CANHR supported the initial March 7, 2023, version of SB 263, which would have protected vulnerable seniors from potential financial abuses in the sale of annuity and insurance products. However, the April 17, 2023, amended version of SB 263 substantially weakened the bill by limiting its scope and gutting its standard of care. The latest version of the bill would harm consumers for the following reasons.
SB 43 (Eggman): Behavioral Health
This bill expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to also include a condition that will result in substantial risk of serious harm to the physical or mental health of a person due to a mental health disorder or a substance use disorder. Status: Re-referred to Committee on Judiciary CANHR was part of a Coalition Oppose Letter you can read here.
SB 232 (Niello): Mental Health Services: Gravely Disabled
Attempts to change a key element of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, the landmark 1967 legislation that ended the involuntary institutionalization of people with severe mental-health issues. Under this proposal, the definition of what constitutes a “gravely disabled” person would be amended to include homeless persons who are unable to care for themselves. Status: Referred to Committees on Health and Judiciary
SB 774 (Jones & Grove): Nonprofit Health Facilities: Sale of Assets: Attorney General Approval: Conditional Consent
Would severely limit the authority of California’s Attorney General to protect access and affordability of hospital services provided by most hospitals in California. This would in turn impact healthcare costs for Californians, including members of the small business community who already struggle with access to affordable care. Status: Set for hearing 4/12/23.
SB 875 (Glazer): Referral source for residential care facilities for the elderly: duties
This bill would recast the requirements on a placement agency and its employees to instead be requirements on a referral source, defined to mean any specified county department, stated-funded program, agency, or person that is engaged in identifying senior housing options at residential care facilities for the elderly. Status: Set for hearing 4/17/23.