Education
CDCAN Report #149-2010: U.S. Senate Passes Extension of Temporary Medicaid Funding (FMAP) Increase & Education Funding - Bill goes to U.S. House Next Week
Thu, 2010-08-05 18:38 — chris- US SENATE APPROVES EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MEDICAID FUNDING TO THE STATES (FMAP) BY VOTE OF 61 to 39 – BILL HEADS TO US HOUSE
- Bill Would Extend Temporary Increase in Medicaid Matching Funds to the States Including California for 6 Months in 2011 – Funding Will Be Less Than Hoped For – US House Expected To Approve Bill Next Week
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/05/2010 11:44 AM (Pacific Time)] - The US Senate passed today the $26.1 billion bill that would partially extend the temporary increase in Medicaid matching funds to the states including California. The vote for final passage was 61 to 39, with only two US Senate Republicans – US Senators Olympia Snow and Susan Collins, both from Maine – supporting the measure. That Medicaid funding to the states (matched by state funding) is sometimes referred to as “FMAP” - the “Federal Medical Assistance Percentages” , which is used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds that a state is eligible.
The bill, HR 1586 as amended, heads to the US House of Representatives next week. The US House of Representatives will be returning briefly from its summer recess, to approve the bill, either on Monday or Tuesday.
CDCAN Report #148-2010: Budget Conference Committee Rejects Governor's Proposal to Suspend AB 3632 Mental Health Special Education Mandate - Votes to Repeal July 1, 2011 Special Disability Adjustment State Mandate
Thu, 2010-08-05 18:14 — chrisBUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REJECTS GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND AB 3632 MENTAL HEALTH SPECIAL EDUCATION MANDATE IN LATE NIGHT MEETING
Agrees to $52 Million Cut to Department of Mental Health for AB 3632 Mandate Claims – Approves Repeal of Special Disability Adjustment Mandate Effective July 1, 2011
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 08/04/2010 10:44 PM (Pacific Time)] - The Budget Conference Committee, chaired by Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego, 40th State Senate District), voted just after 8:40 PM Wednesday evening, to reject the Governor’s proposal to suspend the AB 3632 mental health special education mandate, that will leave the program – at least for the 2010-2011 State Budget year, as is.
The mental health services administered by the counties under AB 3632 impacts thousands of children in special education across California. Federal law requires the states to provide these mental health services to eligible students – but California in 1984 passed a state law that designated the counties with primary responsibility in the State to carry out that federal requirement.
The action by the Budget Conference Committee included approving a reduction of $52 million in state general funds to the Department of Mental Health for payment of AB 3632 claims in the current 2010-2011 State budget year, and approval of additional (augmentation) $133 million in State general funds to the Commission on State Mandates for payments to the counties for prior year AB 3632 mandate claims in 2010-2011.
CDCAN Report #139-2010: Governor Signs "Ed Roberts Day" Bill (SB 1256) - Proclaims January 23 as Special Day to Honor the Disability Rights Leader
Mon, 2010-07-19 17:47 — chrisGOVERNOR SIGNS “ED ROBERTS DAY” BILL
SB 1256 by Loni Hancock Would Require California Governor To Proclaim January 23rd Each Year as Day of “Special Significance” Honoring Ed Roberts in Public Schools and Other Educational Institutions – Governor Also Signs Bill Honoring President Ronald Reagan
Ed Roberts: Roberts, who passed away on March 14, 1995 at age 56, was a founder of WID (World Institute on Disability) and a former director of the Department of Rehabilitation.SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/19/2010 5:12 PM (Pacific Time)] – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed today SB 1256 by Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley, 9th State Senate District), a bill that will require California governors to proclaim each January 23rd as a day of “special significance” honoring the life and work of revered disability rights leader Ed Roberts [pictured left] , recognized across the world as the “father of the independent living” movement for people with disabilities and special needs. The approval of the legislation comes just a few days before the 20th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which Congress passed and then President George H. W. Bush signed into law on July 26, 1990.
