(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of the Linkages Program shall be to provide care and case management services to frail elderly and functionally impaired adults, with priority for enrollment given to low-income individuals, to help prevent or delay placement in nursing facilities. For purposes of this section, “care or case management” means all of the following:

(1) As appropriate, ongoing care or case management to frail elderly and functionally impaired adults to help prevent or delay placement in nursing facilities.

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(2) Client assessment, in conjunction with the development of a service plan with the participant and other appropriate persons, to provide for needs identified by the assessment.

(3) Authorization and arrangement for the purchase of services, or referral, with followup, to volunteer, informal, or third-party payer services. Contractors shall maximize to the fullest extent possible the use of existing services resources before using program funds to purchase services for clients. Any benefits received as a result of these purchases either shall not be considered income for purposes of programs provided for under Division 9 (commencing with Section 10000) or shall not be considered an alternative resource pursuant to Section 12301.

(4) Service and participant monitoring to determine that the services obtained are appropriate to need, of acceptable quality, and provided in a timely manner.

(5) Followup with clients, including periodic contact and initiation of an interim assessment, if deemed necessary, prior to scheduled reassessment.

(6) Assistance to older individuals entering or returning home from nursing facilities and who need help to make the transition.

(7) Comprehensive and timely information, when necessary, to individuals and their families about the availability of community resources, to assist functionally impaired adults and the frail elderly to maintain the maximum independence permitted by their functional ability.

(8) Short-term specialized assistance, including timely one-time-only assistance in securing community resources, counseling, and the arrangement of an action plan, when there is a temporary probable threat to the ability of the frail elderly person or functionally impaired adult to remain in the most independent living arrangement permitted by his or her functional ability.

(b) Contractors of the Linkages Program shall have experience in community long-term care services and capability to serve the frail elderly and functionally impaired adults, and where applicable, ensure separateness of the programs and demonstrate protective measures to avoid conflict of interest.

(c) Contractors of the Linkages Program shall have a systematic means of capturing and reporting all required community-based services program data.

(d) (1) Each county shall deposit funds collected pursuant to § 1465.5 of the Penal Code in its general fund, to be available for use only for the support of services provided under this chapter in that county, including county administrative costs not exceeding 10 percent of the funds collected, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision. A county may join with other counties to establish and fund a program of services under this chapter.

(2) Funds utilized pursuant to this section shall not supplant, be offset against, or in any way reduce funds otherwise appropriated for the support of services provided under this chapter.

(e) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, on or before September 1, 2009, the department shall issue a revised program manual, program memorandum, or similar instructions to contractors regarding the prioritization of low-income individuals.

(2) Effective November 1, 2009, contractors shall give priority for enrollment to low-income individuals.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, 4th Ex. Sess., Ch. 4, Sec. 10. Effective July 28, 2009.)