SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 6

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR FROMM

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER TUCKER)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 6: PRESERVING SENIOR INDEPENDENCE

EXISTING LAW REQUIRES AN APPLICANT TO PAY A FEE FOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH RECORD. EXISTING LAW PERMITS SPECIFIED COUNTIES TO INCREASE FEES THE COUNTIES CHARGE FOR CERTAIN CERTIFIED PUBLIC RECORDS TO HELP PAY FOR SPECIFIED COUNTY PROGRAMS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SPECIFIED COUNTIES TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH RECORD BY UP TO $3, PROVIDED THE MONEYS ARE USED TO FUND A PROGRAM FOR SENIORS, AS SPECIFIED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 6: RELATING TO FEES FOR CERTIFIED PUBLIC RECORDS

WHEREAS, FUNDING FOR HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SENIORS UNDER THE FEDERAL OLDER AMERICANS ACT AND THE MELLO-GRANLUND OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MEANWHILE INFLATION AND CALIFORNIA’S SENIOR POPULATION HAVE GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY; AND

WHEREAS, IN MANY CALIFORNIA COUNTIES, THERE ARE WAITING LISTS FOR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS AND OTHER IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SENIORS; AND

WHEREAS, THERE IS A GROWING CHALLENGE TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE, PERMANENT FUNDING STREAMS THAT CAN ENHANCE LOCAL HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE SYSTEMS TO KEEP SENIORS INDEPENDENT IN THEIR OWN HOMES; AND

WHEREAS, NATIONAL AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ADMINISTRATION LEADERS HAVE URGED LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO LOOK FOR CREATIVE FINANCING OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS; AND

WHEREAS, ADVOCATES FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR PROGRAMS; AND

WHEREAS, CERTAIN COUNTIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO INCREASE BIRTH CERTIFICATE FEES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS, AND COUNTIES MAY INCREASE SPECIFIED REAL ESTATE DOCUMENT RECORDS FEES TO SUPPORT A CRIMINAL REAL ESTATE FRAUD PROSECUTION TRUST FUND; AND

WHEREAS, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNED AB 2010 IN 2004, AUTHORIZING ALAMEDA AND SOLANO COUNTIES TO INCREASE MARRIAGE LICENSE FEES WITH THE FUNDS EARMARKED FOR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS; AND

WHEREAS, CITIES ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED PARKING IN HANDICAPPED DESIGNATED SPACES; AND

WHEREAS, ADEQUATE SUPPORT FOR HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE CALIFORNIA OLMSTEAD PLAN, PUBLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY IN 2003, TO PROVIDE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE COMMUNITY-BASED CHOICE TO SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN NEED OF SUPPORT SERVICES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ANY COUNTY THAT HAS ESTABLISHED A COUNTY SENIORS TRUST FUND OR NONPROFIT FOUNDATION ON AGING MAY INCREASE THE FEE FOR A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH RECORD BY UP TO $3 FOR DEPOSIT IN THE COUNTY SENIORS TRUST FUND OR NONPROFIT FOUNDATION ON AGING; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE FUNDS RAISED WOULD BE EARMARKED TO PRESERVE SENIOR INDEPENDENCE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THROUGH SENIOR NUTRITION AND FITNESS PROGRAMS, HOME VISITATION, AND PROVIDING SENIOR TRANSPORTATION AND HOME MODIFICATIONS; 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.

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RN 12 15844