CDCAN Advocacy Without Borders :: One Community

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS MAKE HISTORIC PICK: JOHN PEREZ TO BE NEXT ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

Selection Is Step In Making California History When Perez Takes Office As First Openly Gay Assembly Speaker - Formal Vote on Assembly Floor Sometime Next Month

Assemblymember John Perez: John Perez - 46th district serving Los Angeles, California.SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 12/10/09 02:20 PM (Pacific Time) - In a step toward making California history, Assembly Democrats met this afternoon and chose Assemblymember John Perez (Democrat – Los Angeles) to be the next Assembly Speaker. Perez, when he assumes the office sometime next year, would be the first openly gay leader of either house in state history and one of the highest openly gay state officials in the nation.

Social Security Agency To Investigate If California Is Illegally Denying Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

Social Security Commissioner Says Furloughs of Federally Funded State Employees In Dept. of Social Services Who Help In Determining Eligibility May Be Cause of Possible Violations of Federal Social Security Laws - Investigation Comes After Charges Made by San Diego Congressman Who Charged That  Denials of Claims Are Coming At "Expense of Those In Greatest Need"

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 11/23/09  07:20 AM  (Pacific Time)  -  The US Social Security Administration will investigate allegations by Rep. Robert Filner (Democrat - San Diego) made before the US House Way and Means Subcommittee on Social Security on November 19th that California is improperly denying social security and SSI (supplemental security income) program claims as a means to get around delays caused by mandatory furloughs of state workers in the Disability Determination Service division within the Department of Social Services, who play a critical role in determining eligibility for those two programs.  The investigation will also look at similar policies and problems in Hawaii which has instituted similar mandatory furloughs of its state employees.

ASSEMBLY PASSES SB 69 BY VOTE OF 60 TO 0;  WOULD DELAY NOV 1ST IMPLEMENTATION OF IHSS WORKER REQUIREMENTS - BILL HEADS NEXT TO STATE SENATE

Bill Amended by Assemblymember Evans Faces Major Hurdle in Getting Approval from Governor - Assembly Budget Committee Sets November 5th 09:00 AM Follow-up Informational Hearing on IHSS - Same Day as Olmstead Advisory Committee Meeting

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 11/02/09  10:33 PM  (Pacific Time)  -  The Assembly after a long marathon session in both houses that focused on the state's ongoing water crisis, passed a bill on a different crisis that impacts its most vulnerable population, approving amendments by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (Democrat - Santa Rosa) to SB 69 that would delay the November 1st implementation of several new requirements for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers.

The bill won support from both Assembly Democrats and Republicans - including support from Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee (Republican - San Luis Obispo).

The emergency "clean-up" legislation passed on a vote of  60 to 0.

ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL HOLD FOLLOW-UP HEARING NOVEMBER 5TH ON IHSS PROGRAM CHANGES

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 10/28/09  3:40 PM  (Pacific Time)  - After a two and a half hour sometimes contentious hearing, Assemblymember Noreen Evans (Democrat - Santa Rosa) announced she will convene a follow-up hearing on November 5th,  focusing on the implementation of major changes to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program due to go into effect November 1.  The location of the hearing and other details will be released later - though likely will be at the State Capitol in Room 4202.

The date of the follow-up hearing could change.  No action was taken at the informational hearing, though officials from the Schwarzenegger Administration said the State intends to go forward with new IHSS provider (worker) requirements November 1st .

The program changes to the IHSS program include new mandatory background checks and fingerprinting that was passed last July as part of the 2009-2010 revised State Budget.  Counties and advocates for people with disabilities, IHSS workers, seniors and other IHSS recipients say counties are not ready to implement those changes by November 1st and rhe result will mean "chaos and panic" and confusion for hundreds of thousands of IHSS recipients - who include children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and low income seniors, and hundreds of thousands of IHSS workers (providers) across the State.