CDCAN REPORT #007-2011: Steinberg announces new Senate committee chairs

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/05/2011  08:50 PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat – Sacramento) announced today the chairs for the State Senate committees for the 2011 Legislative session,  including the expected appointment of Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco) to head the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee to replace the termed out Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego).  Steinberg in December appointed Leno to chair the Senate budget panel that was created for the special session on the budget crisis called by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The budget related committee and subcommittees will have major impact on the State Senate response to Governor Jerry Brown’s upcoming proposed 2011-2012 State budget plan that will address the over $25 billion projected shortfall – in addition to projected on-going budget deficits of over $20 billion through at least 2016 unless permanent action is taken by the Legislature and Governor.

Several Major Changes In Committee Chairs

Several major changes – some announced in December – were made to some committees, including the appointment of newly elected Sen. Noreen Evans (Democrat – Santa Rosa) as the new chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, replacing Sen. Ellen Corbett (Democrat – San Leandro).  Previously announced in December was the selection of Sen. Ed Hernandez (Democrat – Los Angeles) as the new head of the Senate Health Committee, replacing Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat – Santa Clara).

The chair of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee has not yet been selected – though Steinberg’s announcement today indicated that Sen. Corbett – who no longer heads Senate Judiciary Committee, will be this committee’s vice chair.  That specific reference in today’s announcement of committeechairs is unusual since no other committee vice chairs were announced other than Corbett.

Two Committees Merged Into New Committee on Governance & Finance

Steinberg also announced the merging of two committees – Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee into a single new committee, the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance.  That new committee will be chaired by Sen. Lois Wolk (Democrat – Davis).

Steinberg indicated that the new committee will help guide the State Senate’s reform efforts “..to move government closer to the people, improve government accountability and efficiency, and restore public trust in their government.”

In selecting the committee chairs, Steinberg said that quickly resolving the budget crisis was critical  “…to allow the Senate to move forward on equally critical issues essential to rebuilding the state’s economy and stimulating job creation, reforming government, and creating stronger links between education curriculum and job opportunities.”

“We have to put this fiscal crisis behind us and do it early,” said Steinberg in a statement announcing the chairs. “At the same time, we need to move forward just as quickly with our plans for economic growth, fixing our broken system of government and making education more relevant to students preparing for work in high-demand careers.”

Several committees and budget subcommittees had name and subject (jurisdiction) changes including the creation of a separate Senate Insurance Committee, and returning veteran and labor budget issues to the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services.

Senate Committee Membership Will Likely Be Announced Next Week

Steinberg has not yet released the membership of the Senate committees, which his office said would likely be released next week.  Steinberg’s selections still require formal approval of the Senate Rules Committee, which will occur at its next meeting on January 12 – though there is no doubt that his selections will be approved.

The Assembly announced its committee chairs and members last month.

CDCAN LIST OF SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Listed in alphabetical order.  Senate Committees marked with “***” indicate that it is a committee or subcommittee that could have jurisdiction on bills (or budget issues in the case of the budget committee and subcommittees) that have major impact on people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, low income families and workers and organizations and facilities who provide supports and services.

SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Tom Berryhill (Republican – Fresno)
Previous Chair: Sen. Dean Florez (Democrat – Fresno) [termed out]
CDCAN Note:  This committee last session was known as “Food and Agriculture Committee”

***SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Christine Kehoe (Democrat – San Diego)
CDCAN Note: All bills having some level of impact on the State’s general fund are referred to this committee if those bills make it out of policy committees.  Given the huge budget deficit – few bills will end up making it out of this committee that have any major cost to the State general fund.

SENATE BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE

NEW Chair:  Sen. Juan Vargas (Democrat – Chula Vista)
Previous Chair: Sen. Ron Calderon (Democrat – Montebello)
CDCAN Note: This committee’s name was changed from Senate Banking and Insurance Committee last session, with a portion of its jurisdiction dealing with insurance now in a separate new committee, called Senate Insurance Committee.  Calderon will head that new committee. 

***SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco)
Previous Chair: Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego) [termed out]
CDCAN Note:  This committee, while it normally does not conduct hearings on specific budget items (that responsibility is usually taken up by the subcommittees),  has in the past heard specific budget issues and taken public testimony – and has final say and sets the direction over the actions of the Senate Budget subcommittees.

***SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #1 ON EDUCATION

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Carol Liu (Democrat – Glendale)
CDCAN Note: all education budget issues are referred to this subcommittee, including those education budget issues impacting special education in K-12, adult education programs that impact seniors and people with disabilities (including developmental), and higher education budget issues impacting disabled student services, etc.

***SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #2 ON RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Joe Simitian (Democrat- Palo Alto)
CDCAN Note: Public transit related budget issues are referred to this subcommittee that impact persons with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, low income families and workers. 

***SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, LABOR & VETERAN AFFAIRS

NEW Chair: Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord)
Previous Chair: Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco) [appointed Chair of Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee]
CDCAN Note: Veteran affairs budget issues was returned back to this subcommittee (last session it was part of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4). Labor budget issues was also returned back to this subcommittee (last session it was part of Senate Budget Subcommittee #5). 

This subcommittee has major impact on health and human service programs for people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, low income families.  Also has major impact on budget issues impacting veterans, including veterans with disabilities, mental health needs.

SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #4 ON STATE ADMINISTRATION, GENERAL GOVERNMENT & JUDICIAL

NEW Chair: Sen. Michael Rubio (Democrat – Fresno)
Previous Chair: Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord)
CDCAN Note: DeSaulnier was appointed to chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services.  Veterans Affairs budget issues of this subcommittee was returned back to Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services.

SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #5 ON CORRECTIONS & PUBLIC SAFETY ***NEW SUBCOMMITTEE***

NEW Chair: Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley)
CDCAN Note:  This new subcommittee will focus on the state’s correctional system (prisons) and public safety budget issues (formerly part of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 last session).  This subcommittee replaces the focus and changes the name of last session’s Senate Budget Subcommittee #5, which was titled Senate Budget Subcommittee #5 on Revenues, the Economy, and Labor.  The labor part of the subcommittee was returned back to Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 this year. 

SENATE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS COMMITTEE

NEW Chair (reappointed): Sen. Curren Price, Jr. (Democrat – Los Angeles)
Previous Chair: Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (Democrat – Monclair)
CDCAN Note: Negrete McLeod was appointed as new chair of the Senate Public Employees Committee.

***SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

NEW Chair:  Sen. Alan Lowenthal (Democrat – Long Beach)
Previous Chair: Sen. Gloria Romero (Democrat – Los Angeles) [termed out]
CDCAN Note:  Bills dealing with special education would be referred to this committee. 

SENATE ELECTIONS & CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Lou Correa (Democrat – Santa Ana)
Previous Chair: Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley)
CDCAN Note: Hancock was appointed as new chair of Senate Public Safety Committee.  Correa also heads the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

***SENATE ENERGY, UTILITIES & COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Alex Padilla (Democrat – Los Angeles)
CDCAN Note: Bills dealing with utility(and telecommunication)  issues that impact low-income families and persons with disabilities and seniors are referred to this committee.

SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Joe Simitian (Democrat – Palo Alto)

SENATE GOVERANCE & FINANCE  ***NEW COMMITTEE***

NEW Chair: Sen. Lois Wolk (Democrat – Davis)
CDCAN Note: This new committee merges and replaces the Senate Revenue & Taxation Committee and Senate Local Government Committee

SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Roderick Wright (Democrat – Los Angeles)

***SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Ed Hernandez (Democrat – Los Angeles)
Previous Chair: Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat – Santa Clara)
CDCAN Note: This major change was announced in December – though no official explanation was given for the change in chairs.  Bills dealing with Medi-Cal, long term care and other health issues are referred to this committee. 

***SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Carol Liu (Democrat – Glendale)
CDCAN Note: Bills dealing with developmental services (regional centers and developmental centers), SSI/SSP (supplemental security income/state supplemental payment), In-Home Supportive Services, CalWORKS, community care licensing, adoption and foster care programs are referred to this committee. 

SENATE INSURANCE COMMITTEE  ***NEW COMMITTEE***

NEW Chair:  Sen. Ron Calderon (Democrat – Montebello)
CDCAN Note: This is a new committee, formerly part of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.  Certain bills dealing with health insurance, including those regarding coverage of children with autism spectrum disorders, could be referred to this committee (in addition to Senate Health Committee)

***SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Noreen Evans (Democrat – Santa Rosa)
Previous Chair: Sen. Ellen Corbett (Democrat – San Leandro)
CDCAN Note: This is another major change in chairs of a major committee.  Bills dealing with access rights for people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and seniors are referred to this committee. 

***SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Open (not yet appointed)
Previous Chair: Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord)
CDCAN Note: DeSaulnier is the new chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services.  Steinberg announced that Sen. Ellen Corbett (Democrat – San Leandro) would be vice chair of this committee.  Certain labor and workforce issues dealing with direct care workers who provide supports and services to people with disabilities, mental health needs and seniors could be referred to this committee.

SENATE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Mimi Walters (Republican – Laguna Hills)

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Fran Pavley (Democrat – Santa Monica)

SENATE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT & RETIREMENT COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (Democrat – Montclair)
Previous Chair: Sen. Lou Correa (Democrat – Santa Ana)
CDCAN Note: Correa is now the chair of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.  Negrete McLeod headed the Senate Business and Professions Committee last session.

SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley)
Previous Chair: Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco)
CDCAN Note: Leno is now the new chair of the Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee.  Hancock was the previous chair of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee (now headed by Lou Correa).

