CDCAN LOGO DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
California Disability Community Action Network
Advocacy Without Borders: One Community
REPORT #121-2008  -  MAY 30, 2008 - FRIDAY
REPLY TO: MARTY OMOTO 
martyomoto@rcip.com   website:   www.cdcan.us
 
VOTE JUNE 3RD STATE PRIMARY ELECTION! SEE BELOW!
 
BREAKING NEWS:
* ASSEMBLY & SENATE BUDGET PANELS MEET
* ACTION TO RESTORE MEDI-CAL RATE CUTS
* ISSUE WILL GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
* REJECT MEDI-CAL OPTIONAL BENEFIT CUTS
 
SACRAMENTO (CDCAN) - Both the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services and the full Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee held hearings today (May 30) focusing on health issues and took different actions to move toward restoring some level of the permanent Medi-Cal provider 10% rate reductions that will take effect July 1, 2008, barring a court decision or action by the Legislature and the Governor before then.  It means however the issue of restoring some or all of the Medi-Cal provider rates will at least be discussed and considered in the upcoming budget conference committee. 
 
Both houses however took identical action in rejecting the Governor's proposal to permanently eliminate 11 Medi-Cal optional benefits, including adult dental.  See CDCAN Report later today for full report and details on what the subcommittees and full Senate Budget Committee did today and the past week.
 
Houses Took Different Action on Provider Rates
The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee took action to restore 5% of the 10% rate reduction for Medi-Cal providers.  Earlier the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services took action to restore for most providers, though the restoration varied from 5% to restoring the entire 10% amount (in some cases the restored rate reduction could be lower than 5% because the subcommittee was looking to find funds to restore funding for public hospitals).
Since the actions differ, the issue will go to a joint budget committee - called a budget "conference committee" composed of 3 members from each house who will meet in mid-June to resolve the different actions on this and many other budget actions. 
 
Medi-Cal Provider Rate Reduction Still In Effect However
The 10% Medi-Cal rate reduction as proposed by the Governor in January and approved by the Legislature as part of a package of special session bills to address the budget crisis in February, is still State law and will go into effect on July 1, 2008.  At least two lawsuits - one filed by providers, and another by Medi-Cal recipients - were filed in late April and early May seeking to block the reductions from taking place - though action on both suits are still pending. 
 
Both Budget Committees Reject Elimination of Optional Benefits
Meanwhile both houses took what appears to be identical action in rejecting the Governor's January proposal to permanently eliminate 11 Medi-Cal optional benefits that the state is not required to provide (referred to as "optional benefits") for children and adults (except where noted) with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and others on Medi-Cal and not in long term care facilities:
- Chiropractor Services
- Incontinence Creams and Washes
- Acupuncture Services
- Adult Dental Services
- Speech Services
- Audiology Services
- Optometry Services
- Optician
- Optical Laboratory Services
- Podiatry Services
- Psychology Services.
 
WHAT THE BUDGET ACTIONS MEAN
* No action taken at this or any stage of the budget process is final - until a budget is passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.  Even then, the Governor can - except where a change in state law is required - line item veto budget items.
* When both houses take identical action - either to approve a proposal, or to reject a proposal, that means that it is a significant action at this stage of the budget process, and means that the issue will not go to the budget conference committee for further action. 
* However, NO action in the budget process is final until a budget is approved and signed by the Governor - especially with a budget shortfall at over $17 billion and growing each time a cut is not approved.   
* A previously rejected cut or an entirely new proposal calling for spending reductions or other changes could come up in the coming weeks -  especially when budget negotiations occur with the Governor and legislative leaders. 
 
