The Brown Administration released, for public comment, a draft version of California's annual application to the federal government for federal early intervention funding that funds the State's “Early Start” program that serves thousands of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families with a coordinated, family-centered system of services statewide.
Long time disability advocate Randy Horton of Los Angeles County, passed away February 9th, it was announced yesterday by his mother. No details on the cause of his death or of any pending memorial services. Also included is the latest update on scheduled public legislative hearings and meetings by various state agencies that have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors or low income families.
The following is the latest update on scheduled public legislative hearings and meetings by various state agencies that have some impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors or low income families. CDCAN will issue an updated schedule every Monday on these statewide meetings.
Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed 2012-2013 State Budget plan which calls for a staggering $4 billion in additional spending cuts and nearly $7 billion in new revenues from temporary tax increases on the state's wealthiest taxpayers and a one-half percent increase in the state's sales tax. The revenues would help close what the Governor said is a projected $9.2 billion budget deficit.
The decision on whether to pull one or both of the State Budget "trigger cuts" will be announced Tuesday, December 13th at 12 noon at the State Capitol by the Governor's Department of Finance Director Ana Matosantos according to Kevin Yamamura of the Sacramento Bee. The press briefing will likely be televised and webcast live via CalChannel.
The late Ed Roberts, revered by people with disabilities and seniors across the nation for his trail blazing work as a disability and civil rights leader, will be one of 10 Californians to be inducted in the California Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be hosted by Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Brown on December 8th, 7:00 PM at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, a few blocks from the State Capitol. Ed Roberts mother, Zona, is scheduled to be at the ceremony to accept the "Spirit of California" medal that all inductees receive, on behalf of her son.
Governor Brown will seek to place, on the November 2012 general election ballot, an initiative that proposes to raise $7 billion through a combination of temporary tax increases on the wealthy and a temporary increase of the state sales tax. The increased revenues would target education and public safety and "not to other programs we cannot afford."
The non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office, reported the State's budget deficit will likely swell to nearly $13 billion beginning July 1, 2012, unless action is taken by the Legislature and Governor. The grim news almost makes certain that Governor Brown's budget for 2012-2013 will contain more spending cuts when he releases it on January 10th next year - and increases the possibility that the massive state budget "trigger cuts" will be pulled.
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will hold a oversight informational hearing on the CalWORKS program - the State's "welfare to work" program that includes thousands of children and adults with special needs, disabilities and mental health needs. The hearing will be televised and streamed live on Cal Channel at www.calchannel.com
The Department of Social Services released draft copies of notices to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients and instructions to the counties regarding implementation of a 20% across the board reduction in service hours to all persons receiving In-Home Supportive Services, effective January 2012 - if a certain amount of state budget revenues will not come in as hoped for, triggering one or both of the state budget "trigger cuts" (the state budget "trigger cuts" are different from the federal budget "trigger cuts").
State Controller John Chiang released his monthly analysis on the State's finances, reporting California's revenues for the month of September fell $301.6 million below what was projected in the 2011-2012 State Budget, making more likely the prospect that State budget "trigger cuts" will be pulled in December. If the trigger cuts are pulled, the result will be automatic spending cuts impacting a wide range of programs including developmental services, education and In-Home Supportive Services. With economic troubles growing across the nation and around the world, the grim news by the State Controller was not unexpected.
Governor Jerry Brown completed taking action on the remaining bills on his desk Sunday evening, signing a total of 108 bills and vetoing 27 (for a total of 135 bills) by the 11:59 PM State Constitutional deadline. While most of the actions by the Governor on those 135 bills were released Sunday afternoon or early Sunday evening - the final actions on 33 bills weren't released by his office until just after 1:00 AM.
Governor Jerry Brown released a signing message following his approval of SB 946, the autism health insurance mandate reform bill that clearly showed concerns and even some reluctance in the legislation he approved saying "there is still much work to be done" including resolving questions regarding effectiveness, duration and the cost of covered treatments under the bill. The legislation will require private health insurers and health plans to provide as a covered benefit, beginning July 1, 2012, behavioral health treatments for persons with autism spectrum and related disorders - though the bill's provisions will sunset (end) July 1, 2014.
Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 946, known as the Autism Private Health Insurance Mandate Reform bill that would HAVE required private health care service plans and health insurers to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for persons with autism spectrum and certain other related pervasive developmental disorders from July 1, 2012 through July 1, 2014. Supporters said that the approval of the bill by the Governor meant a major landmark step and victory in disability rights for tens of thousands of children with autism spectrum and other disorders and their families across the State.
