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AB-1068 • 2026

Emergency services available during natural disasters.

Emergency services available during natural disasters.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bains
Last action
2025-08-29
Official status
In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what happens after the recommendations are submitted in 2027.

Emergency Help for Older Adults and People with Disabilities During Disasters

This law requires the California Department of Aging to create a working group that will recommend ways to help older adults and people with disabilities evacuate and shelter during disasters.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a working group by July 1, 2026, to recommend how to evacuate and shelter older adults and disabled persons in long-term care facilities during natural, technological, or manmade disasters.
  • Requires the Secretary of CalHHS to submit these recommendations no later than July 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Older adults and people with disabilities living in long-term care facilities during disasters.
  • The California Department of Aging and other state departments involved in disaster response.

Terms To Know

CalHHS
California Health and Human Services Agency, which oversees the California Department of Aging
ADRC program
Aging and Disability Resource Connection program that helps older adults and people with disabilities find services they need.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after the recommendations are submitted in 2027.
  • It is unclear how the working group will be formed or who its members will be.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  2. 2025-08-18 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

  3. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2025-07-01 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  5. 2025-07-01 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  6. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and G.O.

  7. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  8. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1875.)

  9. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

  11. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  12. 2025-04-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  13. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.

  14. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  15. 2025-04-07 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on AGING & L.T.C.

  16. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on AGING & L.T.C. Read second time and amended.

  17. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on AGING & L.T.C and E.M.

  18. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  19. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1068, as amended, Bains.
Emergency services available during natural disasters.
Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes, among others, the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency, also known as CalHHS and headed by the Secretary of CalHHS, and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of long-term health care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires, among other things, the department to administer the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program.
This
No later than July 1, 2026, this
bill would require the Secretary of CalHHS, in coordination with various state departments, offices, and other entities, as specified, to develop a working group to make recommendations regarding the evacuation and sheltering needs of older adults and persons with disabilities living in long-term care facilities during natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. The bill would require the Secretary of CalHHS to submit the recommendations no later than July 1,
2026,
2027,
and would repeal that requirement on January 1, 2030.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF