Fingerprinting/Timesheets Ltr to Representatives

I am sharing my letter that I am sending to Speaker Bass, Senator Steinberg, Assemblymember Chesbro and Senator Wiggins of California. I hope that others on this mailing list takes the opportunity to send your representatives in the State your views regarding the need of fingerprinting and the new timesheets that was recently passed under SB 19 X4 affecting the IHSS program (You may differ regarding my letter, but that is okay.).

Subject: SB 19 X4 (Ducheby) – Fingerprinting IHSS Recipients/Providers and Timesheets

As an individual paralyzed from a Spinal Cord Injury for 35 years and who has used the In-Home Supportive Services Program from time to time; I believe that requiring “Fingerprinting of IHSS Recipients and Providers” is unreasonable and in the long-run will only cost the State and other agencies more money.

It may be true that providers will pay for their own fingerprinting and background check (Which is usually paid for by the employer.), but even this is a little more than what is needed in my opinion. Considering the “Provider” in many situations is a relative of the individual they are assisting (Originally, the IHSS program was started to supplement loss income caused from caring for relatives.), fingerprinting for a criminal background is more than likely not important to the recipient.

Under SB 19 X4 (Ducheny) if we have a relative assisting us and they have a criminal background, will they not be able to assist us? The requirement for fingerprinting a provider should be left as it is, the recipient’s choice (Refer to I-24-04 (09/10/98) Fingerprint brochure – Humboldt County number?).

Requiring recipients to get fingerprinted is also a great blunder of the Governor. Not only because individuals under the IHSS program are more likely receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but who will pay for it? Current SSI recipients are well below the poverty level and in many cases barely paying the rent if they live away from their relatives. Having discovered that a recipient has a criminal record will they be denied services?

It is also being required to replace the current timesheets being used with new timesheets with spaces for the index fingerprint. Here one only has to question what is needed to do this. Besides spending more money on printing the timesheets needed to meet this; but the cost of having ink available when the timesheet is being completed (May not be that difficult, but really is this necessary?). What is going to be done with the old timesheets, more unused forms in a warehouse?

Replacing the old timesheets is just another example of something that does not improve the system and costs more money, but also discourages appropriate time keeping. It also demonstrates a lack of understanding of the program and how the timesheets are used.

The requirement of fingerprinting recipients and providers will in the long-run only cause an undue burden on individuals needing assistance to stay out of the nursing homes and a bigger cost to the State tax-payer in the long-run!

If our State legislatures wish to reduce costs to the IHSS program, get the user involved so the program can be reduced without losing services that individuals need to live as independently within their community as possible.