NEXT STEPS IN STATE BUDGET PROCESS
LATE MAY (Week of May 19th, 26th and June 2nd)
* Budget subcommittees (and in some cases the full budget committee) in both houses will hold their final public hearings, and also take public testimony on NEW proposals made by the Governor in his revised budget that he released on May 14th. 
* The Assembly Budget subcommittees have completed their work and the budget now goes to the full Assembly Budget Committee, probably next week - and then to budget conference committee. 
* The Senate however will continue to hold hearings of the full Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and maybe one or two subcommittees, to complete its work before turning the budget over to the budget conference committee. 
JUNE (Week of June 9th)
* Budget process then heads to full budget committees, and then to both the Senate and Assembly floors, where they will then refer the Governor's proposed budget  to what is called a budget "Conference Committee". 
* The Conference Committee is composed of 3 members from the Assembly (2 Democrats,and 1 Republican) and 3 members from the State Senate (2 Democrats and 1 Republican) who will hold public hearings to try to come to agreement on any budget issues where the Assembly and Senate took different (or no) actions.
* No public testimony is taken at any of the conference committee hearings - though the hearings are televised and open to the public. 
JUNE 15TH
* State constitutional deadline for the Legislature to pass a budget and send it to the Governor - a deadline that has almost never been kept.
JUNE (MID TO LATE JUNE)
* Conference Committee will likely refer its work for final action by both the Assembly and Senate. 
* Virtually no one believes that the Legislature and Governor will be able to come to agreement on a budget before the end of the 2007-2008 State Budget year or anytime soon after that.
JULY 1ST
* Beginning of the 2008-2009 State Budget year. 
* Within weeks - and by August, many community-based organizations will feel the impact if the budget delay continues through August.  For many organizations, the State will not be able to make payments of money owed.  
* Last year, with the budget stand-off lasting through August 21, many community-based organizations serving people with disabilities, children, seniors and others faced imminent closure - and in some cases, were forced to shut down.
 
BE SURE TO VOTE - NEXT WEEK! IMPORTANT JUNE 3rd PRIMARY
Two Important ballot propositions are on the ballot: one impacting housing and abolishment of all rent controls in California (Proposition 98).  Opponents of Proposition 98 are seeking voter approval of Proposition 99, that is also on the same ballot.  The deadline to register for the June primary has passed (May 19th). 
See CDCAN website for more information. 

JUNE 3, 2008 STATE PRIMARY ELECTION
* Voter registration must be postmarked no later than May 19, 2008
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL (PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION)
* Voter registration must be postmarked no later than October 20, 2008
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For additional assistance with voter registration, please contact your county registrar of voters or the California Secretary of State's office at the following toll-free numbers:
English:        1-800-345-VOTE
Chinese:       1-800-339-2857
Japanese:     1-800-339-2865
Korean:        1-866-575-1558
Spanish:       1-800-232-VOTA
Tagalog:       1-800-339-2957
Vietnamese:  1-800-339-8163

PROBLEMS OR BARRIERS IN VOTING?
HOTLINE ELECTION NUMBER:
* PAI’s hotline is equipped to receive voice and TDD calls.
* The toll-free number for voice calls is: 800-776-5746.
* The toll-free number for TDD calls is: 800-781-4546.
Individuals who speak languages other than English should state their language and an interpreter will be connected to the call. Callers who wish to use the California Relay Service, Speech to Speech Service or Video Relay can dial 711.
* With funding from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI) is sponsoring a toll-free hotline for voters with disabilities who have difficulty accessing polling places, casting ballots or have general questions about the voting process. This is the 4th year PAI has operated the hotline.
* The purpose of the hotline is to fix problems on Election Day that are causing persons with disabilities that causes loss of voting rights.
* Such problems and barriers include:
- limited access to registration materials
- wrong information from providers, conservators, relatives, and facility staff about the person's right to vote
- judges who take away a person's right to vote when they should not
-  transportation problems getting to and from the polls
- problems about access to polls or to election ballot for people living in nursing homes and other facilities
- problems about access barriers at polling places such as very limited or no accessible parking or curb ramps; doorways and aisles that are too narrow; voting equipment placed on inaccessible tables or stages; poor disability access trainings for poll workers; and, poll sites said to be "accessible" when they are not.
 
 
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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):

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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 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