Assembly Health Committee Scheduled To Hold Informational Hearing On Governor's Proposed Cuts to In-Home Services for People With Disabilities & Seniors and Benefits to Filipino Americans June 17 In San Jose

SACRAMENTO   -  The Assembly Health Committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn (D-Saratoga, 24th District) is scheduled to hold an informational hearing on the impact of the Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services for people with disabilities and seniors, and also cuts to benefits for Filipino American World War II veterans:

                 When:  June 17, Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
                Where:  San Jose City Hall Council Chambers, Room 205
                                801 North First Street, San Jose 95110  (East Mission St nearest cross street)
                               Note: location is between West Hedding and West Taylor streets on North 1st Street

The public is invited to provide very brief testimony on the impact - though no assurances are given on how many people will actually be allowed to provide public comment.  For more information about this specific hearing on June 17 in San Jose, the Assembly Health Committee indicates that persons should contact Tori Ueda at Assemblywoman Cohn's district office at 408/369-8170.

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton, 52nd District) was also scheduled to hold an informational hearing on the impact of cuts to In-Home Supportive Services on Friday, June 18 in the Los Angeles area, however that hearing has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict.

The Assembly Health Committee hearing has no direct role in the budget process and no votes can be taken at the hearing on June 17th.

Background
* The budget subcommittees of both houses rejected the Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, in May, though the entire Assembly and Senate must give final approval, by 2/3rds vote, when the full budget bill - and related pieces of legislation, are put to a vote sometime before June 30.  In addition, Governor Schwarzenegger on April 22 said he was backing off on his original proposal to eliminate the "Residual Program" portion of  In-Home Supportive Services, by submitting a proposal to the federal government for matching federal funds.
* Nothing is final however, until the Legislature passes a budget (and related budget bills) and until the Governor actually signs the budget (and related budget bills) into law.  This year, most observers expect a budget on or just before the end of the budget year, which ends June 30, 2004.
* The joint budget committee - called a "conference committee", did not meet on Friday, Saturday or Sunday - and may meet today (Monday, June 14).  The joint committee last met Thursday afternoon - though took no major action on that day impacting people with disabilities.
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
*  PLEASE! HELP NEEDED URGENTLY!
   Contributions Needed to Continue Effort - Thanks Again!
As  of  6/14/04, many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations.  As mentioned before, individual thank you letters are now being sent out (due to workload have been delayed!). However, until grant funding is finalized, contributions from people and organizations is still very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months. Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN). CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization but will be soon.  Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network,  1225 8th Street Suite #480, Sacramento, CA  95814.  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.org.
* Who Is CDCAN?
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them. In addition it also goes to news organizations, state and local government officials and staff.
* How To Receive CDCAN Capitol News Reports and Alerts
If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that  request to:  martyomoto@rcip.com OR sign up via the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.org.  Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy  this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  -  California Disability Community Action Network   WEBSITE: www.cdcan.org
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com
INFO HOTLINE TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-877-260-0267 (cannot leave messages) SAME INFO HOTLINE FOR SACRAMENTO AREA:  486-4652