CDCAN REPORT 061-2007

California Disability Community Action Network
DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
Advocacy Without Borders: Connecting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors, Traumatic Brain & other injuries, People with MS & other health needs, including People of color, different languages, cultures, Families, Workers, Providers, & Organizations to Rights & Unified Action
Report #061-2007 May 2, 2007 Wednesday
To respond to this email, reply to: martyomoto@rcip.com   CDCAN website: www.cdcan.us

California State Budget
* Assembly Hearing on Several Social Services Issues
* SSI/SSP & CAPI Issue To Be Heard
* Adult Protective Services, Food Stamps On Agenda
* Regional Center Budget Items Set for May 9th

SACRAMENTO -   The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Patty Berg (Democrat - 1st District, Eureka), is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon (May 2) at 1:30 PM in the State Capitol, Room 444 to review several critical budget issues and proposals, including those impacting the state's food stamp program, adult protective services for seniors and people with disabilities, and the SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) grants to the lowest income people with disabilities, seniors and others. The issues have impact in different ways to hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with tramautic brain and other injuries and others. Go to the CDCAN website for more information on at www.cdcan.us
Also scheduled on the agenda is the State's naturalization services program under the Department of Community Services and Development and requests for additional funding from various advocacy groups for Linkages Program, Senior Nutrition Program, Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs and the Legal Hotline service.

The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veteran Affairs, chaired by Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat - San Jose),heard many of these issues earlier in April and took action to approve Governor's budget proposal on April 19 that called for fully funding the cost of living increases for the State Supplemental Payment (SSP) and passing through the entire federal cost of living increase for the SSI (Supplemental Security Income of SSI) portion of grant scheduled to take effect January 1, 2008. [Note: See below for more details and concerns by advocates.]

Update: Budget Situation Might Be Changing - Close Watch on State Revenues for May
* The California budget situation is getting somewhat different analysis from state officials in recent days - though the news according to state officials might be getting slightly better than worse.
* Depending on which view prevails could determine the extent of any new budget reductions or proposals in the Governor's revisions to his proposed budget due May 14 that advocates would be concerned about. [Note: CDCAN will report on the Governor's new plan that day - and will schedule a series of CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings featuring various state officials and advocates. ]
* California Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe said on Friday (April 27) that the budget situation looked "bleak" and that "difficult choices" would have to be made - though she gave no details.
* On Monday the State Controller John Chiang reported a surprising significant increase in state income taxes that could help bridge the budget shortfall that some predict could be over $2 billion. State officials however said that it was not certain if the increase in revenues represented a trend or was a one month bump. A significant increase in revenues would have to continue through May and June in order for the State to end the budget year without a deficit. state officials said.
* Both Democratic and Republican budget leaders in the Legislature expressed cautious optimism on the new numbers, with Republican leaders urging that the Legislature not approve any new unnecessary spending.

May 9 Set For Some Regional Center and Developmental Center Budget Issues Not Heard April 11th
Meanwhile the same Assembly Budget Subcommittee has set next Wednesday, May 9th at 1:30 PM to hear some regional center and also updates on developmental center related budget issues under the Department of Developmental Services not heard in a previous hearing (April 11) due to time. Watch for CDCAN Alert and Report today on this hearing.

