Harry Kiesler Reading Partners Silicon Valley – Paul sent the presentation to everyone. Why don’t you: Be a weekly tutor (about one hour per week), Donate new books, Make a gift, Spread the word?
Find them at:
Facebook: @Reading PartnersSV, Twitter: @RPsiliconvalley, Instagram: @ rpsiliconvalley
The California Legislature closed on September 13th and the Governor has until October 10th to sign the bills into law. Please call the Governor before the 9th to sign the following into law:
AB 279 – would prohibit, until July 1, 2022, an Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) or Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), as defined, from terminating or making significant quality-of-care changes to its skilled nursing or supportive care services, or from transferring a resident to another ICF or SNF, during any declared state of emergency relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), except if the owner files a bankruptcy petition.
AB 74 – requires a facility to submit to the department specified information on its medical director on an initial application, and to notify the department of any changes in its medical director within 10 calendar days of those changes, as specified. The bill would require a facility to report to the department proof of, or progress toward, certification for its medical director and expands the scope of an existing crime, which would impose a state-mandated local program.
AB 849 – authorizes the legal representative, personal representative, or successor in interest of a current or former resident or patient of a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility to bring a civil action. The bill, for violations that occur on or after March 1, 2021, would make the licensee liable for up to $500 per violation and would prescribe required factors to be considered in assessing the amount of the damages, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of each violation.
AB 323 – redefines a class “AA” violation as a class “A” violation that the department determines to have been a substantial factor, as described, in the death of a resident of a long-term health care facility. The bill would increase the civil penalties for a class “A,” “AA,” or “B” violation by a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility, as specified.
AB 1042 – authorizes investigation or inspection of long-term nursing facilities for the protection of safety and health, as prescribed. OSHA, in this regard, authorizes the chief or their authorized representative, as applicable, to obtain warrants, issue subpoenas, and issue orders, as prescribed.
SB 650 – requires an organization that operates, conducts, owns, manages, or maintains a skilled nursing facility or facilities to prepare and file with the office an annual consolidated financial report that includes data from all operating entities, license-holders, and related parties in which the organization has an ownership or control interest of 5% or more and that provides any service, facility, or supply to the skilled nursing facility.
IN OTHER NEWS: SB 9 and SB 10 were signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 16th. These two will change the landscape of the single-family dwelling neighborhood, especially those that have more than an 8th of an acre or more.
SB 9 streamlines the process for an owner to subdivide an existing single-family residential lot to create a duplex and/or allow for new infill construction.
SB 10 establishes enabling legislation for jurisdictions that want to opt in and up-zone urbanized areas close to transit, allowing up to 10 units per parcel without any CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) oversight.
In Washington:
President Biden met with members of the House and Senate to discuss the infrastructure bill and the reconciliation bill. This also ties in with the new budget for 2022 and the debt ceiling.
Watch for your local health system and/or county health director’s guidance for:
Who should get a booster shot?
Who should wear a mask? Where, when, indoors or outdoors?
The rules keep changing.
AT AN OPTOMETRIST’S OFFICE:
“If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”
ON A PLUMBER’S TRUCK:
“We repair what your husband fixed.”
On AN ELECTRICIAN’S TRUCK:
“Let us remove your shorts.”
Happy birthday to the United States Coast Guard (founded 1790). That’s about the most significant event that occurred in the “Dog Days” of August.
At this time, we believe we will be able to begin in-person meetings in Room Q 80 of the Campbell Community Center on September 21st. As we know, all information regarding COVID-19 is subject to change. As of now, all participants will be required to wear a mask, both those who have been vaccinated and those who have not, at all indoor meetings. We are unsure as to whether or not we can have coffee yet. I expect to have more information from the Adult Center as we approach the date.
Many, many thanks to the telephone committee and to our ZOOM participants and officers who have held our chapter together during these past difficult 18 months!
I am including important information regarding a Virtual Lobbying Day on Aug. 18th for the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. bill for nursing home reform. Please read the information in the box below and register for training if you want to get involved.
