(Sacramento, CA. October 28, 2011) The California Senior Legislature (CSL) adjourned its 31st Annual Legislative Session on Thursday afternoon and will announce the Top Ten State Legislative Proposals and Top Four Federal proposals at a news conference at the State Capitol this morning.

The following were listed as the top ten State Legislative proposals:   

1.    The Silver Alert Program (SP-10) would establish a missing persons program called Silver Alert to protect persons suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia who might roam away from home. The proposal was authored bySenior Senator Murphy of Tracy. 

2.    The Personal Amplifier Listening Devices (AP-13) proposal wouldauthorize and support the sale of Personal Amplifier Hearing Devices which would assist those with hearing impairments until they could accumulate funds to purchase hearing aids and was authored by Senior Senator Member Lucero of San Jose.

3.    The Reverse Mortgage Transparency Act (AP-32) would require reverse mortgages to allow the borrower to determine the consequences of the mortgage based on their personal situation, financial circumstances, or health, short and long-term needs and was authored by Senior Assembly Member Krohn of Walnut Creek.

4.    The Homeless Senior Veterans: Increased Benefits (AP-24) proposalwould create the State Cal-Vet Program to raise awareness of senior homeless veterans programs and to provide rental housing benefits for them, and was authored by Senior Assembly Member Serrin of Carlsbad.

5.    A proposal addressing Taxation: Deductions: Mileage Rates: Senior Volunteer Activities (AP-22) would establish a state tax deduction for seniors, 65 and older, for miles driven during volunteer activities up to an amount that is the difference between the Federal volunteer mileage deduction and the Federal business travel mileage deduction. This proposal was authored by Senior Assembly Member Rolfe of Suisun.

6.    The Financial Elder Abuse: Money Transmitters (AP-15) proposal requires that money wire transfer services be included in the definition of mandatory reporters of suspected financial elder abuse and was authored by Senior Assembly Member Molnar of Santa Cruz. 

7.    The Emergency Transportation for Seniors and Disabled (AP-2) proposal would require the mobilization of Para transit, paramedics, and others to move disabled and seniors to safe places in the event of natural disasters. The proposal was authored bySenior Assembly Member Bloch of Marin. 

8.    A proposal relating to Identity Theft: Punishment Enhancement (AP-11) requires that a two-year punishment enhancement be added for identity theft from a victim 65 years or older was authored by Senior Assembly Member Kammerer of Fountain Valley. 

9.    A proposal addressing Building Standards: Staircase Handrails (SP-13) would require that handrails be provided at all public staircases, including theaters, museums, stadiums and restaurants.  The proposal was authored by Senior Senator Steir of San Francisco.

10.   The Terminate California's Reduction of Federal COLA for-SSI Recipients (AP-4) proposal reinstates the Federal COLA for SSI recipients that were removed by the former Governor by reducing the State allocation equivalent to the Federal increase.The proposal was authored by Senior Assembly Member Norma Campbell of San Francisco. 

The following were identified as the Top Four Federal Legislative proposals:

1.    The Medicare Dental Services (AFP-12) proposal requires that Medicare coverage be expanded to include dental care and was authored by Senior Assembly Member Lucero of San Jose.

2.    The Alzheimer Silver Alert Program (AFP-14) proposal establishes a federally coordinated program known as Silver Alert to locate missing persons with dementia and a federal grant program to fund states' development was authored by Senior Assembly Member Sonnefeld of Tracy. 

3.    The Taxation: Deductions: Mileage Rates: Senior Volunteer Activities (AFP-13) proposal increases the allowable tax deduction for mileage incurred by volunteering by seniors aged 65+ up to the Federal business allowable mileage deduction and was authored by Senior Assembly Member Rolfe of Suisun. 

4.    The Social Security Burial Benefits (AFP-15) proposal requires that the Social Security Administration's burial benefit be increased to $495 and be payable to an immediate family member. The Proposal was authored by Senior Assembly Member Taylor of Modesto.