SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 18

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER PURCELL

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 18: NUTRITION SERVICES: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

EXISTING LAW, THE FEDERAL ELDERLY NUTRITION PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, PROVIDES GRANTS TO STATE AGENCIES ON AGING TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF NUTRITION SERVICES TO SENIOR CENTERS AND TO THE HOMES OF SENIORS WHO ARE AT LEAST 60 YEARS OF AGE. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF DIETARY INADEQUACY AND SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER PERSONS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO ASSIST SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS BY FINANCING THE ISSUANCE OF COUPONS TO QUALIFIED SENIORS TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 18: RELATING TO NUTRITION SERVICES

WHEREAS, FOOD PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY 60 PERCENT, ENERGY PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY 40 PERCENT, AND THE COST OF RENTING A HOME OR APARTMENT HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SENIORS WHO SUPPORT THEMSELVES ON FIXED INCOMES TO AFFORD HOME-COOKED MEALS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY SENIORS, IN LIGHT OF THESE RISING PRICES AND THEIR OWN DIMINISHED MOBILITY, DEPEND ON PROGRAMS THAT FUND CONGREGATE NUTRITION SERVICES OR HOME DELIVERED NUTRITION SERVICES, WITHOUT WHICH THESE SENIORS WOULD BE MALNOURISHED IN MANY INSTANCES; AND

WHEREAS, POOR NUTRITION CAN LEAD TO A RANGE OF PROBLEMS, INCLUDING DEPRESSION AND VARIOUS PHYSICAL AILMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENCE OF WHICH CAN, IN TURN, CREATE THE NEED FOR NURSING HOME CARE; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT DELIVER CRITICAL NUTRITION SERVICES TO CONGREGATE MEAL LOCATIONS FOR SENIORS, SUCH AS SENIOR CENTERS, CHURCHES, OR SCHOOLS, OR DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENCES OF THESE SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES THAT RECEIVE REVENUE AMOUNTING TO MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM SENIORS WHO DEPEND ON DRUGS MANUFACTURED BY THOSE COMPANIES ARE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT OFFER NUTRITION SERVICES TO SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE BY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN THE FORM OF COUPONS ISSUED TO SENIORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSIDIZING A PORTION OF THE COSTS OF THESE NUTRITION PROGRAMS, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COULD EXPAND THESE PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SENIORS WHO REQUIRE NUTRITION SERVICES; 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 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ENACT LEGISLATION TO ENCOURAGE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO ASSIST SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS BY FINANCING THE ISSUANCE OF COUPONS TO QUALIFIED SENIORS TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS; 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 09 16563

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