National Care Professionals Institute (NCPI) provides ARF, RCFE, and NHA administrator education courses, and teaches professional caregiver courses, and is certified to provide RN/LVN Ceus. Our daughter Kallie and our son-in-law, Carlos,operate NCPI, and are state-approved to teach those courses and the 80-hour RCFE initial administrator course. They have caregiver training in English and Spanish and teach first aid and CPR. NCPI also creates new RCFE license applications. NCPI can customize caregiver training if required by DSS. Call (619) 322-9578 for information or go to www.nationalcareprofessionals.com.
Industry Updates and Legislation
The Democrat-controlled state legislature passed the final version of the state’s budget in secret. Tax increases and “off the book” borrowing were approved on June 30 at the “midnight hour.” It seemed the only people awake when the tax hikes passed were the Democrats in Sacramento. According to California Voices and Dan Walters of CalMatters the definition of a balanced budget depends on who is defining the terms. Walters said, “Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders describe the 2026-27 budget they negotiated as ‘a balanced spending plan with zero deficit.” The basis for that claim is that the totality of money they propose to spend in the fiscal year that [began July 1] would be covered by tax revenues during the year—plus transfers from emergency reserves and ‘off-book loans,’ (about $4 billion) such as delaying payment of $3.9 billion in constitutionally required state aid to schools and community colleges. In truth, the $351 billion budget and its $251 billion general fund would spend as much as $20 billion more than the state expects to receive in revenues during the fiscal year.
SB991 by Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) is advancing. If adopted, it will require DSS to determine when a deficiency constitutes abuse and appropriately cite and fine a facility. However, implementation would be delayed until July 1, 2027. A legislative analyst wrote, “…it is important to note that due to policy changes in the last six years, RCFEs are serving more complex, higher-needs residents.” This has resulted in more violations of resident rights and state laws and regulations which state analysts can cite as abuse. The analyst continued, “This bill ‘seeks to publicly display a category in which a substantiated residents’ rights violation occurs.’” Senator Menjivar can be contacted at (818) 901-5588.
SB1410 by Monique Limón (D-Oxnard) was recently introduced to require all ARFs to have an email on record with DSS and inform it within 12 business days if the email has changed. Senator Limon can be reached at (805) 988-1940.
AB485 by Liz Ortega (D-Hayward) will add labor code 238.7 and repeal 238.4. The new law would prevent a business, licensed by DSS, from continuing to operate if it has failed to pay its employees or has unsatisfied labor judgments. Assembly member Ortega can be reached at (510) 583-8818.
AB2420 by Jessica Caloza (D-City of Industry) has been resurrected to allow sellers of cannabis products to “donate” those products to seniors, 65 and older, or to a “senior caregiver.” The donating entity would have exemptions on paying taxes on donated products. A senior caregiver is defined as “the individual, at least 21 years of age, designated by a person 65 years of age or older who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that person.” Assembly Member Caloza can be reached at (213) 483-5252.AB2348 was amended by its Mia Bonta (D-Oakland). If passed, it will revise the state’s Medi-Cal program to reclassify the enhanced care management benefit into a “community-based, high-touch coordination and comprehensive care management services.” That would replace the program’s current “whole-person-care basis” that seeks intervention for those classified as “high utilizers with frequent hospital admissions, short-term skilled nursing facility stays, or emergency room visits, and individuals experiencing homelessness.” The bill would be dependent upon the full implementation of the state’s CalAIM program. Assembly Member Bonta may be reached at (510) 286-1670.