CDCAN REPORT #038-2011: Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services also meeting on Thursday

• Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services To Meet Thursday Morning To Take Final Action on Several Budget Items – None Major or Controversial
• Long Term Care Ombudsman, 5 Regional Center Issues (But Not Overall $750 Million Reduction Amount) Among Items Assembly Subcommittee Will Take Final Action On Thursday – Meets Same Day and Nearly Same Time As Senate Budget Subcommittee Hearing on Regional Center Cuts

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 02/09/2011 – 04:53 PM  (Pacific Time)] –  The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles, 47th Assembly District) will meet February 10, Thursday morning upon adjournment of the Assembly floor session, at the State Capitol in Room 4202, with the intent of taking final action on about 12 budget issues -  including 5 dealing with regional centers and 2 dealing with the Long Term Care Ombudsman.  The 12 items listed “for vote only” (meaning no public testimony because the issues were previously heard and public testimony taken) are not considered major or controversial budget items.

It will also hear – and take public testimony – on 3 items, including two under the Department of Mental Health (one dealing with the Mental Health Services Act State Administration.)

The 22 page agenda – saved as a document pdf file (that persons who are blind or with sight impairments can read with a screen reading device) is attached to this CDCAN Report titled “2010-02-10 - Assembly Budget Sub 1 Hearing Agenda.pdf”

The Assembly floor session is scheduled to convene at 09:00 AM on Thursday morning, and will likely adjourn by 10 AM or so – which means the Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing could start around that time.

$750 Million Regional Center & Other Developmental Services Cut Not On Assembly Agenda – But IS on Senate Budget Subcommittee Agenda

• The major controversial issue of approving the amount of the Governor’s proposed $750 million reduction in State general funding for regional centers and other developmental services is not on the Assembly Budget Subcommittee agenda for final action today – though that issue was heard last week on February 3rd. 
• That issue however IS being heard (for the first time) before the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services hearing (also on February 10th).  Hundreds are expected to fill that hearing room and overflow rooms and the hallways and public testimony will be taken in the Senate hearing. 
• However 3 of the five issues “for vote only” that the Assembly Budget Subcommittee will take final action on Thursday deal with the overall $750 million cut indirectly. 
• Three of the regional center budget items – actually proposed budget trailer bill language – are part of the Governor’s overall proposed $750 million reduction in State general fund spending to regional centers and other developmental services. 
• The amount of reduction in State general funding resulting from the three trailer bills dealing with accountability and transparency that would be achieved out of the $750 million is not specified.
• [CDCAN Note: it is called trailer bills because those are bills that make necessary changes in State law to implement a reduction or other change in the main budget bill. The main budget bill is passed and signed into law first – followed or trailed by the budget trailer bills]

Senate Budget Subcommittee Also Meeting Feb 10th At 10 AM on Developmental Services Proposed Cuts

• At roughly the same day and time, the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services is also meeting, at 10:00 AM (or when the Senate floor session adjourns), at the State Capitol in Room, 4203 – right across the hall.  [note time change from 09:30 AM]
• The Senate hearing will focus on the Governor’s proposals calling for $750 million in State general fund reductions to regional centers and developmental services and other proposals dealing with developmental services – issues the Assembly budget subcommittee heard last week, taking public comment.
• See CDCAN Report #037-2011 for details on that hearing and for a copy of the Senate budget subcommittee hearing agenda.

ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE FEB 10TH HEARING AGENDA:

AGENDA

BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 1 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

ASSEMBLYMEMBER HOLLY MITCHELL, CHAIR

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

STATE CAPITOL, ROOM 4202

UPON ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION

VOTE ONLY [NO PUBLIC TESTMONY] 

1. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING (Budget Item 4170)

ISSUE #1 – BCP [Budget Change Proposal] #4 – Funding For the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Subcommittee Staff Comment:  Since the hearing of this issue, the [Brown] administration has responded to questions on the fund conditions involved in the proposal.  The Senate has taken action to approve this BCP [Budget Change Proposal]  as budgeted.  To avoid [Budget] Conference [Committee] on this issue, the Subcommittee may wish to conform to Senate action [take the same action Senate took]  at this time in the absence of additional concerns or questions. 

