CDCAN ACTION ALERT #002-2011: People need to be a voice/presence at February 3rd and 10th budget subcommittee hearings

“WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK FOR JUSTICE” – Parents and families over 40 years ago who came to the State Capitol to fight for community based services and the Lanterman Act – the only civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities in the nation.

YOUR VOICE & PRESENCE AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS NEEDED AT BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS FEB 3RD AND FEB 10TH THAT WILL CONSIDER THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL FOR $750 MILLION IN CUTS IN GENERAL FUNDING FOR REGIONAL CENTER COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.

The Legislature will soon act on this and other proposals sometime before March.  These two hearings are the last opportunity for public testimony at the State Capitol. [Note: This Action Alert is focused on the hearings directly impacting developmental services (regional centers and developmental centers under the Department of Developmental Services). CDCAN is issuing other Action Alerts on other critical program cuts to IHSS, Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP]

FEBRUARY 3rd – THURSDAY

WHO: ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #1 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WHEN: Approximately 10:00 AM or upon adjournment of Assembly floor session ***NOTE TIME CHANGE****
WHAT: Hearing on Developmental Services Proposed Cuts)
WHERE:  State Capitol in Room 4202
NOTE:  There is a Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing at 09:30 AM this same day focusing on Governor’s proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and SSI/SSP, and the proposed elimination of the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
CAN PUBLIC TESTIFY?: YES – very brief  (can also can submit longer written comments)

AND

FEBRUARY 10th  - THURSDAY

WHO: SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WHEN:  09:30 AM or upon adjournment of the Senate floor session
WHAT:  Hearing on Developmental Services Proposed Cuts
WHERE: State Capitol in Room 4203
CAN PUBLIC TESTIFY?: YES – very brief (can also submit written comments)

Should your and your family be concerned and worried about the proposed $750 million cut in State general fund spending to regional centers and other developmental services?

• Yes – definitely. 
• The proposed $750 million  permanent cuts in State general fund spending to developmental services is so large that everyone in the regional center community-based system and those receiving other services will be impacted:  every program, every service, every support, every worker in every organization. No one is safe:  whether a provider or a regional center;  whether a person receiving services or a person providing it or coordinating it;  whether a union member or not; whether using or working in respite, applied behavior therapies,  a day program, supported living, a group home  or independent living; whether living in a group home, or facility or living at home;  whether one believes in inclusion or not; whether one has anger or good feelings about regional centers or schools or the counties – we will all be directly harmed, hurt and impacted by the proposed cuts if the Legislature and Governor move forward on it in the next few weeks.
• This is especially true when adding in the other permanent reductions the Governor is proposing to many other health and human services including Medi-Cal ($1.7 billion cut in general fund spending that includes a 10% permanent reduction in Medi-Cal provider payments including Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, elimination of Adult Day Health Care, caps and limits and co-payments on many services); In-Home Supportive Services ($500 million cut); SSI/SSP Individual Grants (nearly $200 million reduction) and CalWORKs ($1.5 billion cut)

Will public testimony be taken at both the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittee hearings on February 3rd and 10th on Developmental Services?

• 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)

Are the two hearings on developmental services about specific detailed reductions to regional centers and other developmental services?

• There are some specific budget issues – not calling for cuts – that the subcommittees have to deal with including certain adjustments in numbers or budget projections, etc. 
• However the hearings will likely focus on the total amount of reduction ($750 million in state general funds) that the Governor is proposing, to begin July 1, 2011.  The Legislature will end up approving some amount for reduction.  Our focus – at this point in time – should be to get the Legislature to reject that amount.  In any event, THAT should be OUR focus -. 
• Once they approve a targeted reduction amount (either $750 million or a higher number or a lesser number), the Department of Developmental Services will submit – probably in May sometime – to the Legislature details on how the Brown Administration will achieve that reduction.  The Legislature will likely hold one or two hearings on the proposal in May or early June before taking action on the details. 
• The Brown Administration is proposing – through the Department of Developmental Services (which is part of the Administration) imposing some form of statewide purchase of service standards that could include limits and caps on certain services, and possibly even co-payments or share of costs.  How badly it impacts everyone in the community of people with developmental disabilities depends in part on what the Legislature approves as the overall target for reduction. 
• But what is critical NOW – this week and next is the Governor’s $750 million spending reduction target.  That number is so huge – on top of the 2009 and 2010 reductions that totaled well over $500 million in cuts to developmental services - that it would mean sweeping reductions, even when subtracting the new federal funds and fund shifts from that total.   NO ONE is safe from the impact if the size of the proposed reduction to developmental services (largely regional centers) remain.

The Governor has proposed many specific cuts to other programs such as IHSS and Medi-Cal.  Did he propose any specific cuts to Developmental Services?  

