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Action Center

Legislative Issues and Priorities
Action Alert
LeadingAge California's expert policy team leads the charge to change public policy to grow the aging services workforce, expand the supply of housing for low-income older adults, create a publicly financed long-term services and supports option, and help providers adapt and thrive in an ever-changing regulatory environment. Below are LeadingAge California's current issues and priorities:

 

SB 525 (Durazo): Minimum wage: health care workers

Staff contact: Amber King

This bill would ultimately increase the minimum wage to $25 for certain health care workers working for specific health care organizations, including skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies. Generally, the bill will create different pathways and timelines for achieving the eventual $25 minimum wage, depending on the type of health care facility, workforce size, and location. LeadingAge California opposes this bill. This bill was signed by the Governor.

Watch the explainer video

 

SB 17 (Caballero): Senior Housing Production Act of 2023

Staff contact: Harrison Linder

LeadingAge California is sponsoring legislation to ensure the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (Program) allocates a share of tax credits for senior housing projects that is more reflective of the growing older adult population. This legislation will require the Program to ensure the percentage of tax credits awarded for lower-income senior housing projects is no less than the state’s share of low-income senior renters. The percentage of total renter households headed by someone age 50 and over is expected to grow to 40 percent in the next 15 years, with it already over 20 percent. Many older adults are already seeking homelessness services due to their inability to afford rent or find affordable housing options. Currently, the Program has a goal to allocate 15 percent of credits to affordable senior housing. SB 17 would increase the goal to 20 percent. This bill was vetoed by the Governor.

Link to fact sheet

 

SB 37 (Caballero): Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act

Staff contact: Harrison Linder

LeadingAge California is co-sponsoring legislation with Justice in Aging, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles that creates a targeted rent stabilization program to prevent and end homelessness among older adults and people with disabilities. The rent stabilization program will fund housing subsidies that meet the specific needs of acutely low-income older adults and people with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness using predictive indicators. The program seeks to ensure that people receiving subsidies under the program will be able to transition into permanent affordable housing through the Section 8 voucher program, or another federally subsidized affordable housing program. This bill is a two-year bill.

Link to fact sheet

 

AB 839 (Addis): Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: financing

Staff contact: Amber King

LeadingAge California is sponsoring legislation to modernize and update the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) Act to allow nonprofit RCFEs, regardless of their connection to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), to utilize the programs. Current law requires a multilevel facility to have an adjacent SNF in order to take advantage of lower interest rate tax-exempt financing through CHFFA for new or renovation projects. The changes proposed by this legislation will reduce borrowing costs to create more nonprofit assisted living and memory care to meet the needs of our growing older adult population. This bill was signed by the Governor.

Link to fact sheet

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