Nursing Home Bill Veto
The veto by Gov. Gray Davis of AB 1160 (Oct. 11), the nursing home reform bill passed almost unanimously by the Legislature, is a disservice to the 120,000 Californians living in nursing homes, the millions more among their families and to all senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The governor’s veto message focused entirely on inflated estimates of cost and gave no mention of the well-documented horrible conditions in too many nursing homes.
AB 1160 improved the enforcement system, increased fines for violations by nursing homes and improved residents’ rights. It provided for the appointment by the state of a temporary manager when emergency conditions threatening the lives and safety of residents were evident.
The governor was deceived by officials of the nursing home industry with inflated cost claims for the increased staffing required by the bill, in their hope of raking in many more millions than were needed. The governor made things worse in his veto message by directing the Department of Health Services to delay enforcement of the small staff increases he had approved earlier in the annual budget legislation. Increased staffing alone will not bring better conditions in nursing homes, but without increased staffing we cannot expect any real improvements. The need for AB 1160 is clear. The Legislature should override this mistaken veto.
HERBERT SEMMEL
Staff Attorney, National
Senior Citizens Law Center
Los Angeles
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