HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10071997 - C34 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
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FROM: SUPERVISOR GAYLE B. UILKEMA �;� J" `�► Costa
October 1, 1997 •. - 4 County
9 •y
DATE: ?sr^2'o n�
SUBJECT: FUNDING FOR A PUBLIC AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER THE IN-HOME
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS) PROGRAM - 1998 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
DIRECT the County Administrator .to include in the Board's 1998 Legislative
Program direction to the County's lobbyist to seek State funding for any wage or
benefit increase which may be negotiated by a Public Authority that is established
to administer the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program.
BACKGROUND:
Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors agreed in principle to form a Public
Authority to administer the In-Home Supportive Services Program. One of the
conditions on this agreement was that adequate funding be provided. Under current
law, if a Public Authority is formed, the cost of any wage or benefit increase which
might be negotiated is substantially the responsibility of the County. The State of
California will not participate in those costs.
The IHSS Program is an important preventive health program which attempts to
maximize the ability of an elderly or disabled individual to remain in his or her own
home as long as possible by providing funding for an individual who comes in to help
cook, clean and provide personal services for the elderly or disabled individual. In
this way, transfer to a nursing home can often be forestalled for months or years, at
a substantial savings to the taxpayer who is funding the Medi-Cal Program which
otherwise would often bear the cost of the nursing home care.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: /� i�-
-RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): rA,YLE B I III KEMA
ACTION OF BOARD ON October 7, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT III ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN,
ATTESTED October 7, 1997
Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
CC: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Social Service Director
BY_ DEPUTY
Under current law, an IHSS worker is paid only the minimum wage. It is only this
minimum wage on which the State of California will share the cost. The possible
fiscal exposure for a wage and/or benefit increase which might be negotiated by a
Public Authority which would be the employer of record for the IHSS worker is
substantial and is, in fact, one of the principal concerns about forming a Public
Authority.
It is essential that the State of California be included in sharing the cost of wage and
benefit increase which may be negotiated on behalf of IHSS workers. For this
reason, I am recommending that the Board's 1998 Legislative Program include a
provision directing our lobbyist to seek shared funding by the State for any wage and
benefit increased which might be negotiated by a Public Authority.
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