Bill Overview
Title: Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center Access Improvement Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Indian Health Service (IHS) to purchase certain private land in Hemet, California, at fair market value and then construct a paved road on that land to facilitate access to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center. The IHS shall maintain the road or enter an agreement with Riverside County, California, to maintain the road.
Sponsors: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who would benefit from the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center and related residents
Estimated Size: 25000
- The Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center is likely a facility that serves youth, potentially for health or wellness services. Therefore, the primary population impacted would be young people who utilize this center.
- The access improvement suggests that currently there may be barriers to reaching the center, possibly affecting those who do not have easy transportation access.
- Constructing a paved road could increase the accessibility of the center to a larger population, including those from surrounding areas who may have found it difficult to reach the facility.
- Accessibility improvements benefit not only the youth but also the staff, families, and community members involved with the center.
- The Indian Health Service is involved, indicating that the facility also serves Native American populations, likely including Native American youth.
Reasoning
- Given the budget constraints, the policy is designed to improve access specifically to the Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center, which will greatly benefit the youth in the area, especially Native American youth in Hemet, California.
- A paved road would facilitate easier access not just for young people attending the center but also their families, staff, and the community.
- There will be individuals within Riverside County whose lives are not directly impacted by this policy due to their geographic distance or lack of need for the center's resources.
- The impact on the Cantril Wellbeing scale is likely to be most significant for those who currently face barriers accessing the wellness center and will experience a notable improvement in their wellbeing as accessibility increases.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Hemet, California)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I currently have to rely on public transportation, which is irregular and unreliable. An improved road would make it so much easier to get to the center, especially during bad weather.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Youth Counselor at Desert Sage (Riverside County, California)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Right now, commuting to work is a hassle due to the poor road conditions. Better access means less commuting stress and more time to focus on helping our youth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Local business owner (Hemet, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving access to community resources is always a plus. It might not impact my business directly, but healthier youth contribute to a healthier community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Healthcare Policy Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is a small but meaningful step in improving healthcare equity for Native American youth. It sets a precedent for more infrastructural improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Parent (Hemet, California)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've worried about my kids traveling in rough conditions to get to the center. A paved road would ease those safety concerns significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Student at local college (Riverside County, California)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Volunteering becomes a nightmare because of how long it takes me to get to the center with the current road conditions. I'm all for this new development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retired worker (Riverside County, California)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This kind of infrastructure work is overdue. It should set an example for more projects that focus on community access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Part-time worker (Palm Springs, California)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've only been to the center once when accompanying my cousin. It was a long and tiring trip. Easier access would mean more visits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Student (Hemet, California)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my friends are going, I want to try it too, but my parents can't always drive me. Better road access might change that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Community healthcare worker (Riverside County, California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Every improvement in healthcare access is worth it, even if it doesn’t affect my immediate work at other centers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $4000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $800000)
Year 3: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $800000)
Year 5: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $800000)
Year 10: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $800000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $300000, High: $800000)
Key Considerations
- Land acquisition costs could fluctuate based on real estate market changes.
- Construction costs are subject to changes in material, labor, and regulatory requirements.
- Ongoing road maintenance could necessitate future renegotiations or budgetary adjustments, depending on the agreement with Riverside County.
- Long-term savings and revenue effects are largely indirect and speculative.