Ed Roberts Day Bill (SB 1256) Now on Governor's Desk - Write Letter and Urge Signing - Governor Has 12 Days (July 19, 2010) to Act
Honoring Disability Rights & Ed Roberts:
- ACTION ALERT: WRITE LETTER TO GOVERNOR URGING HIM TO SIGN SB 1256 ED ROBERTS DAY
- Passed Assembly 73 to 0 – Passed State Senate 34 to 0
- Sent to Governor July 7th – He Has 12 Days To Act On It (July 19th)
Ed Roberts: Roberts, a former director of the Department of Rehabilitation and co-founder of a respected disability advocacy organization World Institute on Disability (WID), passed away from natural causes on March 14, 1995.In the 20th anniversary year of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, a bill that would proclaim every January 23rd “Ed Roberts Day” was passed without opposition by the California Legislature – with support from nearly every Democratic and Republican members, and now is in the hands of the Governor.
The bill, SB 1256 by Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley, 9th State Senate District), would honor the life and work of disability rights leader Ed Roberts, recognized and revered across the world as the “father of the independent living” movement for people with disabilities and special needs. January 23rd is the birthday of Ed Roberts, who was born in 1939. He passed away on March 14, 1995 at the age of 56.
The bill, which passed the Assembly 73 to 0 and passed the State Senate on July 1st by vote of 34 to 0, was delivered to the Governor on July 7th. The Governor has 12 days to either sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. This commentary and action alert is asking people to write to the Governor to urge him to sign it into law – a fitting tribute to a remarkable disability rights leader on the anniversary of a remarkable federal disability rights law.
CDCAN Report #136-2010: Budget Conference Committee Meets Today at 3 PM State Capitol Room 4203 To Take Up Several "Open" Budget Items
Wed, 2010-07-07 11:47 — chris- Budget Conference Committee Will Meet Today At 3 PM At State Capitol – No Overall Budget Agreement Near
- Conference Committee Will Take Up Several “Open Items” – Several Key Issues Remain “Open” Including Budget Cut or Savings to IHSS, Additional 1.25% Reduction to Most Regional Center Providers and Operations, Proposed Changes to AB 3632 Mental Health Special Education Mandate, Extension of the AB 1629 Nursing Home Medicaid Quality Assurance Fee
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/07/2010 09:50 AM (Pacific Time)] – With California now seven days without a new state budget and no overall agreement near on how to resolve the enormous $20 billion budget shortfall, the Budget Conference Committee will resume its hearings with a meeting today (July 7th, Wednesday) at 3:00 PM at the State Capitol in Room 4203. Today’s hearing is expected to continue the committee’s work on trying to take action on several of the remaining “open” items, though it is not certain yet what specific items they will actually take up this afternoon.
CDCAN Report #136-2010: Medi-Cal Institutional and Non-Institutional Providers Required to Be Paid Even If No Budget And Even if Special Fund Is Exhausted - Controller Lists What Can Be Paid & Not - Issues Statement On Gov's Wage Order
Fri, 2010-07-02 09:40 — chrisBoth Medi-Cal Institutional and Non-Institutional Providers Will Continue to Be Paid Even If No Budget In Place & If Special Fund Is Exhausted – Payments Will Continue for SSI/SSP, IHSS
Controller Issues Statement On Governor’s Order To Temporarily Reduce State Employee Wages to Federal Minimum – Refuses to Implement
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 07/01/2010 08:05 PM (Pacific Time)] – With a long budget stand-off expected to last possibly through the summer, the State Controller released information indicating what things the State can continue to pay – and what things cannot be paid, without a spending plan in place.
A copy of his 3 page letter (pdf file) to the Governor and four legislative leaders, dated June 15, 2010, outlined what the State is required to continue paying and what payments he cannot make unless a State budget is in enacted, is attached to this CDCAN Report and can also be downloaded from the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us.