• Yes.  The Governor is proposing a significant increase in new federal matching funds – which is a very good thing – that the Department of Developmental Services has been working on.  That additional federal funding will mean less State general funds would be needed for developmental services (and the Department of Developmental Services working with other state agencies has done a good job in getting those funds)
• The Governor also proposed continuing the existing 4.25% cut in payments to most regional center providers and regional center operations, that first was implemented in February 2009 and was supposed to expire June 30, 2011.  The Governor is proposing it continues for at least another year – though many believe it will likely end up being a permanent cut. 
• The Brown Administration – through the Department of Developmental Services – will also propose implementing several accountability, transparency and oversight measures that they believe will have the impact of reducing State general fund spending – though no specific amounts have been released.
• As it stands now, the bulk of the reduction of $750 million in State general funding will come from implementing the statewide purchase of service standards – and if the reduction size remains at that enormous amount – those standards will have a dramatic and harmful impact on the entire community of people with developmental disabilities.

What points should be raised at the February 3rd and February 10th budget subcommittee hearings on the developmental services (regional centers) $750 million reduction?

• We need to focus on the amount  - the total $750 million reduction in state general fund spending in developmental services that the Governor is proposing and to persuade the Legislature to reject, or significantly reduce that amount.
• We can and should offer up ideas and solutions to save money later – after the Legislature makes a decision about the   Any idea we come up with now does nothing to lower the overall reduction amount of $750 million.  That is the issue and threat confronting ALL of us NOW. 
• In addition, we should be opposing the reductions to Medi-Cal, especially elimination proposed for Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Service Program, cuts to SSI/.SSP individual grants, In-Home Supportive Services and other services. 
• We face an uphill fight to stop or even to reduce the reduction amount – and a further uphill fight later in the coming months – to push ideas that can help to lessen the harm of any cut made directly to developmental services.   But the families who fought over 40 years ago for the Lanterman Act – faced an uphill fight too.  So can we.  Again.
   

Who Should Go To the February 3rd and 10th Budget Subcommittee Hearings on Developmental Services? 

• This Action Alert is especially directed to people and organizations who are impacted by previous reductions and will be impacted by proposed additional cuts, who are located in the Northern California area – who can get to Sacramento and the State Capitol more easily than people from Southern California.   People from other parts of the State should come too if they can – but given the limited resources people have now – we will need to count on people in the Northern part of the State and the Sacramento area.  [We need to preserve resources and time for later hearings in May or June when the Brown Administration submits its final draft proposal for statewide purchase of service standards.]
• People living in the Northern California or in the Central Valley north of Fresno or the Bay Area or the San Jose area, need to make an effort to come to these two critically important budget subcommittee hearings and/or get others to come too.

Do people make a real difference when they show up at these hearings?

• An empty hearing room when important issues are being heard makes a tremendous difference.  The Legislature will take action VERY soon on these proposed cuts. 
• The presence of people impacted by proposed cuts helps to avoid that. An empty hearing room sends a very bad message.  A full hearing room helps – and certainly people’s testimony does too – but the ultimate power and action we need to do on an on-going basis is in the legislative districts we live and vote in.  THAT will make the more lasting and profound difference.

LOGISTICS FOR THE HEARINGS: 

• HOW LONG WILL THE HEARINGS BE?: Hard to estimate because it depends on the numbers of people who testify and the length of the various presentations of the various budget proposals. For both hearings, count on at least 3 hours. 
• WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?  Normally the hearing rooms are opened up a half hour before the start of the hearing.  To get a good seat you should arrive at least a half hour before the hearing. There is also seating on the balconies of both hearing rooms (enter on the 5th floor)
• WHAT IF THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE HEARING ROOMS?  You can go to the 6th floor cafeteria or basement cafeteria or the hallway between Rooms 4202 and 4203 or the 4th floor of the old part of the State Capitol to view the hearings on the monitors.  You can still testify even if you are outside the room by going to the hearing room as soon as you hear on the monitor that they are taking testimony.  Go to the entrance of the room, and tell the sergeant at arms (if they prevent you from entering because the room is full) that you want to testify.  They will tell you what to do. 
• PARKING: There is a 24 hour 6 story public parking garage directly across from the State Capitol (10th and L Streets – enter on 10th Street) that includes accessible parking spaces on every floor.  Street metered parking is also available but no advisable because of the length of the hearings.  There is also public parking lots on J and 13th Streets (enter on 13th between I and J Streets) and J and 11th Streets (enter on 11th between I and J Streets). 
• ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCES:  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.
• CAFETERIAS: Public cafeterias on the 6th floor of the newer section of the State Capitol and the basement of the older section.  Both close around 3 or 4 PM.
• ATM MACHINES AND PHONES: ATM machines and public telephones also available in the basement of the older section
• RESTROOMS: 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. 
• PROTEST SIGNS: No protest signs are allowed into the building. 
• CAMERAS AND VIDEO CAMS: 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)
• HOW TO TESTIFY: To testify listen to the budget subcommittee chair’s instructions. Normally people line up to speak. Be very very, very, very brief – talking longer doesn’t help convince anyone of your point and worse, it takes time away from the people behind you.  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. 
• FOR INFORMATION TO VERIFY IF HEARING IS STILL ON: Call the CDCAN office at 916-446-0013  to hear voice message about the budget subcommittee hearing status (to make sure the hearings are still on as scheduled, etc). Dates and times and locations of these hearings can change at the last moment – though the hearings held this past week have occurred as scheduled with no surprises.

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.