***SENATE RULES COMMITTEE

Chair (reappointed): Sen. Darrell Steinberg (Democrat – Sacramento)
CDCAN Note: the Senate President Pro tem is always the chair of this committee.  All those persons appointed to positions by the Governor that require Senate confirmation (approval) are referred to this committee for hearing and consideration. 

***SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord)
Previous Chair: Sen. Alan Lowenthal (Democrat – Long Beach)
CDCAN Note:  DeSaulnier headed last session the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. Lowenthal is the new chair of the Senate Education Committee.  DeSaulnier will also chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services.  Bills that deal with housing and transportation issues that impact people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, low income families and workers are referred to this committee.

***SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

NEW Chair: Sen. Lou Correa (Democrat – Santa Ana)
Previous Chair: Sen. Jeff Denham (Republican – Modesto) [elected to Congress]
CDCAN Note:  Bills dealing with veterans – including veterans with disabilities and mental health needs – are referred to this committee  Correa also heads the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

CDCAN SUMMARY OF UPCOMING HEARINGS, LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS & MEETINGS

JANUARY 10, 2011 - MONDAY

WHAT:  CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE FLOOR SESSION
WHO:  Assembly and State Senate
WHEN:  January 10, 2011 – Monday (Assembly at 12 noon and Senate at 2:30 PM)

JANUARY 10, 2011 (MONDAY)

WHAT: RELEASE OF GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED 2011-2012 STATE BUDGET
WHO: GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN
WHEN: January 10, 2011 – time not announced yet

JANUARY 13, 2011 – THURSDAY

WHAT:  INFORMATIONAL BUDGET HEARING – OVERVIEW OF GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET
WHO: ASSEMBLY  BUDGET COMMITTEE
WHEN: January 13, 2011, Thursday, 10:00 AM
WHERE: State Capitol, Room 4202
CDCAN COMMENT: This is an informational general overview of the Governor’s proposed 2011-2012 State budget. No focus on specific budget items and likely no public testimony at this point (hearings and action on specific budget items will be announced later).  The Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee will likely hold a similar overview hearing on the Governor’s proposed budget plan, possibly on January 13th though no announcement has been made yet. 

JANUARY 13, 2011 – THURSDAY

WHAT: GOVERNOR’S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES QUARTERLY MEETING
WHO: GOVERNOR’S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WHEN:  January 13, 2011, Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
WHERE:

Crowne Plaza Anaheim Hotel

12021 Harbor Blvd

Garden Grove, CA 92840

REMOTE TELECONFERENCE ACCESS POINT LOCATIONS:

Contacts:  Charlie Kaplan or La Juana Thompson at (916) 654-8055

• Employment Development Department 722 Capitol Mall, 3rd floor Conference Room 3098 D Sacramento, CA 95814
• 5510 Via Dos Cerros, Club House: Main Room, Riverside, CA  92507
• Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, 5075 Hopyard Road, Suite 210, Pleasanton, California 94588

AGENDA:

Action may be taken on any item listed on the agenda.  Please note that any times indicated and the order of business are approximate and subject to change.

1.  Call to Order / Roll Call

2.  Welcome and Opening Remarks

3.  Public Comments and Requests to Speak to Agenda Items

4.  Approval of Agenda

5.  Approval of Draft October 14, 2010 Meeting Minutes

6.  Update on Letter of Invitation to Governor Brown to Attend a Future Governor’s Committee Meeting

7.  Update on Nominating Committee for Election of Officers

8.  Discussion on Future Direction of the Governor’s Committee

NETWORKING LUNCH                                                      

9.  Staff Director Update 

10.  Legislative Update

11.  Communications and Outreach Subcommittee 

A.  Co-Chair Update 

B.  Recommendation:  Approval of Draft American Bar Association Letter of Recognition and Future Letters

C.  Recommendation:  Approval to Revise the Comprehensive Strategy

12.  Education and Employment Subcommittee 

A.  Co-Chair Update 

B.  Recommendation:  Approval of Draft E&E Informational Bulletin (Second Edition)

13.  Policy and Planning Subcommittee  

A.  Co-Chair Update 

B.  Recommendation:  Approval of the Final Draft 2009-2010 Annual Report  

14.  Workforce Investment Act Discretionary Grant Information

15.  Status Reports:  

A.  State Personnel Board

B.  California Health Incentives Improvement Project 

C.  California Workforce Investment Board  

D.  Disability Navigator Program

16.  Old Business

17.  New Business

18.  Dates to Remember

19.  Adjourn

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.  Individuals who require accommodations for their disabilities must contact the California Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (Governor’s Committee) staff office at (916) 654-8055, or TTY at (916) 654-9820 at least seven days prior to the meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT: 

In order for the Governor’s Committee to provide an opportunity for interested parties to speak at public hearings, public comment may be limited.  In accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, Section 11125.1, written comments provided to the Governor’s Committee must be made available to the public.  An opportunity for public comment will be provided following each agenda item.