CDCAN REPORT #039-2011: Thousands turn out for Senate Budget hearing at State Capitol and Van Nuys

• THOUSANDS AT STATE CAPITOL HEARING AND LA RALLY PROTEST GOVERNOR’S BUDGET CUTS TO REGIONAL CENTERS & OTHER HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AS LEGISLATURE MOVES CLOSER TO TAKING FINAL ACTION SOON
• Over 1,000 Pack Hearing Rooms, Overflow Rooms and Hallways At State Capitol for Senate Budget Subcommittee 6 Hour Hearing on Governor’s Proposed $750 Million Reduction in General Fund Spending for Regional Centers & Other Developmental Services – Over 1,000 Show Up At Los Angeles Rally At State Building To Protest Cuts

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 02/11/2011 – 09:00 AM  (Pacific Time)] –  Thousands of people with developmental disabilities, families, advocates, community-based providers, workers, regional centers and others filled to capacity the hearing room, overflow rooms, and hallways at the State Capitol for a 6 hour Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing and at a protest rally in Los Angeles – both held at the same time yesterday – in opposition to Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $750 million reduction in State general fund spending for regional center and other developmental services.

Well over 1,000 people filled to capacity the main hearing room, balcony, overflow rooms, hallways at the State Capitol were even larger than the enormous crowds that packed a similar Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing on February 3^rd, covering the same budget issues.  Many were protesting outside the State Capitol.

The lines of people wanting to testify filled both sides of the main hearing room, and then continued outside the room down the entire length of the hallway to the other end of the building (see photo above).  Well over 150 people –including from people from an impromptu meeting immediate after the end of the hearing by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, subcommittee chair, with nearly 200 advocates who were among the many who could not get into the main hearing room.  The gave the senator a standing ovation when he entered the room for his willingness to meet and hear additional public comments.

The turn-out for the February 3^rd and 10^th budget subcommittee hearings were the largest  in several years, according to State Capitol police and other security.

Hundreds protest Governor Brown's proposed budget cuts outside state building in Van Nuys, California. Photo by Aaron Kitzman.

At a protest rally held to coincide with the budget hearing, drew well over 1,000 people, at the State office building in Van Nuys (Los Angeles). That office building houses several state offices, including the district office of Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys), who is also the chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

CDCAN will issue later today a full report on what happened at the Senate Budget Subcommittee and other budget subcommittee heaings later today – and also more details of the Los Angeles rallies and upcoming events. 

Persons having additional photos or videos, please sent to Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com

What Action the Senate Budget Subcommittee Took:

• The Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services heard several budget items, including the Governor’s proposed $750 million reduction in State general fund spending to regional centers and other developmental services but kept all items “open” for later final action likely next week.

What Action the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Took

• The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles, 47^th Assembly District)  also met on the same day and time, and took 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) were not considered major or controversial budget items. 
• Those items  approved by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee did not include the proposed budget related language dealing with statewide purchase of services standards or the actual overall reduction amount that Governor Brown is proposing. 
• Three of the five developmental services related budget issues “for vote only” that the Assembly Budget Subcommittee did take final action on Thursday deal with the overall $750 million cut indirectly.  Those 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]

The specific developmental services budget  issues approved by the Assembly Budget Subcommittee were:

• FairviewDevelopmental Center Fire Alarm System Upgrade
• Prevention Program Budget Bill Language (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 does 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.)
• Regional Center Conflict of Interest Budget Trailer Bill Language [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]
• RegionalCenterThird Party Liability Budget Trailer Bill Language [CDCAN Note: This is part of the overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor]
• RegionalCenterAudits  Budget Trailer Bill Language [CDCAN Note: This is part of the overall $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor]

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 to take final action on many of the Governor’s proposals. 
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, chaired by Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco) is scheduled to meet February 16^th and 17th, at the State Capitol in Room 4203, including those impacting health and human services (including regional centers and other developmental services, Medi-Cal). Hearing dates can change, 
• Assembly Budget Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys) is set to meeting February 18^th, Friday at the State Capitol in Room 4202 to close out or take final action on a number of the Governor’s proposals including health and human services.

NEXT STEPS

• NO MAJOR ACTION YET FROM EITHER HOUSE: As of February 11^th, 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 24^th and taking in public comment.  Nearly all of the Governor’s major proposals have been kept “open” for later action. 
• WHEN WILL LEGISLATURE TAKE FINAL ACTION: The full budget committees in both houses have scheduled hearings next week (see above for details) to close many “open” budget items.  Beyond that, the process and timing is not certain at this point. Those items not closed (final action taken) or those items where the Senate and Assembly took different action will likely then go to a budget conference committee (which would be chaired by Assemblymember Blumenfield this year) – and then for a final vote by the entire Assembly and Senate.      
• 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 1^st.  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 1^st – 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.