CDCAN ACTION ALERT #001-2011: Critical budget subcommittee hearings

WHEN:  Beginning January 26th through second week of February (and possibly beyond that) – see schedule below

WHAT BUDGET ISSUES WILL BE HEARD:

• On different hearing days at the State Capitol (see below for schedule) the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Health and Human Services will hear from the Brown Administration about the Governor’s proposed major and permanent spending cuts including Medi-Cal, developmental services (regional centers), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), SSI/SSP, Healthy Families, CalWORKS, Mental Health and more.  
• These are cuts – if enacted – that will impact directly millions of Californians including hundreds of thousands of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, and community organizations, facilities and workers. These cuts are being proposed by the Governor to help close a over $25 billion budget deficit – and ongoing shortfalls of over $20 billion projected each year through at least 2016 unless some type of permanent actions are taken regarding revenues and spending. 
• The Governor is also proposing a 5 year extension of existing temporary tax increases originally enacted in February 2009 and set to expire this year, to be placed on a special election ballot in June.  If approved by voters it would avoid deep cuts to K-12 education and local government – but also assumes that cuts to health and human services (and to higher education) as proposed by the Governor would have been approved by the Legislature and enacted. That means the passage of the proposed extension of temporary tax increases would NOT off-set any of the health and human services (and higher education) cuts being proposed by the Governor.  However defeat of a tax increase extension would mean deep cuts to K-12 education and possibly even deeper cuts to health and human services.
   

WILL PUBLIC TESTIMONY BE TAKEN?:  Yes – very, very, very brief public comments (people who testify can also submit additional longer written comments -  and people who can’t attend can  send in their comments to the subcommittees – see address below)  Please remember to be BRIEF – talking longer doesn’t mean people listen more – and more importantly talking longer means taking time away from someone else in line waiting to speak.  A lot can be said in 30 to 45 seconds (think of commercials on radio and TV)

WHERE HEARINGS BE TELEVISED?  Yes – on CalChannel and also webcasted live on their website at www.calchannel.com

WHO SHOULD GO: Anyone who can – these hearings will be likely the only time people can give public testimony before the Legislature takes final action on the Governor’s proposals – probably sometime in mid to late February.  To make a real and lasting difference, people can and need to actively engage in advocacy and accountability with their own legislators who represent them throughout this process and beyond (see separate CDCAN Action Alert including some suggestions on how to frame issues.

WHY SHOULD YOU GO:  Decisions are made by those who show up – and are made especially by others when people don’t.  The Governor proposed on January 10th major permanent spending cuts and fund shifting of over $12.5 billion – the bulk actual spending reductions to programs critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, and others; community organizations, facilities and workers who provide supports and services across the State.

However you should ALSO contact and engage on an on-going basis your own legislators who are elected to represent and help you as a constituent. CDCAN can help provide training tips based on CDCAN’s “Accountability With Action”.  To find out more about this contact Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com

DO PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE SHOWING UP AT HEARINGS?  Aempty hearing room when important issues are being heard makes a tremendous difference.  The presence of people impacted by proposed cuts helps to avoid that. An empty hearing room sends a very bad message.  Beyond that, to be honest, people’s presence and testimony make only a small difference. But it can be an important one – just as an empty room sends an important message. In addition to that – it is a person’s  continued advocacy in their own communities in their legislator’s district offices that ultimately will make the greatest difference. We must first act differently in our advocacy to make a difference now and in the future.

WHAT OTHER EVENTS ARE PLANNED?CDCAN is looking are working with others to plan – when it makes strategic sense as a tactic to do so – rallies and other protests.  Also being planned are a series of on-going CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, and local physical townhalls that CDCAN will organize with help from local agencies and other advocacy groups to connect people and communities together to fight proposals that are wrong and harm the rights of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the deaf, blind, seniors, their families, community organizations, facilities, workers who provide supports, services and advocacy.  We are one community threatened with multiple challenges that we must respond now to – and beyond this budget year.

LOGISTICS AT THE HEARINGS: 

• There is a 24 hour public parking garage directly across from the State Capitol (10th and L Streets – enter on 10th Street).
• Accessible entrances into the State Capitol are from the North (facing L Street) and South (facing N Street) sides – and all entrances require everyone to go through a screening process similar to other public buildings – though not as difficult as airports.
• Public cafeterias on the 6th floor of the newer section of the State Capitol and the basement of the older section.  ATM machines and public telephones also available in the basement of the older section
• Restrooms available on all floors of the State Capitol. Not all of the restrooms on every floor however are accessible.  Restrooms on the first floor in the newer section of the Capitol are generally accessible. 
• No protest signs are allowed into the building. 
• Cameras and video cameras are allowed into the building – but no video taping or picture taking in the hearing room unless specifically authorized by the chair of the subcommittee or committee. Ask the security person in the room (called “sergeants”) how you can get permission.  You can also write to the subcommittee or committee office for person before the hearing (which is the best way)
• To testify, (be very very very very brief) listen to the chair’s instructions. Normally people line up to speak.  Sometimes the security (sergeants) or committee staff will have wireless microphones for people in the audience, including some in wheelchairs, to help speed up the process and allow more people time to speak. 
• Always check with the subcommittee or committee office the day of the hearing before leaving your home to make SURE that the hearing is still on as scheduled.  Last minute changes in dates, times and locations are common.  CDCAN will issue reports when changes are announced – but it is still good to check with the committee office, especially if coming from a long distance.

