CDCAN REPORT #060-2011: Budget Conference Committee meets AFTER 2PM State Senate floor session today

• BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETS TODAY AFTER SENATE FLOOR SESSION – PROBABLY AFTER 2:30 PM
• Critical Issues Remain for 10 Member Conference Committee To Resolve Including Governor’s Proposal to Eliminate Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), Realignment of Several State Programs to the Counties – No Developmental Service Budget Items Left on Conference Agenda

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 02/28/2011 – 09:14 AM  (Pacific Time)] –  The Budget Conference Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys, 40th Assembly District) is scheduled to meet today (Monday, February 28th), after the end of today’s Senate floor session, probably sometime between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM, at the State Capitol, in Room 4203.   The hearing (no public testimony will be taken since all budget items were previously heard where comments were taken), will be televised live and webcasted live on CalChannel (see www.calchannel.com)

The State Senate is scheduled to convene its floor session today at 2:00 PM, and usually this time of year floor sessions last under 1 hour or less.  The Assembly floor session begins at 12 noon.

The Budget Conference  Committee began meeting last week on Wednesday (February 23) and again on February 24th (Thursday).  It last met on Friday, February 25th.

Major Issues of Adult Day Health, MSSP and IHSS Remain

• The Budget Conference Committee could take up today critical budget issues on its agenda dealing with In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) and realignment of several State programs and funding to counties.  The committee heard those items on Thursday, but after discussion, kept those items “open” for later action – possibly for today. 
• The committee also heard on Friday (February 25) but kept “open” for later action likely on Monday, budget items dealing with foster youth Transitional Housing Program Plus reductions, proposal to eliminate the mandates under the State’s open meeting law (called the “Brown Act”) impacting local government. 
• The Budget Conference Commmittee took final action also on Friday (February 25th)  on the issue of budget legislative language (called budget trailer bill language) dealing with directing the Department of Developmental Services to develop and submit to the Legislature for review and possible approval (in June) a proposal for statewide standards to place controls on regional center community-based services and spending.  That proposal was made by Governor Brown in January, and similar proposals were made by Governors Davis in 2002 and 2003 and Schwarzenegger in 2003 and 2004 – all rejected by the Legislature.  No other issues dealing specifically with the developmental services budget remain on the Budget Conference Committee Agenda.

Budget Conference Committee Membership

• The Budget Conference Committee, a special 10 member committee composed of 5 state senators and 5 assemblymembers to resolve budget issues where both houses took different actions, is looking to finish its work probably by tomorrow (Tuesday, March 1). 
• From there, the budget package will head to both the Assembly and State Senate floors for final votes, which could happen as early as late this week.
• Chaired by Assemblymember Blumenfield this year, with Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 3rd State Senate District), serving as committee vice chair.  As previously reported, the chair of the Budget Conference Committee rotates each year between the Assembly and State Senate.

Senate Members  - Total 5 members
(Democrats – 3 Members):

• Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 3rd State Senate District)
• Alan Lowenthal (Democrat – Long Beach, 27th State Senate District)
• Gloria Negrete McLeod (Democrat – Chino, 32nd State Senate District)

(Republicans – 2 Members):

• Bill Emmerson (Republican – Riverside, 37th State Senate District)
• Bob Huff (Republican – Diamond Bar, 29th State Senate District)

Assembly Members – Total 5 Members
(Democrats – 3 Members):

• Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys, 40th Assembly District)
• Felipe Fuentes (Democrat – Slymar, 39th Assembly District)
• Nancy Skinner (Democrat – Berkeley, 14th Assembly District)

(Republicans – 2 Members):

• Diane Harkey (Republican – Dana Point, 73rd Assembly District)
• Jim Nielsen (Republican – Gerber, 2nd Assembly District)

Next Steps on Budget for Legislature

• Budget Conference Committee meets again on today to continue and possibly finish its work  by Tuesday (March 1)
• Final vote on entire budget package could happen as early as late this week
• Governor Brown wants the Legislature to send him the budget package no later than March 10th, in order to meet certain local and state deadlines for a special election in June that he wants to call for voters to consider approving.  Two of those measures he wants the Legislature to place on the ballot that would extend for five years temporary tax increases that are scheduled to end this year. 
• In addition a 3rd ballot measure – placed there by petition separate from Governor Brown’s proposals – calls for increase in the tobacco tax for cancer programs – will also be on a June special election ballot if one is called.  Tobacco companies have vowed to fight that initiative – and complicates the chances of passage of the proposals by Governor Brown to extend the temporary taxes.