Greetings AARP California Volunteer,
AARP California will host a Virtual Lobby Day on Wednesday, August 18th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT to help pass six critical nursing home reform bills. This package of bills is known as the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. plan or Prioritize Responsible Ownership, Treatment, Equity, and Corporate Transparency Plan. As cosponsors of Senate Bill 650 (Stern), the keystone bill in the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Plan, we need your help to make this bill into law.
Our lobby day will start with a virtual rally on our nursing home reform bills at 9:00 AM and conclude with a debriefing of our meetings with legislative offices at 4:30 PM. Between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM, volunteers will meet with members of the legislature or their staffs to help get the votes necessary for SB 650 to advance to the Governor’s desk. Additionally, volunteers will also advocate for the five remaining P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Plan bills; AB 279, AB 323, AB 749, AB 849, and AB 1042.
TO PARTICPATE IN VIRTUAL LOBBY DAY TAKE THESE TWO ACTIONS:
Materials such as talking points, legislator information, and leave-behinds will be provided to you during your training.
We especially encourage volunteers from Assembly Districts 2, 4, 22, 27, 31, 34, 36, 38, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 57, 59, 63, 64, 66, 71, 75, 76, 78, 80; and Senate Districts 6, 10, 11, 20, 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, 35, 36, and 39 to participate. If you are unsure of what district you reside in use the link below.
District lookup: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the disparities that exist in nursing homes and the time is NOW to advocate for change. We need your support and hope you can join us on Wednesday, August 18th, to advance the P.R.O.T.E.C.T Plan and reform nursing homes.
For questions regarding Virtual Lobby Day, please contact Christian Landaverde at clandaverde@aarp.org.
The speaker for our Aug 17, 2021 meeting will be Rovina Nimbalkar, the Executive Director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) Santa Clara County. Her presentation will cover the mission of, and services provided by, NAMI-SCC. Rovina brings expertise in nonprofit leadership and a passion for mental health advocacy.
Before coming to NAMI, Rovina led diverse non-profit organizations that worked with vulnerable women, children, and families from different religious, socio-economic, and ethnic backgrounds. She has focused her career on issues related to the impact of trauma on women, children, and young adults from underserved communities.
She has over 10 years’ experience in fundraising, community relations, marketing, outreach, financial management, and strategic planning. She is passionate about mental health issues and is an advocate for people whose lives have been affected by mental health conditions.
So far, it’s been a good year, budget-wise. We got most of our funding asks, so the programs for which we advocated will do well for the rest of the year.
In Washington D.C., we are still working on H.R.2062 – Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021 (POWADA). As of 6/24/2021 – it has been received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Let our Senators know that we still want this to go through, and are thankful for their support.
Also, the Credit for Caring Act (S. 1670/H.R. 3321) has been stuck in committee since May 24th; the House bill is in the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate bill is in the Finance Committee. This bill would provide a new, nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 annually for eligible working family caregivers, help address the financial challenges of caregiving, and help working family caregivers remain employed.
Please thank Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Feinstein for signing on as co-sponsors. Also, please urge Senator Padilla and your local Member of Congress to support and co-sponsor these bills.
State Legislature: We are still advocating for SB 650 (see page 2) and need your continued help. This is the Nursing Home Transparency bill and is now in the Assembly and would increase corporate transparency requirements for nursing homes. So far, it has gone back and forth between the Committee on Health and the Appropriations Committee, with several amendments from each. Please urge our Assembly members to support this bill.
Pull over to the shoulder of the road as soon as you can safely. Be mindful of other drivers who may panic and become distracted. Avoid parking under trees, tall building, power lines, and overpasses; or on bridges and within tunnels. Turn off your engine, set your parking brake, and keep your seat belt on. Wait out the quake and possible aftershocks, then proceed cautiously when it’s safe to do so.
The Opportunity prize is a $25 Visa gift card, compliments of Fannie Young.
The winner of the July 20 prize ($25 Mamma Mia gift card) was Sue Yeager.
Please mail your volunteer hours to me at the address in the Dispatch, or email to leonafails@sbcglobal.net. Form in the Dispatch or at the top of this web page.