SUMMARY OF SOME ISSUES FOR MAY 2 BUDGET HEARING IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS

SSI/SSP Grants To Lowest Income Seniors and People With Disabilities On Agenda
* The subcommittee is expected to hear the issues below but hold off taking action, with possible exception of SSI/SSP cost of living.
Background SSI/SSP (& also Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants or CAPI)
* The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program (SSI/SSP) provides cash grants to persons who are elderly, blind and/or persons with disabilities too disabled to work and who meet the program’s federal income and resource requirements. Persons who receive SSI/SSP are eligible for IHSS, "categorically eligible" for Medi-Cal's Aged, Blind or Disabled Program with no share of cost.
* There are about 1,239,000 persons with disabilities, seniors and persons who are blind who receive SSI/.SSP grants. That number is expected to grow during the 2007-2008 State budget year by 2.1% (to 1,265,000). Of the total, about 8% are children under the age of 18, 49% are persons between ages of 18 and 64, and 43% are age 65 and older (about 360,000), about 22,000 were persons who are blind, and about 834,000 who were children and adults with disabilities (including those with developmental disabilities).
* The state budget as proposed by the Governor in January, would provide $140.3 million in State funding to fully pay for the State Supplementary Program (SSP) cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) of 4.2% effective January 1, 2008. The Governor's proposal released in January would also pass on $34.4 million in additional federal funds to fully fund the federal 1.2% cost of living increase for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) portion of the grant.   Both proposals by the Governor made January 10, were widely praised by advocates - coming after several budget years where those increases have been suspended or withheld.
* The SSP cost of living increases were suspended as part of the 2005 State Budget for two years (January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007). The Legislature last year rejected the Governor's proposal to withhold federal increases to SSI recipients - and this year actually proposed to pass on the increases - and the State increases in January.
* As of January 2007, the maximum grant is $856 per month for eligible seniors or person with disabilities living independently and $1,565 per month for a couple living independently.
* If the Legislature passes the Governor's SSI/SSP budget proposal as it was submitted January 10, 2007, the maximum SSI/SSP grants would increase on January 1, 2008 from $856 to $892 for individuals and $1,502 to $1,565 for couples.
* The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants was established in 1997 to provide cash benefits to persons who are legal immigrants who are seniors, blind or have disabilities and who became ineligible for SSI as a result of welfare reform. These program grants are $10 less than SSI/SSP grants for individuals and $20 less than SSI/SSP grants for couples. About 11,400 persons are enrolled in the Cash Assistance Program Immigrants program in any given month    The program is overseen by the California Department of Social Services and administered by the counties. The federal government is not involved with this program.

Advocates Worried About Revisions To Proposed Budget May 14
* Advocates are concerned that the Governor may propose a partial suspension of the cost of living increase of the SSP portion of the grant next year if the State budget shortfall is not bridged by an increase in revenues. There is also concern that cost of living increases due to people under the CalWORKS (welfare to work) program would also see a suspension.
* There is no official word on that confirming or denying such an action. Advocates have urged that the both the Senate and Assembly subcommittees reject any proposal that would suspend or withhold SSI/SSP cost of living adjustments, and any proposal that would reduce funding for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants

Adult Protective Services Issue TO Be Heard
* Governor's proposed budget in January includes $123.6 million ($61.3 million in State General Funds) for Adult Protective Services - an increase of 5%, reflecting higher reimbursements (Title XIX) from the federal government.
* Each county has an Adult Protective Services agency to help seniors (65 years and older) and "dependent adults" (18-64 who are persons with disabilities, including persons with developmental disabilities, mental health needs), when they are unable to meet their own needs, or are victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation. The program is overseen by the California Department of Social Services
* At least four different agencies are charged with investigating reports of abuse depending on who is abusing and where the abuse took place which some advocates say is confusing and difficult to navigate. A fifth agency deals with reports of abuses of children (Children Protective Services).
* According to the Department of Social Services, from 2000 to 2006, the number of reports of abuse or neglect received by Adult Protective Services each year increased by 24.2% - an increase of 19,920 reports. A report, according to the department, is defined as a verbal or written account of an incident of suspected elder or dependent adult abuse that is received by a county.
* During that same time period, the number of opened cases increased 21.9%, an increase of 15,702 cases.
* The number of investigations completed increased by 25.6%, an increase of 17,423 investigations undertaken by Adult Protective Services to determine the validity of a report of senior or "dependent adult" abuse.
* During the 2000-2006 state budget years, the monthly average for active Adult Protective Services cases decreased 5.4%, a decrease of 1,145 active cases a month.
* According to the Department of Social Services, the Adult Protective Services hotline responses that are identified as needing “No Initial Face to Face Investigation” increased 118.1% from 2002-03 to 2005-06, an increase of 6,194 cases.
* The California Welfare Directors Association reports that there has been a 40% increase in “confirmed” and “non-conclusive” reports between January 2004 and June 2006 regarding adult protective services.
* They also reported that financial abuse cases alone have increased 21% since 2001, "self-neglect: cases" have increased by 7% since 2001 and "neglect by other" has increased by 16%
* The California Welfare Directors Association, along with other local governments, advocacy organizations, and individuals, is requesting an increase in Adult Protective Service funding of $20 million as a "modest investment" in a critical program, beyond the increase proposed in the Governor's budget in January.

