May 15, 2007

TO: Bill Supporters & Legislative Advocates
FR: Terry Donnelly, Deputy Director & Jody Spiegel, Esq., Bet Tzedek Legal Services
RE: Support for AB 949 (Krekorian) - Urgent

Please contact your Assembly Member to vote yes for AB 949. This bill will be heard on the Assembly Floor this Thursday, May 17th. (You can find the name and contact information for your Assembly Member at: www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.)

Every year Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) close due to sale of the business for different uses, bankruptcy, and voluntary closure. Under these circumstances, elderly residents are evicted and subject to transfer trauma due to lack of planning and inadequate notice requirements. Residents also face unanticipated relocation costs.

Present laws are inadequate to protect elderly residents who are evicted from their RCFE home.

AB 949 establishes the following relocation rights and protections:

Develop a transfer plan to minimize transfer trauma.

Submit a relocation plan for approval to the licensing agency for transfers affecting 7 or more residents.

Provide adequate written notice.

Rebate proportional amount of prepaid monthly fees if a resident leaves before the end of the month.

Refund preadmission fees on a proportional basis in excess of $500 paid two years prior to the notice of closure.

Impose daily fines if the provider fails to meet the relocation requirements.

AB 949 has limited fiscal impact and is supported by major senior organizations, disability groups, labor, Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs, elder law attorneys and consumers. Visit www.canhr.org for more information.

Please support AB 949 to provide relocation protections for RCFE residents!