Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes various programs that serve older individuals. The act requires the California Department of Aging to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services.
The act also establishes Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) programs to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs, with assistance to older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Under the act, area agencies on aging and independent living centers are the core local partners in developing ADRC programs.
Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to emergency shelters, including, among others, certain provisions within the Natural Disaster Emergency Shelter Program, the Emergency Housing and Assistance Program, and the California Emergency Services Act.
This bill would, as part of disaster planning and response, require that an area agency on aging or an ADRC program have access to an emergency shelter, as defined, established for evacuation purposes during an active event, in order to ensure that older adults and persons with disabilities receive continuous services and necessary support. To the extent that the bill would create new duties for local officials with regard to administrative operations for emergency shelters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.