Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging and states that the mission of the department is to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.

This bill would, subject to an appropriation for these purposes, require the department to oversee a stakeholder process to support findings and recommendations on how to best support older and aging immigrants, as defined, regardless of their immigration status, in California through the establishment of a panel. The bill would authorize the director of the department to modify an existing panel for these purposes, if applicable. The bill would require the panel to include representatives from the State Department of Social Services and invite specified stakeholder and subject matter experts to participate. The bill would require the department and panel to consider specified issues, including affordability and access to social services and housing. The bill would require the first meeting to occur no later than 120 days after funding for the panel becomes available and would authorize the department to contract with academic research entities to supplement the stakeholder process.

The bill would require the panel to issue findings and recommendations to both departments by July 1, 2028, on the most effective ways to implement policies and programs to support older and aging immigrants in California, regardless of their immigration status. The bill would require the departments to jointly submit a report containing the panel’s findings to the Legislature on or before December 1, 2028.

The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029. The bill makes relating findings and declarations.