CDCAN REPORT #036-2011: State Capitol bracing for enormous crowds for Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing on $750 million cut to regional centers

• ENORMOUS CROWDS EXPECTED FOR SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED $750 MILLION CUT TO DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES; RALLY SET ON SAME DAY IN LOS ANGELES AS PROTESTS GROW
• Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health & Human Services Meets February 10th Thursday at 09:30 AM State Capitol in Room 4203 on Governor’s Proposed $750 Million Cut in State General Funding for Regional Centers and Other Developmental Services

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 02/08/2011 – 10:30 AM  (Pacific Time)] –  With concerns and opposition to the Governor’s proposed health and human services budget reductions mounting, the State Capitol is bracing again for enormous crowds to pack the hearing rooms and fill the surrounding hallways and overflow hearing rooms, for what is likely the final hearing for public comment on the Governor’s proposed $750 million reduction in State general fund spending for regional centers and other developmental services,  by the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services, on February 10th, Thursday morning beginning at approximately 09:30 AM (or whenever the Senate floor session adjourns that morning), at the State Capitol in Room, 4203.

WHO: Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services
WHEN: February 10, 2011 – Thursday
TIME: 09:30 AM approximately (or whenever Senate floor session – which begins at 09:00 AM that day, adjourns – which is expected to be around 09:30 AM)
WHERE: State Capitol – Room 4203 (across from Room 4202)
WHAT:  Governor’s Proposed Reductions to Developmental Services
PUBLIC TESTIMONY:  Yes – though it is possible not everyone can speak depending on the time (and how long people speak). It is up to the subcommittee chair.  Anyone can testify.  Public comment cards provided by the subcommittee  – for people who want to submit written comments – will be available (or people can submit their own letters) who want to write their comments at the hearing.
AGENDA AVAILABLE: Not yet – will likely be available sometime on Wednesday (CDCAN will send out as soon as it is available).
TELEVISED/WEBCAST: Yes -  will be televised live and also live webcast on CalChannel (see www.calchannel.com)

Hundreds of children and adults with developmental disabilities, families, community organizations, facilities, and workers who provide or coordinate services and supports, and other advocates are expected to attend the Senate subcommittee hearing in the numbers the size that nearly overwhelmed the Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing February 3rd covering the same budget issues.

February 10th Hearing Expected To Last At Least 4 Hours

• The February 10th Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing is expected to last about 4 hours or longer depending on chair Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat – Concord, 7th State Senate District) and how many in the crowd plan to speak (and depending on how long each person speaks). 
• Advocates hope that DeSaulnier will impose a similar strict one minute time limit rule for public comments that Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles, 47th Assembly District) enforced for everyone on February 3rd that, - if applied to everyone as Mitchell did  – will mean many more people will be able to actually speak before the subcommittee on February 10th.

Hundreds Expected for February 10th Los Angeles Rally Against Governor’s Proposed $750 Million Cuts To Developmental Services

Also planned to coincide with the Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing on Thursday in support of those attending and to show strong opposition to the Governor’s proposed $750 million cuts in State general fund spending to developmental services and the other cuts in health and human services including Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP grants, is a protest rally in Los Angeles:

WHEN: February 10th, Thursday morning
TIME:  10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
WHERE:  Van Nuys State Office Building
6150 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Hundreds are expected to turn-out for that event. The state office building complex includes the district office of Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat – Van Nuys, 40th Assembly District), who is chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.  Organizers say the rally is meant to be in opposition to the Governor’s proposed reductions and to mobilize people in the Los Angeles area who cannot come to the State Capitol.

Similar rallies were not organized for the northern part of the State or at the State Capitol on February 10th because of the early start time of the Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing.  Advocates also did not want any conflicting events in the northern part of the State that would take people away from attending and testifying at the actual hearing.

[CDCAN Note: See separate updated CDCAN Action Alerts for both the February 10th subcommittee hearing and the Los Angeles rally and also other upcoming events]

Hundreds Jammed State Capitol Hearing Rooms and Hallways Last Week For Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing on Regional Center Proposed Cuts – Nearly 200 People Testify In 5-1/2 Hour Hearing

• Last week, on February 3rd, in what was the biggest crowd seen in recent years at the State Capitol for a hearing, hundreds and hundreds of people filled to capacity the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services hearing room, balcony area, overflow rooms and hallways. 
• It was the first hearing this year on Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $750 million reduction in State general fund spending to regional centers and other developmental services – with every speaker urging – many times pleading, an d many times with tears and emotion – that the Legislature reject the reduction amount.
• Despite the huge crowds, Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (Democrat – Los Angeles, 47th Assembly District), who chaired the hearing, was able to hear everyone who lined up and wanted to speak – in large part because she strongly enforced for everyone – including lobbyists – a 1 minute limit on speaking (people could submit additional written comments and did). 
• Also last week on that same day and time across the hall, the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services heard the Governor’s proposed $500 million in State general fund permanent reductions to In-Home Supportive Services, his proposal to reduce the maximum SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) individual monthly grants to the lowest level allowed by the federal government, and the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) that serves over 11,000 Medi-Cal eligible seniors over the age of 65.  About 200 or so people with disabilities, the blind, seniors and other advocates attended that hearing in addition to the hundreds more that packed the Assembly subcommittee hearing and filled the overflow rooms and hallways.

Important Budget Subcommittee Hearing Today (Feb 8)

February 08 (Tue) – Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services meets at 1:00 PM at the State Capitol in Room 4203 to hear Governor’s proposals (including some reductions) to Child Welfare Services (includes adoption assistance program and foster care); Adult Protective Services, and issues impacting the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Department of Community Services and Development and Department of Child Support Services.  See separate CDCAN Report on this hearing.

NEXT STEPS

• NO MAJOR ACTION YET FROM EITHER HOUSE: So far, both the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees have heard nearly all of the Governor’s proposed reductions in hearings that began the week of January 24th and taking in public comment. 
• FINAL SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS LIKELY THIS WEEK - These hearings – including the February 10th Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services focusing on proposed reductions to regional centers and other developmental services – are likely to be the final public hearings taking in public comment on the Governor’s proposals.
• WHEN WILL LEGISLATURE TAKE FINAL ACTION: It is not clear yet when or how the Legislature will take final action on the Governor’s budget proposals, though final action sometime later this month is likely.   
• BUDGET PROCESS ON FAST TRACK - The Governor and Legislature – at the Governor’s urging – have put his proposed 2011-2012 State Budget spending plan on a fast track, to take action on his major proposals before March 1st.  The normal State budget process takes months – with subcommittee hearings normally spread out from February to May.  Governor has urged the Legislature to move quickly because a key part of his plan is to place on a special election ballot in June for voter approval his proposal to extend for five years temporary tax increases that are scheduled to expire this year. 
• The Governor also wants quick action on his spending reduction proposals in order for the State to be able to move to implement them by July 1st – and in some cases, within a few months – in order to achieve the greatest savings in State general funding from the cuts. 
• MORE BUDGET HEARINGS LIKELY IN MAY OR JUNE – While this week is likely the final time for public comment at a budget subcommittee hearing (people can still contact their own legislators or write letters to members) before the Legislature takes final action on the Governor’s proposals , there will likely be additional budget hearings in May or early June.  Those hearings – which will likely take public comment – will likely hear  whatever details the Brown Administration submits to the Legislature on how it plans to achieve whatever reduction amount is targeted for regional centers and other developmental services.  Other issues – possibly In-Home Supportive Services – might come up for hearing at that time as further details on various proposals become available.