SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 20

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER TUCKER

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER WIECK)

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR FROMM)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 20: MEDI-CAL BENEFITS: PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, PROVIDES MEDICAL BENEFITS TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AND CERTAIN OTHER LOW-INCOME PERSONS. A MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARY IN A MEDICAL INSTITUTION OR A NURSING FACILITY IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVED MONTHLY MAINTENANCE AMOUNTS THAT ARE COMPUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND FOR PURPOSES OF, THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AND RELATED REGULATIONS, THE MAINTENANCE AMOUNTS FOR A BENEFICIARY IN A MEDIAL INSTITUTION OR NURSING FACILITY ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE NOT LESS THAN $35 PER MONTH FOR PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL IS A PATIENT IN THE MEDICAL INSTITUTION OR NURSING FACILITY.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE THE MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS FOR A MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARY IN A MEDICAL INSTITUTION OR NURSING FACILITY TO NOT LESS THAN $40 PER MONTH.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 20: RELATING TO MEDI-CAL BENEFITS

WHEREAS, THE CURRENT PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE OF NOT LESS THAN $35 FOR A MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARY HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF PERSONAL SERVICES, SUCH AS HAIRCUTS, HAIR STYLINGS, PERMANENTS, HAIR COLOR, AND EYEWEAR AND EYEWEAR REPAIR, HAS INCREASED DURING THAT 20‑YEAR PERIOD; AND

WHEREAS, ITEMS SUCH AS TOOTHPASTE, DENTURE CLEANER, HAIR SPRAY, MAKEUP, COLOGNE, LOTION, TISSUE, SODA, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND POSTAGE STAMPS ARE TOO COSTLY FOR NURSING HOMES TO SUPPLY; AND

WHEREAS, CLOTHING NEEDED SUCH AS UNDERWEAR, OUTERWEAR, SWEATERS, AND NONSLIP FOOTWEAR MUST BE PURCHASED FROM THE $35 MONTHLY ALLOWANCE; AND

WHEREAS, OTHER STATES HAVE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO INCREASE THE PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AMEND SECTION 14005.12 OF THE WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR PERSONAL AND INCIDENTAL NEEDS TO NOT LESS THAN $40 WHILE A MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARY IS A PATIENT IN A MEDICAL INSTITUTION OR NURSING FACILITY; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 21915

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