CDCAN Report #127-2010: Assembly Gives Final Approval To "Ed Roberts Day", also Approves "Ronald Reagan Day", AB 1775 "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" to be Heard 6/30 Senate Education Committee
Mon, 2010-06-28 22:01 — chris- Assembly Gives Final Approval For “Ed Roberts Day”
- SB 1256 Recognizes Life and Work of Disability Rights Leader – Goes Back To State Senate For Approval on Technical Amendments Before Heading to Governor - Assembly Also Approves Bill Honoring “Ronald Reagan Day” - AB 1775 Honoring Fred Korematsu Waiting Hearing June 30th in Senate Education Committee
Ed Roberts: Roberts, who passed away on March 14, 1995 at age 56. He was a former director of the Department of Rehabilitation and co-founder of respected World Institute on Disability.SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/28/2010 01:43 PM (Pacific Time)] - In the 20th anniversary year of the federal Americans with Disablities Act, the Assembly gave final approval to SB 1256 by Sen. Loni Hancock (Democrat – Berkeley, 9th State Senate District), a bill that would honor every year the life and work of revered disability rights leader Ed Roberts [pictured left, click for larger version], recognized across the world as the “father of the independent living” movement for people with disabilities and special needs.
The Assembly this afternoon voted 57 to 0 to approve the measure. The bill goes back to the State Senate for almost certain approval on some technical amendments made in the Assembly Education Committee earlier this month before it heads to the Governor for approval.
The bill was brought to the Assembly floor by Assemblymember Jim Beall (Democrat – San Jose, 24th Assembly District), chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee who praised the work and legacy of the disability rights leader.
CDCAN Report #124-2010: Budget Conference Committee To Meet Today (June 24th) at 1:30 PM - Will Continue Review of "Open" Budget Items - Also Will Hear Presentation of Realignment (Transferring) Certain State Functions to Counties
Thu, 2010-06-24 12:35 — chris- Budget Conference Committee To Meet Today at 1:30 PM
- Will Continue Reviewing “Open” Budget Items
- Will Hear Follow-up Presentation of Realignment (Transferring) Certain State Functions and Stream of Funding to Counties by Legislative Analyst Office
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/24/2010 09:05 AM (Pacific Time)] - The Budget Conference Committee, chaired by Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego) will meet today (June 24th, Thursday) at 1:30 PM at the State Capitol in Room 4203, to continue presentation of realigning or transferring certain State functions and a stream of funding to the counties, and also to review – though not necessarily to take action – on the remaining “open” items, The meeting time and agenda are subject to change (as it was on Friday, June 18th).
CDCAN Report #123-2010: AB 2072 Passes Out of Senate Health Committee 5 to 1 After 1-1/2 Hour Hearing; Bill Has Drawn Controversy With Many Saying It Would Lead to "Biased" Information - Supporters Deny Claim
Wed, 2010-06-23 18:00 — chris- AB 2072 Passes Out of Senate Health Committee 5-1
- Heads Next To Senate Appropriations Committee
- Controversial Legislation Would Require Information on Hearing Loss Including Options To Be Given to Families of Newborns and Infants – Opponents Say That Information Would Be “Biased” and Lead Families To A Certain Option
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/23/2010 03:05 PM (Pacific Time)] - After a one and half hours of testimony and discussion, the Senate Health Committee voted to approve, with amendments, AB 2072 by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (Democrat – Artesia, 56th Assembly District) that has drawn major controversy because it would require that parents of newborns and infants diagnosed with hearing loss be provided written or electronic information from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders on American Sign Language, total communication, cued Speech and Listening and Spoken Language communication options for children with hearing loss, including information about deaf and hard-of-hearing organizations, agencies and early intervention centers, and educational programs.
CDCAN Report #118-2010: Budget Conference Committee Finishes Education Agenda Items - Will Meet Thursday at 2 PM for Overview of Local Government Funding and Agenda Items Dealing with Local Government and Revenues
Wed, 2010-06-16 17:44 — chris- Budget Conference Committee Will Meet Thursday 2 PM for Overview of Local Government Funding
- Will Also Focus on Agenda Dealing With Local Government and Revenues – Finished Today With Education Agenda Items Though Kept Most Major Items “Open” for Later Action
SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 06/16/2010 05:05 PM (Pacific Time)] - The Budget Conference Committee, chaired by Sen. Denise Ducheny (Democrat – San Diego) after meeting today to finish its initial review of the education budget agenda items, adjourned just before 5 PM and will reconvene Thursday afternoon (June 17) at 2:00 PM at the State Capitol in Room 4203. The Budget Conference Committee kept most of the education agenda items “open” for later action.
