Policy Update

Sacramento Alzheimer's Rally Now Organizing

California has a crisis on its hands. With an ever-aging population, more and more are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias every year. We are in a public health crisis as programs which stretch to help this ballooning population are in line to be cut later this year by proposed legislation. Cuts will be made to adult day care, research, and caregiver services, including the Caregiver Resource Centers, unless a change is made.

Jim McAleer, the Executive Director for the Alzheimer's Association of Orange County, calls these cuts an "assault on family caregivers" and says it is equivalent to the California State Legislature saying to those afflicted with the disease of Alzheimer's that "you and your family are on your own."

The Alzheimer's Association is trying to put a stop to these cuts by coordinating a rally in Sacramento on the Capitol steps (North Side, L Street) on April 16, 2008 from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. They have invited day care resource centers, Caregiver Resource Centers, physicians, home health providers, people with dementia, family and friends of those with dementia and any other person or group who feels they will be affected by these proposed budget cuts to join them. Read More

Assembly Committee Discussing Paid Sick Leave Bill

The California State Assembly Labor and Employment Committee is scheduled to discuss a bill this week that would guarantee most California employees paid sick days to care for themselves or a family member. The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), would require that employers with 10 or more employees provide paid sick leave that would accrue at the rate of at least one hour for every thirty hours worked, a minimum of nine paid sick days per year.

Business groups around the state have voiced opposition, citing concerns that mandating sick days could cost employers, forcing them to reduce workforces or wages in an already troubled economy. Assemblywoman Ma has a different opinion, however. "Healthy workers are productive workers. Studies have found that having paid sick days actually saves money for businesses by reducing turnover, by reducing the spread of illness in the workplace and improving workers' morale and productivity," the San Jose Mercury News quoted her as saying. Read More

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