SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D–Davis), chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging & Long-Term Care, has introduced the Home Care Services Act of 2013.  

AB 322, co-authored by Senator Lou Correa (D–Santa Ana), establishes regulations for private home care agencies.

“California is aging, and is already home to the largest population of dependent adults in the nation,” Yamada said. “There should be clear standards for training and background checks for agency-based caregivers who wish to serve this vulnerable population.”

AB 322 authorizes the California Department of Social Services to license and regulate private home care agencies that hire and match home care aides with clients that need nonmedical assistance to live at home independently.  

Many seniors and persons with disabilities, or their families, choose private home care agencies to secure the services of a comprehensively screened professional caregiver and avoid the liabilities and tax consequences of being an employer of an independent caregiver.

Currently, the only requirement to establish a homecare agency in California is a business license.

The lack of oversight and regulation of private homecare agencies can leave consumers without safeguards to protect them from negligent or criminal conduct.  

The Home Care Services Act of 2013 responds to an industry call for regulation.

Assemblymember Yamada represents the Fourth Assembly District which includes all or parts of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.