CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
Report #175-2011 – OCTOBER 9, 2011 - SUNDAY

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN)  [Last updated 10/09/2011 01:00 PM] - Governor Jerry Brown today signed  SB 930 by Sen. Noreen Evans (Democrat – Santa Rosa, 2nd State Senate District) that will repeal the requirements that In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients provide fingerprint images on IHSS worker (provider) timesheets and repeals the prohibition against IHSS workers from uysing a post office box address to receive their paychecks.  The bill will impact the over 450,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors who receive IHSS and the over 405,000 persons who work as providers in the program across the State.  The legislation also would made other changes regarding certain appeal rights for IHSS workers and their use of a post office box to receive paychecks.

The requirements were passed originally as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget, proposed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a larger package of anti-fraud measures.  While some of those measures passed by the Legislature have been impllemented – the specific requirements dealing with iHSS recipient fingerprinting, and having those fingerprints – aling with IHSS workers (providers) on times sheets, and the prohibition of IHSS workers from using post office box addreses to receive their paychecks has not yet been implemented by the State.    

CDCAN SUMMARY OF BILL

SB 930 – IHSS: ENROLLMENT IN PROGRAM AND FINGERPRINTING REQUIREMENTS

AUTHOR: Sen. Noreen Evans (Democrat – Santa Rosa, 2nd State Senate District)

CDCAN SUMMARY:

*  Fingerprinting – IHSS Recipients: Would delete (repeal or rescind) current state law requirements regarding

obtaining fingerprint images of IHSS recipients. 

*  IHSS Provider (Worker) Timesheet – Would delete (repeal or rescind) current state law that require that IHSS worker (provider) timesheets include spaces for IHSS provider and the IHSS recipient fingerprints. 
*  IHSS Provider (Worker) Post Office Boxes – Would delete (repeal or rescind) current state law that prohibits use of a post office box address to receive a IHSS worker (provider) paycheck.  .
 *  Appeal Process Change:  Would require the county, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) public authority, or nonprofit consortium to send the California Department of Social Services a copy of the state-level criminal offender record information search response that is provided to that entity by the California Department of Justice for any individual who has requested an appeal of a denial of placement on the county registry of IHSS workers or denial of eligibility to provide supportive services to an IHSS recipient.
PREVIOUS ACTION 09/09/2011: Sent to Governor.

LATEST ACTION 10/09./2011:  SIGNED by Governor

NEXT STEPS:.The bill itself becomes law effective January 1, 2012, though certain provisions in the bill could have later effective dates. 

COPY OF BILL (AS APPROVED BY GOVERNOR) – HTML: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0901-0950/sb_930_bill_20110906_enrolled.html

COPY OF 16 PAGE BILL (AS APPROVED BY GOVERNOR) – PDF: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0901-0950/sb_930_bill_20110906_enrolled.pdf

ASSEMBLY & STATE SENATE FINAL VOTE: 

State Senate – Final Passage Vote 09/01/2011 by vote of 23 to 15.

Assembly – Final Passage Vote 08/30/2011 by vote of 51 to 27

WHY THIS BILL SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO YOU:  Impacts not only the over 400,000 In-Home Supportive Services workers, but also the 450,000  IHSS recipients (in the finger-printing requirements).

CDCAN COMMENT 

*  These requirements – among other policy changes and reductions to IHSS and other programs serving people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and their families were passed as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget. 

*  Some of those reductions and changes have been – at least for now – blocked from impllementation by federal or state court orders. 

*  This bill was sponsored by the California Association of Public Authorities, Disability Rights California (DRC, formerly Protection and Advocacy Inc), SEIU-UHW (Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers), United Domestic Workers of America/AFSCME  (American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees) Local 3930 AFL-CIO and California Union of Homecare Workers. 

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH