Legislation designed to curb the abuse of...

Legislation designed to curb the abuse of elderly patients in nursing homes was unanimously approved by the state Senate Appropriations Committee and sent to the floor. The bill, which also would increase Medi-Cal payments to nursing homes, includes most of the major provisions of the nursing home bills vetoed last year by Gov. George Deukmejian. However, the Administration has indicated its support for the new measure, which would, among other things, increase penalties for negligence in patient care and raise the minimum level of staffing in nursing homes.