HUNDREDS PROTEST IN RALLY AND MARCH TO CAPITOL AGAINST CUTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES - SEN BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARS GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS TO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

SACRAMENTO -  Hundreds of people with developmental and other disabilities from all parts of California rallied Monday morning (April 19) and marched to the State Capitol for a Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing, protesting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposals to cut community-based services funded through regional centers.  The rally at the Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento, followed by the march to the State Capitol 2 blocks away, was the kick-off of a series of rallies and demonstrations planned to coincide with budget hearings this and next week at the State Capitol on budget cuts impacting people with disabilities and seniors.  The next major protests rallies are planned for April 22, 26 and 28 to coincide with other budget hearings, especially a proposal for massive cuts to in-home services for children and adults with disabilities and seniors.

Advocates said that the Governor is proposing a "full frontal attack" on the rights of people with developmental and other disabilities" with proposals that will cut a wide range of services and supports including in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors, SSI/SSP, Medi-Cal, community-based services funded through regional centers, habilitation and rehabilitation services,  and cuts that impact special education, adult education programs serving people with disabilities, accessible housing and transportation and more. Advocates pointed out that the same person or family will be hit several times by "devastating cuts" because of cuts to these wide range of services.  Dozens of people with developmental disabilities, families, community-based providers, direct care workers and other advocates testified before the Senate Budget Subcommittee.

The initial crowd at the Crest Theater was much smaller than planned because the Senate budget hearing was moved up from 1:30 PM to 10:00 AM, with the change only announced Friday, with the original start time of the rally set at 10 AM, and the march set to begin at 11:30AM.  Due to the hearing time change, organizers scrambled to move up the rally and march by an hour - though word didn't get out to many people.  However by the end of the rally and the beginning of the march, the crowd grew to over 600 people according to the estimates of Capitol security,  packing the main hearing room and two other overflow hearing rooms inside the Capitol.

The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veterans heard several updates and proposals in the Governor's proposed budget for 2004-2005 impacting services and programs under the Department of Developmental Services.  The focus of the protests and most of the public testimony were the following controversial proposals:
* Proposed additional cut totaling  $110 million for community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities funded through regional centers (in addition to cuts proposed to regional center operations and continuation of rate freezes for many community-base services)
Action taken by Senate Budget Subcommittee:  No action - held open.
* Proposal, made previously twice before by former Governor Davis,  to impose statewide standards that many advocates say will cut funding, impact fair hearing rights and ;limit access to needed community-based services funded through regional center (referred to as "statewide purchase of services  standards or POS Standards)
Action taken by Senate Budget Subcommittee:  No action - held open.
* A proposed implementation plan for a family or parental share of cost program, requiring parents to pay on a sliding scale a portion of the cost of day care, respite or camping services funded through regional centers for  their children with developmental disabilities (ages 3-17) . The current version of this plan would affect those families with incomes 400% at or above the federal poverty level (about $70,000 for family of four).  The Legislature last year, as part of the budget, modified Governor Davis' parental co-payment plan substantially, approving it in concept and ordering the Department of Developmental Services to submit a specific implementation plan by April 1 this year.  The Legislature can choose to modify, reject or approve the draft plan, which is to go into effect July 1, 2005.
Action taken by Senate Budget Subcommittee:  No action - held open.

The subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), also heard updates on the delay of the proposed closure plan for Agnews Developmental Center (the proposed closure delayed until July 2006 instead of July 2005), updates on the transfer from the Department of Rehabilitation to the Department of Developmental Services of  Habilitation Services Programs (which includes work activity and supported employment), and regional center operations and federal funding.
The subcommittee took no action on any of the other updates or issues, though the Department of Developmental Services said that the transfer of Habilitation Services Programs would proceed on schedule.

Senators Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), who also chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, attended the entire hearing along with Sen. Chesbro.  Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), stayed for the first part of the hearing and Sen. Bruce McPherson (R-Santa Cruz) was absent due because of another budget subcommittee hearing he had to attend.  Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) was not able to attend the hearing.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
* No actions - as expected - were taken, but the hearings in April represent the only time when public testimony will be allowed (except for new issues or proposals that come up in May).
* The public pressure and testimony combined with other advocacy efforts, will have some impact on how the Schwarzenegger Administration responds when the 2004-2005 budget proposal is revised in May by the Governor.  Last May, Governor Davis, facing the prospects then of a recall,  rescinded many of the cuts impacting people with developmental disabilities, and also cuts to community colleges and other areas after weeks of protests.  In addition, the public pressure and testimony could have the impact of shaping how the Senate Budget Subcommittee responds in the coming weeks as final actions are taken.

NEXT STEPS
* Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 will continue its hearings this month on other issues having critical impact on people with developmental and other disabilities (and seniors) with a major hearing set for April 22, Thursday morning at approximately 10 AM (the exact time is not certain, because it is linked to whenever the Senate floor session ends).  The hearing will focus on the Governor's proposals for massive cuts and program eliminations to in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors, and also on SSI/SSP.  A major protest rally  - the second in a series planned within 9 days, is scheduled to begin at 9 AM on the West Steps of the State Capitol to coincide with that hearing.  The rally will continue for the entire time of the hearing.
No action by the subcommittee is expected - but this represents the last  major opportunity for public testimony.
* Governor is scheduled to release his revisions to the 2004-05 proposed budget during the week of May 10 - with May 14 the likely date at this time.  The Governor's revisions - referred to as "the May Revise" is considered a major event every budget year because it contains updated financial figures and assumptions that could result in more cuts, or rescinding reductions and perhaps even hinting or proposing possible revenue enhancements (tax increases).
* Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Los Angeles) holds a strictly informational hearing between 9:30 AM and 1 PM on April 23, Friday, at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Los Angeles on impact of proposed cuts to in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors.   The same subcommittee will hold formal hearings in Sacramento at the State Capitol on April 26, Monday at 4 PM on services and programs under the Department of Developmental Services (with a protest rally on the North Steps of the Capitol planned at 2 PM), and a hearing on in-home services and programs under the Department of Aging, set for 1:30 PM on April 28,  Wednesday. A protest march and rally is scheduled for the same day - to begin at 11 AM from outside the Sacramento Convention Center to the South Steps of the State Capitol.
* Both the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 will hold hearings in early and mid May to take final actions on many of the budget issues, though most of the controversial issues are likely to be decided in a special joint budget committee (conference committee).

URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT - THANKS AGAIN!
As  of 4/20/04, 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 (work on this will have this happen in within the next few months) 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CDCAN CAPITOL NEWS REPORTS AND ACTION ALERTS
* 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.
* 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. 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!
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  -  California Disability Community Action Network
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                  WEBSITE: www.cdcan.org