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CDCAN Report #021-2009: Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees Take Final Action on 2009 Bills as January 31st Deadline Approaches

Sun, 2010-01-24 10:25 — chris
REMEMBERING THAT EVERY LIFE MATTERS: PLEASE REMEMBER & HELP THE PEOPLE OF HAITI American Red Cross: 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) www.redcross.org UNICEF: 1-800-4UNICEF (1-800-486-4233) www.unicefusa.org Senate & Assembly Appropriations Committees Take Action on Bills Introduced In 2009 That Never Were Passed Out - Several Would Have Impact on People With Disabilities, Seniors, and Others SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 01/21/10 10:00 PM (Pacific Time)] - Under the shadow of yet another State budget crisis, the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committee took final action Thursday (January 21) on dozens of bills that were introduced during the 2009 Legislative session but never passed out of the house it was introduced in. The deadline to pass those bills out of the Senate or Assembly Appropriations Committee is actually January 22, but neither house was going to meet on Friday. Bills introduced last year that were referred out of the Appropriations Committees Thursday, must now pass out of the house it was introduced in on or before January 31, 2010, in order to remain alive and to continue on in the 2010 Legislative session. Bills introduced in 2010 or bills from last year that passed out of the house it was introduced in last year are not impacted by the January 22nd or January 31st deadlines. Several Bills Dealing With Regional Centers Among those bills that had action by either committee were several bills with a focus on persons with developmental disabilities – including one dealing with “whistle blower protection” for regional center employees, that was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee. There were no bills dealing specifically with In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or mental health services pending in either the Assembly or Senate Appropriations Committees on Thursday. CDCAN SUMMARY OF KEY BILLS ACTED BY LEGISLATURE ON THURSDAY (JANUARY 21, 2010) The following, in alphabetical order of the subject title, are bills that had action by the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committee (or other action by the Legislature) on Thursday that have some direct or potential direct impact on some or all of the following: people with disabilities, the blind, the deaf, persons with mental health needs, seniors, people with traumatic brain and other injuries, people with MS, Alzheimer’s and other disorders, their families, community organizations, facilities and workers who provide supports and services and others. CRIME (AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS) SB 110 – PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: VICTIMS OF CRIME AUTHOR: State Sen. Carol Liu (Democrat – Pasadena, 21st State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/13/2010):
  • Would require the Department of Justice to send a bulletin to law enforcement agencies and district attorneys describing the laws relating to the protection of persons with disabilities.
  • Would authorize and strongly encourage every local law enforcement agency that participates in the Peace Officer Standards and Training program to provide training to its peace officers using a specified telecourse relating to crime victims with disabilities if that telecourse is updated.
  • Would require the Department of Developmental Services to either immediately report a case of suspected abuse or neglect of a person held in custody as a person with developmental disabilities to local law enforcement, or review the facts and then report confirmed cases of abuse to the local law enforcement agency.
  • Would require the existing course training for district attorneys to include training in the special problems of investigating and prosecuting sexual assault, child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse cases, when committed against individuals with disabilities.
  • Would, for the existing Violent Crime Information Center, instead include, within the term "evidence that the person is at risk," evidence that the person missing has a mental or physical disability.
LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (INCLUDING REGIONAL CENTERS) These are bills that have a direct impact on people with developmental disabilities, including those eligible for services for community-based services funded through the 21 non-profit regional centers under the Department of Developmental Services, and also services provided by the 4 state owned and operated developmental centers and 1 smaller facility. AB 302 – REGIONAL CENTERS AUTHOR: Assemblymember Jim Beall (Democrat – San Jose) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 06/01/2009): Would require the Department of Developmental Services, using existing data, to determine how regional center “purchase of service” funds (the money that funds community-based services and supports) are spent based on persons with developmental disabilities’ ethnicity and primary language. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In State Senate. Amended. Re-referred to Senate Human Services Committee. NEXT STEPS: Bill needs to be heard and reported out of this committee on or before 07/02/2010. AB 1589 – REGIONAL CENTERS: WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION AUTHOR: Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/05/2010):
  • Would enact the “Regional Center Whistleblower Protection Act” providing similar protections provided in the existing “California Whistleblower Protection Act” for regional center employees who report improper regional center activities, or make a protected disclosure, as defined, to the Department of Developmental Services or the Legislature.
