Advocacy
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CEJC’s advocacy at the State is primary to our work. We sponsor and support public policy that protects and defends the rights of older Californians. Our vigilance on policy and legislative proposals helps keep our broader membership informed and elevates provider concerns to policy makers. |
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2026 Areas of Focus
Elder and Disability Justice Coordinating Council – Four CEJC members were appointed to the EDJCC in early 2026; Alicia Morales, Renita Polk, Maureen Sullivan, and Jason Sullivan-Halpern; as well as CEJC policy director Carol Sewell. CEJC members serve on the EDJCC’s subcommittees on Conservatorship, Abuse Reporting Systems and Legal Services.
Behavioral Health Service Act Changes – CEJC’s advocacy for elder rights extends to major system changes within state government. The re-allocation of BHSA (formerly Proposition 63) funds toward housing and substance abuse will reduce funding for behavioral health care for all ages. CEJC joins with other advocates to urge the State to ensure services for older adults are available in every county.
Home Safe – CEJC is closely watching proposed changes to eligibility criteria for services by the APS-administered Home Safe program. Originally established to help APS agencies support clients at risk of homelessness, the 2026-27 Assembly Human Services Budget proposal would make all homeless elderly eligible for Home Safe with extended case management and housing stabilization services.
AB 871 (Stefani) Mandated reporters of suspected financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult. CEJC and the County Welfare Directors Association are co-sponsors of this bill requiring annual training for bank employees in recognizing scams and frauds and requiring banks to report scams and frauds to federal reporting authorities.
AB 2283 (Gonzalez) State Public Guardian. CEJC supports legislation sponsored by the California Commission on Aging to create the first-ever State Public Guardian position in the Department of Social Services to provide guidance and technical assistance to county public guardians and public conservators.
SB 991 (Menjivar) Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: categorization of citations. CEJC joins with our partner organization, the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, in supporting legislation to require the Department of Social Services to list the category of violation when posting RCFE citations on CDSS’ facility search portal. The bill would add the categories of physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, financial abuse, isolation, mental suffering, neglect, or undue influence, to clearly inform family members searching for care of the actual type of action resulting in the “Type A” violation, (denoting immediate risk to facility residents and requiring immediate correction) or “Type B” violation (denoting a potential risk to residents that must be corrected).
Behavioral Health Service Act Changes – CEJC’s advocacy for elder rights extends to major system changes within state government. The re-allocation of BHSA (formerly Proposition 63) funds toward housing and substance abuse will reduce funding for behavioral health care for all ages. CEJC joins with other advocates to urge the State to ensure services for older adults are available in every county.
Home Safe – CEJC is closely watching proposed changes to eligibility criteria for services by the APS-administered Home Safe program. Originally established to help APS agencies support clients at risk of homelessness, the 2026-27 Assembly Human Services Budget proposal would make all homeless elderly eligible for Home Safe with extended case management and housing stabilization services.
AB 871 (Stefani) Mandated reporters of suspected financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult. CEJC and the County Welfare Directors Association are co-sponsors of this bill requiring annual training for bank employees in recognizing scams and frauds and requiring banks to report scams and frauds to federal reporting authorities.
AB 2283 (Gonzalez) State Public Guardian. CEJC supports legislation sponsored by the California Commission on Aging to create the first-ever State Public Guardian position in the Department of Social Services to provide guidance and technical assistance to county public guardians and public conservators.
SB 991 (Menjivar) Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: categorization of citations. CEJC joins with our partner organization, the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Association, in supporting legislation to require the Department of Social Services to list the category of violation when posting RCFE citations on CDSS’ facility search portal. The bill would add the categories of physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, financial abuse, isolation, mental suffering, neglect, or undue influence, to clearly inform family members searching for care of the actual type of action resulting in the “Type A” violation, (denoting immediate risk to facility residents and requiring immediate correction) or “Type B” violation (denoting a potential risk to residents that must be corrected).