eldercareadvocates.org » Legislation

Hearing on Legislation SB 345 (Wolk) to create a stronger state ombudsman

eldercar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:49:07 +0000

Hello Friends,

I want to let you know that SB 345, for which the Committee for an Independents State Office (CISO) is the sponsor, is scheduled for hearing January 10th at 1:30 PM before the Senate Committee for Health and Human Services.

I have attached the fact sheet for your review. Factsheet (24)

I have also attached CISO’s support letter of the bill.Support Letter (19)

As the CA Dept of Aging will be auditing our local ombudsman program next week, I am unable to attend the hearing, but two members of our CISO committee will be speaking on behalf of the bill.

SB 345 has gone through many revisions since we started back in February of 2009, and there have been many rewrites, but the most significant revision which was the cornerstone of the bill involves the outsourcing of the state ombudsman office to a private entity. We were forced to eliminate that section as the CA constitution prohibits the elimination of civil servant positions as a result of outsourcing to a private entity, and the bill, in its original form, would have eliminated about 8 civil servant positions.

The bill is not where we started, but the revised bill, SB 345, when enacted, will be a good first step toward strengthening the state ombudsman office in that it will mandate stronger advocacy and accountability from that office.

I wanted to share this with all of you as many of you have been on this long journey with us for the past three years, and we very much appreciate all your encouragement and support.

I also want to wish each of you a very Happy and Healthy New Year, and thank you for being such an integral part of our community and our team.

Warmest regards,

Sylvia

Sylvia Taylor Stein

Team Leader

Committee for and Independent State Office (CISO)

Senator wants more independence for nursing-home watchdog

eldercar — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:55:15 +0000

I had a long talk with Brian Lee, former state ombudsman, Florida. He called to get information on our efforts in California to create an independent state ombudsman office, and also ask if we could share our compiled research on the different states with him and his group. They want to identify the best state model and adapt it to FL. I shared with him that we had nailed the best independent models down to CO and Washington, and sent him all our research on those two states.

What started out as a very bad situation in FL, with Brian being fired for doing his job as an ombudsman, could end up creating the independent state ombudsman office there. Brian will keep us updated on their progress in Fl.

This could be very good for our efforts here in CA.
Source: orlandosentinel.com

TALLAHASSEE — A senator who oversees Florida’s seniors wants to see the state’s nursing home watchdog given more independence following Gov. Rick Scott ‘s decision to fire the long-term care ombudsman and complaints that he was “muzzling” the office.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Independence and Improvement Act of 2011

eldercar — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:31:17 +0000

As a member of the Committee for an Independent State Ombudsman, (CISO) I would like to provide you with an update and ask for your support on SB 345. We have finally seen SB345 come to fruition after two years of substantive research.

I have attached Senator Lois Wolk’s bill which was just put in final form yesterday. Amendments to Senate Bill No. 345

Federal law expressly prohibits the state long-term care ombudsman office from being operated by any state agency that is responsible for licensing or certifying long-term care facilities. This conflict exists in California. It has precluded local programs from having a strong, advocacy driven state ombudsman. If you recall, during the past two years when our Ombudsman Funding Workgroup worked countless hours on funding legislation, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (OSLTCO) was silent. They could not participate in hearings, they could not offer us any support. This is minor compared to the thirty years we have experienced without an office of long-term care advocacy for the residents in our facilities! There has not been one press conference or press release from the OSLTCO, when systems failed, when deplorable conditions were uncovered, when systemic issues needed to be addressed. Silence has prevailed.

We are asking you for your support. We need letters by Friday afternoon to members of the Senate Human Services Committee

Support Letter for SB 34 (DOWNLOAD AND PRINT)

and participation at the hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, April 26th at 1:30 PM in Room 3191.

I have attached a Fact Sheet, Senate Bill 345 and a sample support letter. We realize this is very short notice and appreciate anything you can do to help with this much needed legislation.

Please send letters of support to the offices of the following members on the Human Services Committee.

Human Services Committee Fax Numbers

Senator Liu (Chair): (916) 324-7543

Senator Emmerson (Vice Chair): (916) 327-2187

Senator Berryhill: (916) 327-3523

Senator Hancock: (916) 327-1997

Senator Strickland: (916) 324-7544

Senator Wright: (916) 445-3712

Senator Yee: (916) 327-2186

Thank you for all your support.

Sylvia Taylor-Stein (Team Leader CISO)

Reform Sought For State Homes’ Monitor

eldercar — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:58:22 +0000

A California watchdog office charged with protecting people in nursing homes too often loses its voice on vital issues ranging from inadequate staffing to the use of antipsychotic drugs, according to a Ventura County seniors advocate who is heading a drive to turn the state-run program into an independent entity.

Read more—

Unlawful Removal of Brian Lee

eldercar — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:19:49 +0000

Voices for Quality Care has written a letter to the Office of Governor Rick Scott, State of Florida about the unlawful removal of Brian Lee, Florida State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.