Wolk bill to better protect California seniors moves forward
California Political Desk
August 14, 2008
SACRAMENTO—The State Senate voted this week to support legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to require residential care facilities for the elderly to better prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies such as power outages.
"Residential care facilities provide a vital service to California´s seniors. Yet, this is a largely unregulated industry," said Wolk. "Within the past year, a winter storm left a facility in my district without power for over two days. They didn´t have heat, lights, elevators, or medical devices dependent on electricity. My bill will provide additional protection for residents of these facilities."
Current law only requires residential care facilities to complete a minimal, one-page disaster plan. Assembly Bill 749 requires a comprehensive emergency plan to ensure that a facility is able to remain self-reliant for at least 72 hours, and requires facilities to make this plan available to residents and local emergency responders.
A letter of support from the California Commission on Aging, the principal advocate in the state on behalf of California´s older adults, describes the bill as providing "important protection for residents of residential care facilities for the elderly during times of natural disasters."
AB 749, which was approved by the State Senate Monday, must be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee before moving to the Assembly Floor.
The bill is supported by the California Assisted Living Association, the Older Women´s League, the Area Agency on Aging Council of California, Association of Regional Center Agencies.
"Residential care facilities provide a vital service to California´s seniors. Yet, this is a largely unregulated industry," said Wolk. "Within the past year, a winter storm left a facility in my district without power for over two days. They didn´t have heat, lights, elevators, or medical devices dependent on electricity. My bill will provide additional protection for residents of these facilities."
Current law only requires residential care facilities to complete a minimal, one-page disaster plan. Assembly Bill 749 requires a comprehensive emergency plan to ensure that a facility is able to remain self-reliant for at least 72 hours, and requires facilities to make this plan available to residents and local emergency responders.
A letter of support from the California Commission on Aging, the principal advocate in the state on behalf of California´s older adults, describes the bill as providing "important protection for residents of residential care facilities for the elderly during times of natural disasters."
AB 749, which was approved by the State Senate Monday, must be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee before moving to the Assembly Floor.
The bill is supported by the California Assisted Living Association, the Older Women´s League, the Area Agency on Aging Council of California, Association of Regional Center Agencies.
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