There is a conforming issue (a BCP request) in the Department of Public Health that would align with any action taken on this BCP in the Department of Aging. 

2. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (Budget Item 4265)

ISSUE #1 – BCP [Budget Change Proposal]  – Long-Term Care Ombudsman Financing

Subcommittee Staff Comment: This issue was heard by this Subcommittee on January 25, 2011 and no action was taken on it at that time.  No concerns or objections have been raised to this proposal.

ISSUE #2 – ADAP [AIDS Drug Assistance Program] Estimate

3. DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (Budget Item 4300)

ISSUE #1 – Fairview Developmental Center Fire Alarm System Upgrade

Subcommittee Staff Comment:  The Subcommittee heard this item on February 3, 2011.  This proposal is a re-appropriation authority to continue with the construction phase of this project.

ISSUE #2  – Prevention Program Budget Bill Language. 

Subcommittee Staff Comment: The Budget Bill Language (BBL) would allocate $16.3 million out of the $36.3 million allocated to the Prevention Program for Purchase of Services for Early Start consumers.  This will not appropriate additional Regional Center Operation funding for Early Start.  This leaves the Prevention program with a budget of $20 million to serve a projected population of 10,860 unduplicated children in 2011-12.

ISSUE #3 – TBL [Trailer Bill Language] – Regional Center Conflict of Interest [CDCAN Note: This is part of the overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor – the agenda lists the reduction as $533 million because it is not including the new federal funds and funds being shifted that will replace existing State general funds. If added together it would equal $750 million reduction in State general funding]

Subcommittee Staff Comment: The Subcommittee heard this item on February 3, 2011 with extensive public comment.  This piece of language is consistent with the intent to hold regional centers accountable and increase transparency.           

ISSUE #4 – TBL [Trailer Bill Language] – Regional Center Third Party Liability

[CDCAN Note: This is part of the overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor]

Subcommittee Staff Comment: The Subcommittee heard this item on February 3, 2011 with extensive public comment.  The intent of the language is to establish the authority of the Department of Developmental Services to effectively be the payer of last resort when 3rd parties are liable.

ISSUE #5 – TBL [Trailer Bill Language] – Regional Center Audits  

[CDCAN Note: This is part of the overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor]

Subcommittee Staff Comments: The Subcommittee heard this item on February 3, 2011.  The intent of the language is to improve audit integrity.  The intent is to address regional center accountability and transparency.

4. DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION (Budget Item 5160)

ISSUE #1 – BCP [Budget Change Proposal] #2 – DOR [Department of Rehabilitation]/Department of Mental Health Partnership

Subcommittee Staff Comments: Since the hearing of this issue, questions have been raised regarding the level at which MHSA [Mental Health Services Act] dollars are used for administration purposes.  This BCP involves a portion of funds contributed toward that purpose.  Due to the additional time needed to review this issue and judge the BCP, the Senate has taken action to deny this BCP without prejudice [without judging the proposal]. 

To avoid [Budget] Conference [Committee] on this issue, this Subcommittee may also with to deny without prejudice, which would include an action to rescind the prior vote taken at the January 25, 2011 hearing.

5.  DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Budget item 5180)

ISSUE #1 – Trailer Bill Proposal on Temporary Assistance Program

Subcommittee Staff Comments:  The Senate took action on February 8, 2011 to approve an additional one-year delay in the implementation of TAP[Temporary Assistance Program].  This Subcommittee could take congruent [corresponding or same]  action, avoiding [Budget] Conference [Committee] on this issue.

6.  OFFICE OF SYSTEMS INTEGRATION (HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY)  AND DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES  (Budget Items 0530 and 5180)

ISSUE #1 – Child Welfare Services/WEB Project

Subcommittee Staff Comments:  Due to the additional time needed to review this issue and judge the SPI and BCP [Budget Change Proposal]  proposals on CWS [Child Welfare Services]  Web, the Senate has taken action to deny this BCP without prejudice [without judging the issue itself].

