CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
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Advocacy Without Borders: One Community
News Impacting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors & others, including Asian Pacific Islanders, Latinos, African Americans communities across California and beyond
Goes out to over 45,000 people, organizations, policy makers across California
REPLY TO: MARTY OMOTO -  martyomoto@rcip.com   website:   www.cdcan.us
 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
 
IHSS ADMINISTRATIVE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS & CHANGE IN REASSESSMENT
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.   
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
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".  
SENATE ACTION
 
DISABILITY DETERMINATION DIVISION
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".
 
SSI/SSP
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.
 
CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR IMMIGRANTS/SSI ADVOCACY PROGRAM 
 ASSEMBLY ACTION 04/16/08: Assembly Budget Subcommittee approved by vote of 6 to 0,  budget related bill language (referred to as "budget trailer bill) to extend Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants/SSI Advocacy Program which is due to end July, 1, 2009 (sunset) to July 1l 2013. 
SENATE ACTION: Has not taken up this issue yet. 
 
 
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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