CDCAN REPORT #166-2011: California Legislature adjourns 2011 legislative session after marathon floor session

ASSEMBLY & SENATE ADJOURN 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AFTER MARATHON FLOOR SESSIONS - WILL RECONVENE 2012 REGULAR SESSION JANUARY 4, 2012

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN)  [Last updated 09/10/2011 01:24 AM] - Both houses of the Legislature adjourned  the 2011 Legislative session after marathon floor sessions that began Friday morning and ended early Saturday morning just after 1:00 AM..  Barring a special session called by Governor Brown or by legislative leaders, the Assembly and State Senate are not scheduled to return to the State Capitol until January 4, 2012.

The State Senate adjourned at 1:20 AM and the Assembly closely followed, adjurning at 1:23 AM.

"We have ended the year on a very positive note," said Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat - Sacramento) at the end of the Senate floor session, noting passage of regulatory reforms, and measures to improve the economy and jobs in the State. He noted that a Legislative task force and stakeholder gorups will continue work during the fall on pension reforms. Steinberg made a special point of paying tribute to the work and leadership of Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton, despite their major differences on resolving the State's still unresolved budget crisis.

Making brief remarks at the end of the Assembly session, Assembly Speaker John Perez (Democrat - Los Angeles) said "we had a productive year" and that we have "important work facing us" and expressed hope that Assemblymembers from both parties will return in January to make the State better for the people of California.

Both Democratic leaders thanked legislative staff, and their Republican counterparts.

CDCAN will issue a full report on actions taken by the Legislature impacting people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, low -income families and workers.

State Faces Major Issues Impacting Unresolved Budget Crisis

• The Legislature passed several budget related measures on Thursday and Friday - most of which would make technical changes to budget related bills that were passed last Juine as part of the 2011-2012 State Budget.
• The State still faces on-going enormous budget deficits that remain unresolved - and the prospect of imposing sweeping State budget "trigger cuts" if state revenues continue to fall below bduget projections.
• Those State budget "trigger cuts" could impact, among a wide range of critical programs including education, if pulled, hundreds of thousands of people with developmental and other disabilities under the developmental services budget that funds the 21 non-profit regional centers, and persons with developmental and other disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and seniors who receive In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).
• The state budget "trigger cuts" are in additional to federal "trigger cuts" that could be pulled if over $1 trillion in new spending cuts cannot be identified by a special congressional commission or if Congress fails to approve those cuts. Among programs that could face sweepingn cuts include the federal Medicaid program.

Steinberg Issues Statement Following Passage of SB 946 - Autism Health Insurance Mandate Bill

• As prevously reported, the Legislature approved SB 946 known as the autism health insurance mandate bill, that will require, effective July 1, 2012, private health insurance plans to provide behavioral therapies for persons with autism spectrum and related disorders, as a covered benefit.   The bill heads to Governor Brown for his signature (or veto).
• SB 946 would require, effective July 1, 2012,  health insurance coverage of behavioral health treatment, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and other prescribed intensive early intervention therapy, for those with autism.
• The bill also defines the scope of these treatments and eliminates what Steinberg said was "unwarranted restrictions" on those who are qualified to provide the treatment.
• Steinberg said SB 946 was needed because "Despite promises from health care plans, coverage of ABA [Applied Behavioral Analysis] services is still being denied. While there are many challenges that still need to be overcome, this bill is a huge step in the right direction in giving families a ray of hope that brings light at the end of the tunnel.”
• Steinberg noted that “Many other states have passed varying autism mandates but this bill is unique because there are no caps or limits on the age of recipients or the types of services that will be mandated."
• Steinberg serves as chair of the Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders and served as chair of the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism where he and other legislators heard compelling stories from families and advocates about their plight and the devastating impact fighting with health plans and insurance companies for what they insist are medically necessary treatment.