CDCAN REPORT #029-2011: Legislative Analyst Office issues report recommending sweeping change to Lanterman Act

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
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To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us TWITTER: martyomoto

Note: my email was down for the past few days — apologize for delay in getting back to people and delay in getting reports out. Transferred everything to new computer — so things will be back to semi-normal now. Sort of. — Marty Omoto

Legislative Analyst Office Recommends Sweeping Change to Lanterman Act – Either Expansion of Co-Payments or Narrow Eligibility By Income or Assets

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/31/2011 – 05:50 PM  (Pacific Time)] –  The Legislative Analyst, the non-partisan legislative office that analyzes budget issues for the Legislature, issued a report recommending that the Legislature consider enacting sweeping changes to the nation’s only civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities, known as the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act by either imposing eligibility limits based on assets or income or consider expanding the existing cost participation program where families or persons receiving services pay a co-payment or share of cost for their services based on a sliding income scale.

The Legislative Analyst report is attached to this CDCAN Report (12 page pdf file titled “2011-02-01 - Regional Center Legislative Analyst Report.pdf” which was saved as a document and can be read by screen reading devices.  The report is also available using the following link:

http://lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=2424

The Legislative Analyst Office said that total expenditures for the regional center system  more than doubled between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, leading to a series of actions by the Legislature to slow down the growth in the program.

Legislative Analyst Prepared Report For Two Upcoming Budget Subcommittee Hearings Scheduled February 3rd and 10th on Regional Centers

The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) prepared the 15 page report for the two upcoming budget subcommittee hearings that will consider Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $750 million in reductions in State general fund spending to developmental services – the bulk coming from regional center community-based services to over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.

The Legislative Analyst Report recommends:

• Recommends approval of the Governor’s budget proposals to extend the 4.25% reduction in payments to most regional center providers and to regional center operations
• Recommends approval of the Governor’s budget plan that would increase additional federal funds for services provided through the developmental centers and the regional centers.
• Recommends that the Legislature either expand the existing Family Cost Participation Program or implement means testing to determine who is eligible to receive regional center community-based services.

The Legislative Analyst Office conceded that “these changes, we would acknowledge, represent a significant departure from the policies originally adopted in the Lanterman Act but would help ensure the long-term sustainability of the program for those consumers with the greatest financial need for its services.”

CRITICAL HEARINGS IMPACTING REGIONAL CENTERS AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES THIS WEEK AND NEXT]

Note: CDCAN has issued a major action alert for people to attend and make public comment at  both these hearings.

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)

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)

File Attachments: 

2011-02-01 - Legislative Analyst Office - Options to Achieve Savings in the Regional Center System.pdf

HELP!!! VERY URGENT!!!!!

PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!

FEBRUARY 4, 2012 – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW

CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help. To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports sent out and read by over 55,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.

Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network"):

CDCAN
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Many, many thanks to all the organizations and individuals for their continued support that make these reports and other CDCAN efforts possible. [Note: As of June 26th due to major problem with my computer and email, I have to use this old format of the CDCAN Reports that unfortunately does not have the list of people and organizations who have generously contributed and supported CDCAN in the past year and in recent weeks and months. I should have computer problem repaired sometime this week hopefully - Marty Omoto]

Paypal on the CDCAN site is not yet working – will be soon.

MANY, MANY THANKS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT MAKE THESE REPORTS, ALERTS, TOWNHALLS POSSIBLE TO: WESTSIDE REGIONAL CENTER, LANTERMAN REGIONAL CENTER, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTERS, VENTURA COUNTY AUTISM SOCIETY, RESPITE, INC., LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVING DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS LARC RANCH, FEAT OF SACRAMENTO, EASTER SEALS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EMMANUEL AND FAMILY, PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Sacramento Gray Panthers, Bill Wong, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Training Toward Self Reliance, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.

As of January 13, 2012 - some friends donated a new laptop computer which will soon be up and running. Thanks so much - using a lap top with several keys missing or not working makes typing reports very difficult! Many thanks to Anna and Albert Wang.

About the Author

Marty Omoto

Executive Director of California Disability Community Action Network

CDCAN Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with  disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.