To avoid Conference on this issue, this Subcommittee may also with to deny without prejudice [with judging the issue itself].

DISCUSSION ITEMS (PUBLIC COMMENTS CAN BE TAKEN IF CHAIR ALLOWS FOR THESE ITEMS)

1. DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (Budget Item 4440)

Issue 1 – Sex Offender Commitment Program Adjustment

Issue 2 – Mental Health Services Act State Administration

2. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (Budget Item 5180)

Issue 1 – Proposal to Continue Suspension of A Confidential Intermediary Program for Sibling Contact (AB 2488)

Full Budget Committees In Both Houses To Meet Next Week

• As previously reported in an earlier CDCAN Report today, in a sign that both houses are moving forward toward taking final action on the Governor’s proposals, both the Assembly and Senate full budget committees have scheduled hearings next week,.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, chaired by Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco) is scheduled to meet February 17, Thursday at the State Capitol in Room 4203, and the Assembly Budget Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys) is set to meeting February 18th, Friday at the State Capitol in Room 4202. 
• While no agenda is available yet for either hearing, both committees will likely review any subcommittee actions taken – or take final action itself – on the Governor’s proposals.  See separate CDCAN for details.

ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITEE #1 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEMBERS

Chair: Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles)
Democratic Members (3):  Wes Chesbro, Holly Mitchell (chair), and Bill Monning  Democratic alternate: Bob Blumenfield
Republican Members (2): Kevin Jefferies, and Allan Mansoor.  Republican alternate:  Jim Nielsen
CDCAN COMMENT:  Mitchell, a former advocate for people with disabilities, seniors and low income families, who also headed a childcare provider agency in Los Angeles, was elected last November and replaces Assemblymember Dave Jones (Democrat – Sacramento) who was termed out (and subsequently elected in November as Insurance Commissioner).

NEXT STEPS

• NO MAJOR ACTION YET FROM EITHER HOUSE: As of February 9th, both the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees have heard nearly all of the Governor’s proposed reductions in hearings that began the week of January 24th and taking in public comment.  All of the Governor’s major proposals have been kept “open” for later action.
• FINAL SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS LIKELY THIS WEEK - These hearings – including the February 10th Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services focusing on proposed reductions to regional centers and other developmental services – are likely to be the final public hearings taking in public comment on the Governor’s proposals.
• WHEN WILL LEGISLATURE TAKE FINAL ACTION: It is not clear yet when or how the Legislature will take final action on the Governor’s budget proposals, though final action sometime later this month is likely.  The full budget committees in both houses have scheduled hearings next week. The proposals could then go to a budget conference committee (which would be chaired by Assemblymember Blumenfield this year) before final votes are taken in the Assembly and State Senate.  Beyond that, the process and timing is not certain at this point.
• BUDGET PROCESS ON FAST TRACK - The Governor and Legislature – at the Governor’s urging – have put his proposed 2011-2012 State Budget spending plan on a fast track, to take action on his major proposals before March 1st.  The normal State budget process takes months – with subcommittee hearings normally spread out from February to May.  Governor has urged the Legislature to move quickly because a key part of his plan is to place on a special election ballot in June for voter approval his proposal to extend for five years temporary tax increases that are scheduled to expire this year.  The Governor also wants quick action on his spending reduction proposals in order for the State to be able to move to implement them by July 1st – and in some cases, within a few months – in order to achieve the greatest savings in State general funding from the cuts.
• MORE BUDGET HEARINGS LIKELY IN MAY OR JUNE – While this week is likely the final time for public comment at a budget subcommittee hearing (people can still contact their own legislators or write letters to members) before the Legislature takes final action on the Governor’s proposals , there will likely be additional budget hearings in May or early June.  Those hearings – which will likely take public comment – will likely hear  whatever details the Brown Administration submits to the Legislature on how it plans to achieve whatever reduction amount is targeted for regional centers and other developmental services.  Other issues – possibly In-Home Supportive Services – might come up for hearing at that time as further details on various proposals become available.

File Attachments: 

2011-02-10 - Assembly Budget Sub 1 Hearing Agenda.pdf