It’s important to note that there have been no reports of a case where a caregiver with a criminal record has committed a violent crime against an IHSS consumer.

Homecare providers, many of whom are family members or friends, have no interest in putting the people they care for in danger. Under current law, IHSS consumers can obtain information on the criminal background history of their providers or prospective providers. But Schwarzenegger has failed to provide needed regulations to guide the counties in implementing this law.

Finally, if the governor is so interested in protecting consumers, why has he cut funding for Adult Protective Services and for the social workers that administer IHSS and tried to throw thousands of consumers out of the program?

It should be obvious that, just as he is attempting to do with his outrageous, unproven fraud claims, Schwarzenegger is using this crime scare tactic as an excuse to cut the program, not to protect consumers. He is trying to do by administrative fiat what he has failed to accomplish in the legislature.