Holly Mitchell
(D-LA), Assemblymember Ken
Cooley (D-Sacramento) and
advocate of the year, Lora
Connolly, MSG, Director of
the California Department of
Aging. These champions for Alzheimer’s were recognized for their
leadership on the state budget, legislation and regulatory changes
benefiting people living with the disease and family caregivers.
author to change California law.
As sponsors of SB 449, a proposal to require eight hours of
dementia training for CNAs, the Alzheimer’s Association is proud
to work with Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) as the bill author.
Senator Monning serves as Majority Leader for the State Senate,
and he is a key member of both the Senate Health and Senate
Budget committees. The Alzheimer’s Association has
several offices in Senator Monning’s district, including
Monterey, San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz.
New Leader Proposes Caregiver
Tax Credit
Newly elected Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San
Jose) was tapped soon after he arrived in Sacramento
to chair the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care
Committee. He brings a fresh perspective to the state capitol from
his diverse district in the Silicon Valley, and he is eager to improve
quality of life for older Californians.
Working in coalition with AARP, CalPACE and the ombudsman
program, the Alzheimer’s Association proposed tax relief for family
caregivers who pay, on average, over $5,000 per year out of pocket.
Assemblyman Kalra agreed to carry legislation, AB 806, authorizing
a $1,000 tax credit for family caregivers. We look forward to
working with partners to pass this bill into law.
California State
Public Policy News
2,612 New Bills Introduced at State Capitol
As the two-year legislative session takes shape, a record 2,612 new
State Policy Director Appointed to Alzheimer’s
Advisory Group
bills were introduced in the Senate and Assembly. The Alzheimer’s
On February 21, the Secretary of the California Health and
Association will closely follow about 100, with a focus on our
Human Services Agency, Diana Dooley, appointed Susan DeMarois,
sponsored bills for CNA training and caregiver tax credit, in addition
state policy director for the Alzheimer’s Association, to serve as
to the following:
1.
2.
the Consumer Organization
Assembly Bill 614 (Limon,
representative on the California
D-Santa Barbara) re: staffing
Alzheimer’s Disease and
each Area Agency on Aging
Related Disorders Advisory
with a dementia specialist
Committee. The term of service
Assembly Bill 1500
is 2017 – 2020. To learn more
(Maienschein, R-San Diego)
about the committee, link here:
re: Bond Act to finance
http://www.chhs.ca.gov/Pages/
development of new
AlzheimersDiseaseandRelated
Community Based Adult
DisordersAdvisoryCommittee.
Services (CBAS) centers
aspx
and specialized Alzheimer’s
Senate Bill 177 (Nguyen) re:
Watch for
2017 Alzheimer’s
Clinical Care Guideline
increased respite funding for
The California Department
Caregiver Resource Centers
of Public Health is expected
Day Care Resource Center
programs
3.
(CRCs)
to release a guide for California clinicians on March 1st. This
tool is intended for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners
Taxpayers Contribute $483,449 to
Alzheimer’s Research
Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. An expert workgroup
and physician assistants caring for patients with a diagnosis of
For three decades, California taxpayers have had the option to
developed recommendations in the areas of assessment, care
voluntarily contribute to a fund to support Alzheimer’s disease
plans, education and support, and important legal considerations.
research. Established in 1987, the fund has awarded nearly
This effort is the
$20 million to California researchers seeking the cause, cure or
result of legislation
prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as effective interventions
sponsored by
to support family caregivers.
the Alzheimer’s
Association, SB 613,
In 2016, voluntary contributions totaled $483,449, well exceeding
authored by Senator
the minimum threshold of $359,584 required to stay on the state
Ben Allen (D-Santa
tax form. To see the full report on all groups, click here
Monica). To learn
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/vcfsr/indvolcon.shtml
more, visit
www.caalz.org
Alzheimer’s Association – State Policy Office
915 L Street, Suite 1110, Sacramento, CA 95814 | www.caalz.org | 916.447.2731 | [email protected]