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Report #074-2008 -
April 17, 2008 - Thursday
California Budget Crisis
* ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL HEARS IHSS, SSP, APS
ISSUES
* DELAYS TAKING ACTION ON GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED
CUTS
* HEARING ROOM PACKED WITH IHSS WORKERS
* Senate Hearing Today On Regional Centers,
Developmental Centers
April 21 Senate Budget Hearing Focus on SSI/SSP , 10% IHSS
Administrative Proposed Cut & Quality Assurance on Agenda - 18%
Cut In IHSS Domestic Hours Not On Agenda for April 21st
SACRAMENTO (CDCAN) - The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on
Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Patty Berg
(Democrat - Eureka, 1st District) held a hearing yesterday afternoon
(April 16) on the Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive
Services, Adult Protective Services, and budget issues regarding the
SSI/SSP grants to the lowest income seniors, blind and persons with
disabilities. Also heard were proposed cuts to critical food
programs under the Department of Social Services.
The subcommittee, as expected, did not take action on the proposals,
holding them "open" until after the Governor releases his
revisions to his proposed budget in mid-May (referred to as the
"May Revise" or "May Revision").
The small hearing room was packed with people with disabilities, IHSS
workers and other advocates, also filling an overflow room.
Earlier a rally of IHSS workers and recipients was held outside the
Capitol East Steps protesting the Governor's proposed cuts to IHSS,
and also to other health and human services, including SSI/SSP.
Impact of Proposed Cuts to IHSS, SSI/SSP and Adult Protective
Services
The issues have major impact on hundreds of thousands of children and
adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and
others, including hundreds of thousands of support workers. The
issues also impact the State's implementation of the 1999 US Supreme
Court's landmark "Olmstead Decision" which requires the
states to take steps to avoid the unnecessary or unjustified
institutionalization of persons with disabilities and seniors.
Senate Budget Subcommittee Will Hear IHSS and SSI/SSP April 21
- 18% Cut Not On Agenda
The Assembly's counterpart in the Senate, the Senate Budget
Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veterans Affairs
has scheduled a hearing on IHSS and SSI/SSP issues on April 21, at
10:30 AM in the State Capitol, in Room 112 (note the room change -
which is a much smaller hearing room).
The Subcommittee, because it was heard in early February by the full
Senate Budget Committee, will not hear the Governor's proposal to
reduce by 18% the non-medical domestic and related hours of all
persons receiving IHSS. The Subcommittee will, however, hear IHSS
budget issues regarding the 10% proposed cut for IHSS County
Administration and the proposed change of IHSS reassessments, and the
proposed elimination of the state portion (SSP) of the cost of living
increase due June 1, 2009 for SSI/SSP recipients.
Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing This Morning on Regional
Centers, Developmental Centers
The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and
Veterans Affairs is meeting this morning at the State Capitol in Room
4203 to hear selected budget issues impacting regional centers and
developmental centers under the Department of Developmental Services,
including the Governor's proposal for a 10% rate cut for
Supported Employment Program providers.
The subcommittee is expected to not take action yet on this budget
proposal, holding it open until after the Governor releases his
revisions to the proposed State Budget in mid-May.
The Legislature previously approved in February the Governor's
proposal to make permanent on-going reductions (called "cost
containment" measures that have been in place for regional center
funded community-based services since 2003, as part of the emergency
budget changes, which the Governor signed into law.
A copy of the Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda is on the CDCAN
website at
www.cdcan.us
CDCAN SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
Summary of actions taken by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on
Health and Human Services on April 16:
IHSS QUALITY ASSURANCE
ACTIONS BY THE ASSEMBLY 04/16/08: Assembly Budget Subcommittee
approved 6 to 0 draft budget bill language (referred to as
placeholder budget bill language) and budget related language
(relating to a Supplemental Report) regarding In-Home Supportive
Services Quality Assurance reporting. .
The language (under item 5180-001-0001 in the budget bill - the
Department of Social Services) dealing with IHSS Quality Assurance
would require the Department of Social Services to continuing meeting
with stakeholders:
"The State Department of Social Services shall continue
to convene periodic meetings throughout the year so that stakeholders
may receive information and have the opportunity to provide input to
the department regarding the quality assurance, program integrity, and
the program consistency efforts in the In-Home Supportive Services
program (Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of
Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code). In
addition, the departments shall report during 2008 budget hearings on
the impact of quality assurance regulations."
In addition the Assembly Budget Subcommittee approved
Supplemental Report Language that the Department of Social Services
shall report to the Legislature quarterly on IHSS utilization data by
county, task, and client level. The data will also report the
number of exceptions by county, task, and client level
ACTIONS BY THE SENATE: Senate Budget Subcommittee will take
up this issue on April 21.
IHSS NON-MEDICAL DOMESTIC & RELATED HOURS PROPOSED 18% CUT
Governor proposed 18% reduction in the non-medical domestic and related
hours of all persons receiving In-Home Supportive Services, to be
effective for all persons on July 1, 2008.
ACTIONS BY ASSEMBLY 04/16/08: the Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not
take action on the Governor's proposal, holding it "open".
ACTIONS BY THE SENATE: Full Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
heard this issue in early February, keeping it open.
Because it heard the issue in early February, the Senate Budget Subcommittee
#3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veteran Affairs will not
hear this issue it will NOT hear it again on April 21st
Governor proposed 10% reduction to the counties for administration of
IHSS and also proposed reassessments of IHSS services every 18 months
instead of 12 (the proposal would allow for more frequent reassessments
if needed)
ASSEMBLY ACTIONS 04/16/08: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not
take action on the Governor's proposal holding it
"open".
SENATE ACTIONS: The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 will hear this
issue on April 21st
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee also heard an update from the
Department of Social Services on the implementation of the direct
deposit program for IHSS workers.
Governor proposed 10% reduction to the overall budget of Adult
Protective Services under the Department of Social Services.
ASSEMBLY ACTION 04/16/08: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not take
action on the Governor's proposal holding it "open".
Proposed 10% reduction to the Disability Determination Division
ASSEMBLY ACTION 04/16/08: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not
take action on the Governor's proposal holding it "open".
Governor proposed in January to eliminate (suspend or delay) the cost of
living increase for the state funded portion (SSP) of the SSI/SSP
(Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) grants due
June 1, 2008 and June 1, 2009 [Note: the date of the annual cost of
living was changed last year from January 1, to June 1.] The
Legislature as part of the special session budget cuts
approved in February, agreed to suspend the SSP cost of living due
June 1, 2008 for four months (until October 1, 2008) and took
no action on the proposal dealing with June 1, 2009.
ASSEMBLY ACTION 04/16/08: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee affirmed
its previous action in the special session to delay (eliminate) the cost
of living increase for the state funded portion (SSP) of the SSI/SSP due
June 1, 2008, for four months (until October 1, 2008) on a one
time basis. It held "open" the Governor's proposal to
suspend the cost of living due June 1, 2009 for the SSP (state
funded) portion of the grant.
SENATE ACTION: Senate Budget Subcommittee will hear this
issue on April 21.