CDCAN LOGOCDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
California Disability Community Action Network
Advocacy Without Borders:  We Are One Community
News Impacting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors & Others
Goes out to over 45,000 people, organizations, policy makers across California
Marty Omoto -  martyomoto@rcip.com   website:   www.cdcan.us
 Report #051-2008  -  March 28, 2008 - Friday
 
REGISTER FOR THE CALIFORNIA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLICY SUMMIT SPONSORED BY THE ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS APRIL 15-16 IN SACRAMENTO ! GO TO  CDCAN WEBSITE www.cdcan.us  FOR INFO AND REGISTRATION.  CDCAN IS HOLDING SESSION WITH OTHER ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER ADVOCATES!
 
California State Budget Crisis
* Developmental Services Set By Both Houses
* Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing Set for April 17th
* Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing Set for April 23rd
* Impacts Regional Centers and Developmental Centers
 
SACRAMENTO (CDCAN) -  The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veterans, chaired by Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat - San Jose, 13th District) has scheduled a hearing for April 17th, Thursday morning immediately following the adjournment of the Senate floor session, that will focus on budget issues it has not taken action on yet under the Department of Developmental Services, including a proposed 10% rate reduction to supported employment program providers. 
 
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services - its counterpart in the Assembly - had previously already scheduled a hearing for April 23rd (Wednesday at 1:30 PM) covering those same issues.
 
Both houses approved in February - and the Governor signed into law in response to his declaring a "fiscal (budget) emergency", a package of bills that cut state spending and made other changes, saving the State over $7 billion - leaving a budget shortfall of about $8 billion left for lawmakers to fill. 
 
Both Houses Approved In February Making Permanent Regional Center "Cost Containment"
Included in the cuts made in February to take effect July 1, 2008 include making permanent spending cuts to regional centers of over $329 million (including federal funds) resulting from making permanent several temporary "cost containment" measures and also expansion of an existing program that requires certain families meeting certain high income requirements to pay a portion (or in some cases all) of certain selected services for their child with developmental disabilities. 
 
The Legislature also approved in February, the Govenror's proposal for a 10% rate reduction to most Medi-Cal providers, to take effect July 1, 2008 (instead of June 1, 2008 as requested by the Governor), and a four month (instead of one year) suspension of the cost of living increase due June 1, 2008,  for the state portion (SSP) of the SSI/SSP grants. The increase for the state portion of that grant will come to recipients on October 1, 2008. 
 
Watch for complete CDCAN Report later today on all the budget hearings impacting people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, low income families, community organizations and workers that provide supports and services and others.  Several CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, focusing on regional centers, Medi-Cal and IHSS and also some key bills and issues will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
 
SUMMARY OF BUDGET HEARINGS IMPACTING REGIONAL CENTERS & DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS:
 
APRIL 17, 2008 (THURSDAY)
SENATE BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE #3 HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, LABOR & VETERANS AFFAIRS
Meets upon adjournment of Senate Floor Session (about 9:30 AM)
State Capitol - Room 4203
* Department of Developmental Services (Budget Item 4300)
- Supported employment program
- $113 million unallocatred reduction
- Issues related to scheduled closure of Agnews Developmental Center
- All other issues that Senate has not yet taken action on
CDCAN IMPACT & PRIORITY: VERY HIGH
CDCAN COMMENT: The full Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee chaired by Sen. Denise Ducheny heard on February 4th, the Governor's proposed spending reductions that required action before the end of the 2007-2008 State Budget year - even though it would not take effect until July 1 - the start of the 2008-2009 State Budget year.  Like the Assembly, the Senate Budget Committee approved making permanent the existing temporary spending reductions - referred to as "cost containment measures" of over $329 million (including loss of federal dollars) to regional centers that fund and coordinate services to over 230,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities and also approved expansion - as proposed by the Governor - of the existing family cost participation program - sometimes referred to as the family "co-payment" program.  
Neither the Senate or Assembly however too action yet on the Governor's proposal for a 10% rate reduction to supported employment programs, and that issue will be heard during this hearing, along with several other issues that the Legislature has not yet taken action on. 
 
APRIL 23, 2008 (WEDNESDAY)
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 1 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
1:30 PM - State Capitol - Room 444
Budget Items To Be Heard:
* Department of Developmental Services (Budget Item 4300)
* Open Issues - All Departments
CDCAN IMPACT & PRIORITY: VERY HIGH
CDCAN COMMENT: The Assembly heard all of the Governor's proposed cuts to developmental services on January 22, including those proposed for the 2008-2009 State Budget year (see CDCAN Comment for the Senate budget hearing on April 17). Proposed 10% rate reduction to supported employment program providers will be heard at this hearing along with other issues the Assembly has not yet taken action on., 
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Advocacy Without Borders - We Are ONE Community:
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.
This report - and the CDCAN townhall telemeetings, and other events and projects are for all of them and for promoting advocacy without borders toward unified action.  We are one community.
To respond to this report reply to: Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com    CDCAN website: www.cdcan.us
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 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):

CDCAN
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Sacramento, CA 95814
Note: the paypal option on the CDCAN website is temporarily not working and will be fixed soon. 

 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 MANY THANKS to Alta California Regional Center, FEAT (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Life Steps, Easter Seals California, Parents Helping Parents, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Tri-Counties Regional Center, 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, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California