State Budget Conference Committee

The Conference Committee met yesterday and closed out the remaining health and human services issues before shutting down. The spending proposals from both houses were scaled back in many cases, as compromise items typically reflected the Governor’s budget or May Revision. Highlights of HHS and other policy actions taken by the Conference Committee can be found here.

Medi-Cal

SB 1089 (Mitchell) – Support 
As Introduced on February 19, 2014

SB 1089, as amended by Senator Holly Mitchell, is sponsored by Los Angeles County and intended as a technical clean-up measure for AB 396 (Chapter 394, Statutes of 2011). AB 396 created a voluntary program that allows counties to draw down federal matching funds for the medical treatment of minors who are held in a juvenile justice facility and require hospitalization. SB 1089 seeks to clarify the county’s share of the costs and encourage the development of a claiming process.

CSAC supports SB 1089, which was passed by the Assembly Health Committee on Monday, June 10 and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

CalWORKs

AB 1452 (Stone) – Support
As Amended on April 2, 2014

AB 1452, by Assembly Member Mark Stone, would increase the amount of homeless assistance funding available to a family of four from $65 to $75. It would also require annual adjustments of the amount based on increases or decreases in cost of living expenses. 

CSAC supports the measure, which was passed by the Senate Human Services Committee and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Human Services

AB 264 (Maienschein) – Support 
As Amended on June 12, 2014

AB 264, as amended, by Assembly Member Brian Maienschein, eliminates the current requirement that the 16 days of housing assistance provided to homeless families through the CalWORKs program be used consecutively. AB 264 will allow counties to target the intermittent cycle of homelessness by increasing flexibility for the receipt of temporary housing assistance. 
AB 264 was passed as amended by the Senate Human Services Committee on June 10, on a 4-0 vote and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. CSAC supports AB 264.

AB 2379 (Weber) – Support
As Amended on April 22, 2014

AB 2379, by Assembly Member Shirley Weber, would increase information sharing among county Child Welfare Services (CWS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) systems. 
AB 2379 is a simple, common-sense bill to increase communication among the CWS and APS systems that will help prevent abuse at any age. It is not a mandate and has no fiscal impacts other than to save the pain, suffering, and costs associated with ongoing dependent adult abuse. It is for these reasons CSAC supports AB 2379, which was heard by the Senate and ordered to be placed on the consent calendar. 

Social Services

AB 1623 (Atkins) – Support
As Amended April 21, 2014

AB 1623, by Assembly Speaker Atkins, would authorize any city, county, or community-based nonprofit organization to establish a multiagency, multidisciplinary family justice center to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, and human trafficking, as specified beginning January 1st of 2015. The bill would also specify additional confidentiality provisions relating to information disclosed by a victim in a family justice center and would require each family justice center to provide mandatory training for all staff members, volunteers, and agency professionals.

CSAC is supportive of efforts that assist victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. AB 1623 currently resides on the Senate Floor on the Third Reading File.