With the State Constitutional deadline fast approaching, Governor Jerry Brown today signed 57 bills, including several bills that will have impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and their families, including education, housing,
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will hold an informational hearing that will focus on the impact of potential sweeping cuts of at least $1.2 trillion in federal funding nationwide that could happen depending on what Congress and President Obama end up agreeing on - or not agreeing on - in the coming months. The hearing, which will include time for brief public comment, can be viewed on CalChannel (check your local cable listings) or via live video stream on the CalChannel website at www.calchannel.com/channel/live.
Potential sweeping landmark health care insurance reform legislation was introduced Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg which would require health managed care plans and health insurance plans to provide behavioral health treatment for persons with autism spectrum disorders.
State Controller John Chiang released his monthly report covering California's cash balance, receipts and disbursements in July, showing State revenues were down $538.8 million (-10.3%) below projections from the 2011-2012 State Budget that was signed into law by Governor Brown June 30th - a trend, if it continues - that could trigger additional sweeping State budget reductions impacting hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and others across California.
The Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders will hold an informational hearing Wednesday morning, July 13th from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, at the State Capitol in Room 3191. The focus is on what advocates and many policymakers say are critical inconsistencies in health insurance coverage of behavioral intervention therapies (BIT) for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) that also has major impact on the State's budget, depending on how it is resolved. The committee will hear from medical professionals, state officials, other experts and from families impacted.
In addition to signing early this afternoon SB 87, the main State budget bill for 2011-2012 passed by legislative Democrats on a strict party-line majority vote, Governor Brown also signed into law 10 budget "trailer" bills, including three dealing with the so-called "trigger cuts" that are linked to about $2.5 billion in additional spending cuts to go into effect sometime after January 2012 if a certain level of revenues do not come into the State treasury as hoped for in the budget.
Governor Jerry Brown, as reported earlier, signed SB 87, the main budget for the State's 2011-2012 budget year that begins on Friday, July 1 making only $23.8 million in line item vetoes in the bill.
Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 87, the main budget for the State's 2011-2012 budget year that begins on Friday, July 1. The Governor kept in the budget the funding restored by the Legislature for Adult Day Health Care but deleted a provision in the budget that requires a specified spending level for the program during the 2011-2012 State Budget year because "it does not consider other services available to these individuals [using Adult Day Health Care] that preserve their ability to remain in the community."
Governor Jerry Brown will sign the main budget bill, SB 87, at the State Capitol this afternoon between 1:15 and 1:35 PM. The event will be closed to the public and general media, but covered by "pooled" media representatives, who, after the signing, will share the information with other media.
Governor Jerry Brown signed 8 budget trailer bills the Legislature passed by a majority vote on June 15th including controversial measures that calls for the elimination of redevelopment agencies, creation or enforcement of what is referred to as the "Amazon.com" use tax. He also signed budget trailer bills from June 15th covering human services including In-Home Supportive Services and CalWORKS budget reductions and changes, and legislation to renew the nursing facility "AB 1629 Quality Assurance Fee" program.
The main budget bill and budget trailer bills passed by the Legislature last night were sent to Governor Brown for his signature. The Governor, who is all but certain to sign the main budget bill and the budget trailer bills passed last night, has not yet taken action on those bills.
Governor Brown will release his proposed 2012-2013 State Budget plan today at 2:30 PM in a news conference at the State Capitol. The press conference will be televised by CalChannel (check local cable listings) and webstreamed live via the CalChannel website at www.calchannel.com
US District Court Judge Christina Snyder issued an order blocking any implementation of the 10% rate reduction to Medi-Cal pharmacies in a case brought by the Medicaid Defense Fund on behalf of Medi-Cal recipients, Medi-Cal pharmacy providers and advocacy organizations. The 10% Medi-Cal rate reduction to most "fee for service" providers was proposed last January by the Brown Administration and passed by the Legislature on March 16th and signed into law on March 24th by the Governor as one of the early pieces of the 2011-2012 State Budget.
Governor Jerry Brown announced the state budget "trigger cuts" authorizing $1 billion in automatic spending reductions, including $100 million in cuts to In-Home Supportive Services and $100 million in cuts in spending to the overall developmental services budget which funds certain services for eligible children and adults with developmental disabilities. Those cuts take effect on or sometime after January 1, 2012; effective dates vary depending on the reduction.
Governor Brown will seek to place, on the November 2012 general election ballot, an initiative that proposes to raise $7 billion through a combination of temporary tax increases on the wealthy and a temporary increase of the state sales tax. The increased revenues would target education and public safety and "not to other programs we cannot afford."
US District Court Judge Claudia Wilken issued a temporary restraining order that requires the Brown Administration to halt all actions to implement the 20% across-the-board cut in service hours for hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, mental health needs, and seniors in the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. The judge's order also requires the State to rescind any information, instructions and notices of action to the counties and any IHSS recipients that it has sent out. [Note: A copy of the order is attached to this report.]
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