SACRAMENTO – State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 1261, which will ensure that the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties can continue operating during a major transition affecting regional aging services.

“Older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers rely on the ADRC as a trusted place to turn for help,” said Laird. “We cannot allow services to disappear simply because of an administrative transition. This legislation keeps the doors open and ensures no one falls through the cracks.”

An ADRC is a local, community-based hub that helps older adults and people with disabilities find and access the services they need to live safely and independently. ADRCs bring together Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living Centers to provide a simple, coordinated entry point for long-term services and supports. This is often called a “No Wrong Door” approach, meaning no matter where someone asks for help, they can get connected to the right services without being passed from office to office.

Currently, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that serves Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties (Planning and Service Area 17) is being redesignated. At the same time, Ventura County (Planning and Service Area 18) is stepping down from its role as an AAA. Because ADRCs are required by law to operate in partnership with an AAA, this change would force the local ADRC to close – even though community members still depend on its services every day.

Laird’s legislation would allow the ADRC to temporarily operate independently for at least one year and up to two years during this transition period. Without this bill, the ADRC serving San Luis Obispo County would have to shut down.

Across California, 31 of 58 counties are served by an ADRC. In 2024 alone, nearly 170,000 older adults and people with disabilities received help through California’s ADRC network.

Services include:

• One-on-one help connecting people to healthcare, in-home care, meals, transportation, and other community services;
• Guidance for individuals and families making decisions about long-term care; and,
• Short-term coordination and transition services to help people remain safely in their homes.

ADRCs support:

• Older adults seeking aging-related services;
• Adults with disabilities navigating long-term services and supports;
• Individuals at risk of being placed in institutions who want to remain at home; and,
• Caregivers supporting loved ones in the community.

The legislation is sponsored by the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A), which represents 31 AAAs across the state, and supported by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), the statewide membership association for Independent Living Centers serving 56 counties. Both organizations maintain that ADRCs are a key part of California’s Master Plan for Aging and help ensure people can live with dignity and independence in their own communities.

“ADRC is a critical part of our local safety net, ensuring that older adults and people with disabilities can access services through a trusted ‘No Wrong Door’ approach,” said Jennifer Griffin, Executive Director of Access Central Coast and Chair of California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. “By simplifying how older adults and people with disabilities connect to supports, ADRCs have reduced isolation and expanded opportunities for independence in the community. Access Central Coast is proud to serve as a core ADRC partner, working every day to ensure that people can navigate complex systems with dignity, clarity, and confidence.”

“As California prepares for the significant growth in our older adult population, C4A remains committed to ensuring the promises outlined in the Master Plan on Aging are fully realized for both older adults and people with disabilities,” said Christina Mills, Executive Director of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. “In partnership with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, we are committed to expanding ‘No Wrong Door’ systems through ADRCs that truly function as one-stop shops for individuals and families seeking long-term services and supports. We applaud Senator Laird for his leadership in supporting the continuation of ADRCs and for strengthening California’s commitment to coordinated, person-centered care.”

“This bill is a practical, common-sense solution,” said Laird, whose office holds an official seat on San Luis Obispo County’s Adult Services Policy Council. “It simply allows time for a smooth transition so essential services can continue uninterrupted.”