SUMMARY OF ASSEMBLY BUDGET HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE AGENDA - MAY 2, 2007
The agenda for the subcommittee is posted on the CDCAN website and a summary of the agenda is listed here:

CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS
[CDCAN Note: consent calendar is part of the agenda that lists items that the subcommittee considers not controversial or not having opposition from members of the subcommittee. The chair will sometimes allow testimony on the items, and any subcommittee member can request that an item be removed from this part of the agenda for discussion or a separate vote]
Department of Social Services (Budget Item 5180)
1. Department Consolidation Project – Spring Letter (from Governor's Department of Finance)
Department of Community Services and Development (Budget Item 4700)
1. Positions for Energy Utility Program – Budget Change Proposal (from the Department called "BCP")
Department of Aging (Budget Item 4170)
1. Evidence-Based Health Promotion Initiative – Spring Letter
2. Mental Health Services for Older Persons and Adults with Disabilities – Spring Letter
3. Continuation of Adult Day Health Care Program Reform Implementation – Budget change proposal from Department (called "BCP")
4. Criminal Record Clearance for Long Term Care Ombudsman – Budget change proposal from Department (called "BCP")

VOTE-ONLY AGENDA ITEM
CDCAN Note: Under "for vote only" are items previously discussed and with previous public testimony that require some action. No testimony or major discussion from subcommittee members takes place for issues under this agenda category,
Department of Social Services (Budget Item 5180)
1. Services to Noncitizen Victims of Trafficking and/or Severe Crime - Budget Change Proposal from Department

AGENDA ITEMS TO BE HEARD (TESTIMONY AND POSSIBLE ACTION)
CDCAN Note: items under this agenda category are issues that the subcommittee will hear public testimony, comments from the the department impacted, recommendations or comments from the Governor's Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analyst Office, the non-partisan agency that provides budget related information to the Legislature. Most items below will probably be kept "open" until after the release of the Governor's budget revisions on May 14 (called the "May Revise").
Department of Social Services (Budget Item 5180)
1. Overview of State Food Programs
2. Food Needs in California
3. Implementation of AB 2384 on Corner Store Conversion
4. Categorical Eligibility for Food Stamps
5. Adult Protective Services
6. SSI-SSP Cost of Living [note: Senate took action to approve Governor's budget proposal on April 19]
7. Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
8. Medi-Cal Disability Claims Workload – Budget change proposal fro Department
Department of Community Services and Development (Budget Item 4700)
1. Naturalization Services Program
Department of Aging (Budget Item 4170)
1 Caseload Estimates
2. Requests for Funding
CDCAN note: these are funding requests not in the Governor's Proposed Budget released in January that advocates asked the subcommittee to hear and consider (including the additional funding for Adult Protective Services by the counties which is being heard earlier in the agenda separately]
* Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs (request from advocates to restore state funding to the Senior Companion Program ($1.7 million) and allow an additional funding (augmentation) for the Foster Grandparent Program ($1.1 million).
* Senior Nutrition Program (request from advocates for $6.46 million in General Fund to support senior nutrition programs)
* Linkages Program (proposal from Advocates for an increase of $1.85 million in state general funds for the Linkages Program which is funded only by the State. This program administered by the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) currently serving 3,600 persons has a goal to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of seniors and adults with disabilities by assisting them to remain living in a home environment. Linkages is a General Fund program, which currently serves 3600 “at risk” adults throughout California.
* Legal Services Hotline (advocates are requesting additional funding beyond what is in the Governor's proposed budget to support the hotline. The hotline - and legal assistance - advocates say is needed for low income seniors who need assistance for legal issues that traditional legal aid programs do not offer.

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The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to tens of thousands of Californians in every community, including people of color, people of every type of disability, including people with physical disabilities, people with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain and other injures, people with mental health needs, seniors, people with MS, Alzheimer's and others, and all of their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports, townhall telemeetings and other projects is for all of them.

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The CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings are partially funded by a small grant from the USC UCEDD, Grant #90DD0540 from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. (note: the opinions expressed or content in these reports do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the USC UCEDD.

MANY THANKS to Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Parents Helping Parents, Arriba, Strategies To Empower People, Parents Helping Parents, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, and hundreds of individuals.