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 #062-2007  May 2, 2007 Wednesday
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California State Budget
* Assembly Budget Hearing on Regional Centers
* Scheduled for May 9, Wed at 1:30 PM
* Covers Cost Containment and Rate Reform
* Developmental Centers Mental Health Professionals

SACRAMENTO -   The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Patty Berg (Democrat - 1st District, Eureka, pictured below) has officially scheduled a follow-up hearing on May 9, Wednesday afternoon,  at 1:30 PM at the State Capitol, Room 444, covering most of the budget issues impacting regional centers and at least one issue impacting developmental centers under the Department of Developmental Services not heard during the April 11th hearing.  [Note: see CDCAN Alert on this hearing or go to the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us] 
The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veteran Affairs held its hearing on regional center and developmental center budget issues on April 9. 

Both houses will be holding additional budget subcommittee hearings after the Governor's proposed budget revisions are released, to review and hear public testimony on any new proposals or changes - and to also take final actions on all issues that have been held "open"

With the State's budget situation uncertain - and possibly improving if revenues continue to increase beyond what is expected, policymakers and advocates are waiting for the release by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, scheduled for May 14, of his proposed changes and revisions to the proposed state budget for 2007-2008, referred to as the "May Revision" or the "May Revise". 
The State budget year begins July 1 every year and ends on June 30 (different from the federal budget year which begins October 1 and ends the following September 30).   

April 11th Assembly Subcommittee Hearing Ran Out Of Time for Other Issues To Be Heard May 9th
* The April 11th hearing by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee was able to hear all of the issues impacting In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) including voting to reject 4-0 (with both Republicans abstaining)  the Governor's proposal to freeze State funding for In-Home Supportive Services wages and benefits (with some exceptions) - an action that the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veteran Affairs also approved on April 19, voting 2-1 (with Republican Cogdill voting to oppose). 
* The Assembly hearing on the 11th  also heard an update on the closure of Agnews Developmental Center in San Jose and the progress of the transition of people from Agnews into community settings, including the capacity of health related services and supports. 
* The subcommittee heard testimony from over 45 advocates, family members who have family members residing at Agnews Developmental Center. The Assembly subcommittee adopted  Senate Budget Subcommittee's budget related legislative language regarding addressing health services and supports and the concerns raised by family members.  There may be a brief update on issues related to closure and transition on May 9 - though it is unlikely any further long discussion or testimony will be taken up. 
* But the combination of the issues and testimony raised during the In-Home Supportive Services portion of hearing, and the large numbers who testified on the Agnews closure - the hearing ran out of time, with subcommittee chair Patty Berg saying they would continue the other items in a hearing sometime in May. 

Agenda for May 9th Assembly Subcommittee Hearing
Though not finalized - and subject to change, the agenda for the subcommittee hearing will likely cover first budget issues under the Department of Developmental Services, followed by budget issues under the Department of Child Support Services and Department of Social Services. 
The Department of Developmental Services budget issues scheduled to be heard - subject to change and not final:  A copy of agenda when it is finalized and released will be posted on the CDCAN website and sent out. 

Department of Developmental Services (Budget Item 4300)
1. Community Services Program and Purchase of Service [CDCAN Note refers to regional center funded services]
2. Rate Reform and Cost Containment for Regional Center funded services
3. Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF/DD and CN) Proposed Bundled Rate
4. Technical Correction to the Governor's Proposed Budget (funding shift change - notice or letter from Governor's Department of Finance)
5. Salary Enhancements for Mental Health professional in Developmental Centers (notice or letter from Governor's Department of Finance)
 
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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.

To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports.  sent out and read by over 45,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN "Advocacy WIthout Borders Townhall Telemeetings" which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues. Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network):

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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.