CRITICAL HEARING DATES:

(see CDCAN Reports for more details on these and other hearings.  To subscribe to these free reports, go to www.cdcan.us or send email to Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com )

AGING  (Department of Aging programs)

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING:  Governor is proposing the elimination of the entire MSSP (Multipurpose Senior Services Program) that has 41 sites serving over 11,000 Medi-Cal eligible seniors over the age of 65 who want to remain in their own homes but who would otherwise be placed in a institutional setting.

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 25 – TUESDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services
• FEB 03 – THURSDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH

CalWORKS

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING:  Governor is proposing over $1.5 billion in State general fund cuts to CalWORKS – the State’s “welfare to work” program serving over 500,000 families including thousands of children and parents who have special needs, disabilities.  Reductions proposed include 13% cut in maximum monthly grants; narrowing of eligibility.

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 27 – THURSDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services
• FEB 02 – WEDNESDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (Regional Centers and Developmental Centers)

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING:  Governor is proposing $750 million in reductions in State general funding for developmental services for over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Some of that amount – about $200 million is due to more federal money and fund shifts (both replacing the need for State general fund money).  The remaining amount – over $530 million in State general funds or more would be achieved through reductions, including continuation of the existing 4.25% cut in payments to most regional center providers and regional center operations at least through June 30, 2012.  How the other cuts would be achieved are not yet specified by the Governor, but could come from imposing accountability, transparency measures, and a statewide purchase of services standards, to be developed for Legislature approval in the coming months (the Legislature is likely to approve the proposed reduction amount with details to be presented to the Legislature in May or June for approval)

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• FEB 03 – THURSDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services, 1:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 4202
• FEB 10 – THURSDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services, Upon Adjournment of Senate Floor Session (about 10 AM or after), State Capitol, Room 4203

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH

HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING: Governor is proposing over $1.5 billion reductions in State general fund spending to the CalWORKS program – the State’s “welfare to work” program, including a narrowing of eligibility 13% reduction in the maximum grants.

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 26 – WEDNESDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services
• FEB 01 – TUESDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services

IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS)

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING: Governor is proposing over $500 million in permanent cuts in State general fund spending to IHSS to take effect July 1, 2011 (or sometime after that) including additional 8.4% across the board cut in authorized hours for all IHSS recipients (on top of the existing 3.6% cut that goes into effect 2/1); required certification from a doctor that a person applying for or currently receiving IHSS is “at risk” of institulization in order to be eligible for IHSS (State says about 43,000 people will lose eligibility due to this requirement); elimination of domestic and related services for children under age of 18 living at home; elimination of domestic and related services for adults living with another person (a waive or exemption is proposed for this); elimination of all state funding for IHSS Advisory Committees

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 27 – THURSDAY  – Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services, 1:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 4202 (SSI/SSP proposed cut is also on agenda)
• FEB 03 – THURSDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services, upon adjournment of Senate floor session – likely sometime after 10 AM, State Capitol, Room 4203.  SSI/SSP proposed cut is also on agenda, along with Department of Aging (including proposed elimination of the Multipurpose Senior Services Program)

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH

MEDI-CAL

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING: Governor is proposing over $1.7 billion cuts to the Medi-Cal program that serves 7.7 million Californians – about 1.7 million children and adults with disabilities, the blind and seniors.  Cuts proposed include elimination of Adult Day Health Care services that serves over 27,000 adults with disabilities and seniors by over 300 providers across the State; yearly caps or limits on certain services including durable medical equipment, hearing aids, wound care supplies, incontinence supplies, doctor visits; co-payments for emergency room visits and hospital stay ($200 maximum).

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 26 – WEDNESDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services
• FEB 01 – TUESDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH

MENTAL HEALTH

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING: Governor is proposing shifting for one year about $900 million from the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) in the 2011-2012 State budget year that begins July 1, 2011 to replace State general funding for 3 existing mental health programs: EPSDT (Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program); Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care services; and AB 3632 Mental Health Services for Special Education Students. Governor proposes other dedicated funding to pay for those 3 programs after 2011-2012.

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 26 - WEDNESDAY - Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services (joint hearing with Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2 on Education Finance on AB 3632 mental health special education mandate proposal), 1:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 4202
• FEB 01- TUESDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services, 1:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 4203

SSI/SSP

WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING: Governor is proposing cutting the individual Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment maximum grants from $845 to $830 per month – the lowest amount allowed by the federal government (grants to couples were reduced last year to the lowest amount allowed by the federal government). In past years, proposals to cut SSI/SSP also impacted grants in the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) for legal immigrants  with disabilities, the blind and low income seniors who do not qualify for SSI/SSP.

HEARING DATES SCHEDULED ON THIS PROPOSAL:

• JAN 27 – THURSDAY  – Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health & Human Services, 1:00 PM, State Capitol, Room 4202 (IHSS is also on agenda)
• FEB 03 – THURSDAY - Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services, upon adjournment of Senate floor session – likely sometime after 10 AM, State Capitol, Room 4203.  IHSS is also on agenda, along with Department of Aging (including proposed elimination of the Multipurpose Senior Services Program)

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

SUBCOMMITTEE OFFICE INFO  (same as the full Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee)

PHONE:  916-319-2099

OFFICE ADDRESS (TO SEND COMMENTS):

Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1  on Health & Human Services

State Capitol – Room 6026

Sacramento, CA 95814

TO SEND COMMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Name of Assemblymember

State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEMBERS

Chair: Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Walnut Creek)
Democratic Members (2):  Elaine Alquist, and Mark DeSaulnier
Republican Member (1): Bill Emmerson

SUBCOMMITTEE OFFICE INFO  (same as the full Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee)

PHONE:  916-651-4103

OFFICE ADDRESS (TO SEND COMMENTS):

Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services

State Capitol – Room 5019

Sacramento, CA 95814

TO SEND COMMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Name of Senator

State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814