Assembly Bills Would Increase Regulation of Assisted Living Centers

Assembly members Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Lois Wolk (D-Davis) have introduced two bills that aim to increase the regulation of assisted living facilities and control rent increases that are forcing some residents out of the facilities, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Bass' bill (AB 2370) would require all facilities to disclose their average rent increases over the previous three years to help prospective residents decide if they can afford a facility.

Wolk's bill (AB 2101) would provide residents with procedures to appeal the rent increases, as well as require facilities to prepare emergency plans.

Bass and Wolk also have joined the Campaign to Improve Assisted Living. It is comprised of seniors, caregivers and the Service Employees International Union and is focused on efforts to increase scrutiny of the facilities.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) has proposed reducing state inspections of assisted living facilities to help address the state's projected $8 billion budget deficit.

Shirley Washington, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services, said random inspections of assisted living facilities would be conducted every seven years, rather than every three years. She said the department would continue to conduct annual inspections of facilities with serious violations.

Ruth Kletzing, a former president of the Older Women's League of Sacramento, said many assisted living facilities are privately run, so "city governments can't do much more than question these rent increases" (Rojas, Sacramento Bee, 3/30).