Rafu Shimpo Publishes SOSN Response to Newsom Veto of AB 279

We, members of the statewide and national Save Our Seniors Network, are outraged at your Oct. 7, 2021, veto of Assembly Bill 279.

AB 279 was straightforward urgency legislation to protect seniors. It received an overwhelming, bipartisan 91 “ayes” to 10 “nos” (95%) cumulative vote in the Legislature, and was determined by both the Assembly and Senate Committees on Appropriations to have negligible fiscal impact.

This bill was designed to prevent involuntary, medically non-necessary transfers of residents from an intermediate care facility (ICF) or a skilled nursing facility (SNF), and to halt significant reductions in services thereat, during the COVID-19 state of emergency.