Long-Term Services and Supports Benefit Program.

Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency, and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments. Existing law establishes an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program, administered by the department, to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Existing law requires the ADRC program to provide services within the geographic area served and provide information to the public about the services provided by the program. Existing law makes the operation of these provisions contingent upon the appropriation of funds for that purpose. This bill would require the department, upon appropriation, in conjunction with an unspecified board operating under the auspices of the State Treasurer, to establish and administer a Long-Term Services and Supports Benefits Program with the purpose of providing supportive care to aging Californians and those with physical disabilities. The bill would establish the Long-Term Services and Supports Benefit Program Fund and would require the department and the board to administer the program using proceeds from the fund. The bill would require an individual to have paid into the fund for an unspecified number of years to be eligible to receive benefits pursuant to the program. The bill would authorize the maximum amount of benefit available to an eligible individual to exceed the amount the individual contributed into the fund. The bill would authorize eligible individuals to use the benefits pursuant to the program for specified services, including in-home support services support for an individual in need of assistance for at least 2 activities of daily living. The bill would require the department to ensure that all vendors and providers of services pursuant to the program have not taken any actions to actively discourage their employees' membership in labor organizations or collective bargaining. The bill would make related findings and declarations.