  • Would require the Department of Developmental Services to investigate complaints under this bill, and would require remedial actions to be taken by regional centers when appropriate.
LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In Assembly Appropriations Committee: Held in committee. NEXT STEPS: Bill is considered “dead” – no further action on this bill for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session. SB 812 – DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: HOUSING AUTHOR: State Sen. Roy Ashburn (Republican – Bakersfield, 18th State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/13/2010): Would require local government, in developing required housing elements, to obtain, assess, and analyze appropriate information on the housing needs of individuals with developmental disabilities within the community. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass. NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) EDUCATION Includes bills dealing with special education, adult education (that serves adults with disabilities and seniors), and higher education that impacts adults with disabilities, the blind, the deaf and others. AB 35 – EDUCATION: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AUTHOR: Assemblymember Warren Furutani (Democrat – Long Beach, 55th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass. NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) AB 976 – PUBLIC SCHOOLS: ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AUTHOR: Assemblymember Juan Arambula (Independent – Fresno, 31st District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In Assembly Appropriations Committee: Held in committee. NEXT STEPS: Bill is considered “dead” – no further action on this bill for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session. AB 1231 – PART-TIME ADULT EDUCATION TEACHERS: COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AUTHOR: Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (Democrat – La Canada Flintridge, 44th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In Assembly Appropriations Committee: Held in committee. NEXT STEPS: Bill is considered “dead” – no further action on this bill for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session. AB 1374 – ADULT EDUCATION: TEACHING CREDENTIALS AUTHOR: Assemblymember Julia Brownley (Democrat – Santa Monica, 41st Assembly District LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: Passed Assembly. NEXT STEPS: Heads to State Senate for further action. FOSTER CARE BILLS These are bills dealing with the foster care program that includes many children with special needs and disabilities. AB 12 – FOSTERING CONNECTIONS TO SUCCESS ACT AUTHOR: Assemblymember Jim Beall (Democrat – San Jose) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) AB 743 – FOSTER CARE: SIBLING PLACEMENT AUTHOR: Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (Democrat – La Canada Flintridge, 44th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 654 – FOSTER YOUTH: INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM AUTHOR: State Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 3rd State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/05/2010): Would extend eligibility for independent living skills education services to certain eligible former foster youth placed with non-related legal guardians LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass. NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) GOVERNMENT AB 781 – PUBLIC AGENCIES: LANGUAGE AUTHOR: Assemblymember Kevin Jeffries (Republican – Riverside, 66th Assembly District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 04/13/2009):
  • Would require that no state or local agency shall impose or implement an action or decision under this bill as a pretext for discrimination on the basis of race, national origin or other unlawful discrimination in employment, including specifically any requirement that an employee be bilingual.
  • Specifies that all information and reports required by the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (DABSA) shall be public information unless otherwise restricted by law.
LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In Assembly. Amended and returned to Assembly floor. NEXT STEPS: Must pass out of the Assembly and to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to continue on during the 2010 Legislative session. AB 1518 – STATE GOVERNMENT: BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AUTHOR: Assemblymember Joel Anderson (Republican – La Mesa, 77th Assembly District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/13/2010): Would require that on or before July 1, 2011, the Department of Finance send a report to the Assembly and Senate Business and Professions Committees that identifies every obsolete and inactive statutorily created state board and commission and determines the reason that board or commission was created in the first place. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended. NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) HEALTH AB 1225 – EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISES: INFECTIOUS DISEASES AUTHOR: Assemblymember Hector De La Torre (Democrat – South Gate, 50th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 56 – HEALTH PLANS: JOINT VENTURES TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR UNINSURED AUTHOR: State Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat – Santa Clara, 13th State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as amended 01/11/2010): Would establish the “California Health Benefits Service” program within the Department of Health Care Services to authorize and facilitate the creation of joint ventures among public health coverage programs to provide health care coverage to uninsured individuals and purchasers of health insurance. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass. NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 442 – CLINIC CORPORATION: LICENSING AUTHOR: State Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego, 40th State Senate District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended. NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 810 – SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUTHOR: State Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 3rd State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/13/2010):
  • Would establish the “California Healthcare System”, to be administered by the newly created California Healthcare Agency under the control of a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor (and subject to confirmation by the State Senate).
  • Would make all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under the California Healthcare System, which would, on a single-payer basis, negotiate for or set fees for health care services provided through the system and pay claims for those services.
LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass. NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 880 – PUBLIC SAFETY: SNOW SPORT HELMETS FOR CHILDREN AUTHOR: State Sen. Leland Yee (Democrat – San Francisco, 8th State Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as introduced 01/13/2010): Would require a person under 18 years of age to wear a properly fitted and fastened snow sport helmet while operating snow skies or a snowboard, or while riding upon a seat or other device that is attached to the snow skies or a snowboard. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: Referred to Senate Health Committee. NEXT STEPS: Would need to be heard and reported out of this policy committee on or before 04/23/2010 in order to continue on during the 2010 Legislative session. CDCAN COMMENT: This bill would be of interest and concern especially for advocates of people with traumatic brain and other similar injuries. SB 890 – HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AUTHOR: State Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat – Santa Clara, 13th State Senate District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: Introduced in State Senate. NEXT STEPS: Would need to be referred to a policy committee. MEDI-CAL AB 963 – PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: MEDI-CAL ELIGBILITY AUTHOR: Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (Democrat – San Francisco, 13th Assembly District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as amended 01/13/2010):
  • Would require the Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with counties, the Department of Social Services, representatives of the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) consortia, consumers, and other affected stakeholder groups to conduct a stakeholder planning workgroup to develop a joint renewal and recertification form to be used by individuals and families who are recipients of either the Medi-Cal, Food Stamp, or CalWORKs programs.
  • Would require the stakeholder planning workgroup to develop the renewal and recertification form, and any related policies and procedures, no later than July 1, 2011.
  • Would require the Department of Health Care Services to implement this measure by All County Letters or similar instructions on or before January 1, 2012. After implementation by All County Letters or similar instructions, the department would be required to adopt comprehensive implementing regulations, as specified, on or before July 1, 2012.
LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SB 771 – MEDI-CAL: CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY – STATUS REPORTS AUTHOR: State Sen. Elaine Alquist (Democrat – Santa Clara, 13th Senate District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 12/16/2009): Would extend the suspension of the mid-year status eligibility reporting requirement for children who are eligible and receive Medi-Cal services, beyond December 31, 2010, in the event Congress passes and the President signs legislation that would maintain or extend the Medicaid enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) provided to states under the federal “American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009” (ARRA). LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Senate Appropriations Committee: Do pass as amended NEXT STEPS: To State Senate Floor (must pass out of the State Senate to the Assembly on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) SENIORS AB 535 – ELDER DEATH REVIEW TEAMS: INFORMATION REQUESTS AUTHOR: Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (Democrat – San Francisco, 13th Assembly District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/14/2010): Would require 1,100 skilled nursing facilities statewide to increase reporting specifics of a patient’s death data to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and increases the availability of death data to county Elder Death Review Teams (EDRT) statewide. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: In Assembly Appropriations Committee: Held in committee. NEXT STEPS: Bill is considered “dead” – no further action on this bill for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session. AB 1433 – CONTINUING CARE CONTRACTS: TEMPORARY RELOCATION AUTHOR: Assemblymember Mike Eng (Democrat – Monterey Park, 49th Assembly District) CDCAN SUMMARY (as last amended 01/15/2010): Would define residential temporary relocation of continuing care retirement community residents and requires continuing care contracts to state the right of those residents to terminate the contract after 18 months of a temporary relocation. LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do Pass.. To Assembly Consent Calendar NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) VETERANS The bills dealing with veterans are those that have some impact on veterans with disabilities, mental health needs or disorders or other special needs. AB 177 - PUBLIC CONTRACTS: SMALL BUSINESS/VETERANS ENTERPRISES AUTHOR: Assembly Ira Ruskin (Democrat – Redwood City, 21st Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do Pass. NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) AB 1088 – TAXPAYER CONTRIBUTIONS: STATE VETERANS HOME FUND AUTHOR: Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (Republican – San Diego, 75th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do Pass. NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session) AB 1378 – WORKFORCE INVESTMENT VOARD: VETERANS’ WORKFORCE PROGRAM AUTHOR: Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez (Democrat – Coachella, 80th Assembly District) LATEST ACTION 01/21/2010: From Assembly Appropriations Committee: Do Pass. NEXT STEPS: To Assembly Floor (must pass out of the Assembly to the State Senate on or before January 31, 2010 to remain alive for the remainder of the 2010 Legislative session)