Content about Supplemental Security Income-State Supplemental Payment

Governor Brown signed into law several budget related bills that authorize changes in State law to implement at least $8 billion in cuts in State general fund spending, including over $6 billion in cuts to health and human services impacting children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, their families, community organizations and individual support workers and low income families across California.

The California Legislature took a major step in what it hopes will help to solve the State’s enormous budget crisis, by approving several of the budget related bills dealing with over $6 billion in cuts in State general fund spending to health and human services and reductions in general government that largely follow the Governor’s proposed reductions.

Both Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez announced the State Senate and Assembly will convene Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 PM to vote on Governor Brown’s proposed budget for 2011-2012, as modified by the Budget Conference Committee.  The plan still lacks any support from legislative Republicans.

The Senate Budget Committee rejects the Governor's proposal to eliminate Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) but okays $5 million cut.  It also approved an individual grant cut to Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment.  Senate Budget Panel rolls back the Governor's proposed cut to foster youth Transitional Housing Program Plus from $19 million to $5 million.

The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, chaired by Sen. Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco, 3rd State Senate District), released a 53 page agenda this evening for the next scheduled hearing on February 17, Thursday morning at 10:00 AM (note time change from 09:00 AM), at the State Capitol in Room 4203.  The agenda – a pdf file saved as a document (which can be read by persons who are blind or sight impaired using a screen reading device) is attached to this report.

With opposition and protests mounting on several of Governor Jerry Brown’s spending reductions – including those to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families – the full budget committees of the Legislature moves forward this week with hearings, starting on Wednesday, to begin taking final action on the Governor’s budget proposals heard in budget subcommittee public hearings the past 3 weeks.  No further public testimony will be taken because the issues have been previously heard with public comment taken.

The legislature will soon be taking action on the Governor's proposed cuts to close a $12.5 billion budget deficit.  There are drastic proposed cuts to many programs including IHSS, CalWORKS, SSI/SSP, MSSP, regional centers, Medi-Cal, and many, many more.  Decisions are made by those who "show up" and, more importantly, made by others when people don't.

The Brown Administration released several critical draft budget trailer bill language impacting SSI/SSP, regional centers, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs.  The trailer bill language is first indication of how the Brown Administration will implement many of the major reductions.

Seven Democratic and Republican legislators spoke out strongly against Governor Brown’s proposed $500 million in state general fund reductions to the In-Home Supportive Services program at a press conference and rally at the State Capitol yesterday morning.  Some of the legislators also spoke out strongly against the other cuts to health and human services serving children and adults with disabilities and seniors.

Governor is proposing over $500 million cut to the IHSS program including an additional 8.4% across the board cut in hours. New eligibility requirement for all persons using IHSS to provide doctor’s certification of the person “at risk” of being institutionalized.  Elimination of certain IHSS services.  Proposing cutting SSI/SSP (and presumably CAPI) to lowest level allowed by federal government.  Click for more info.

Governor is proposing a $500 million cut for IHSS by significantly narrowing eligibility for all recipients by requiring certification from a physician certifying the person is "at-risk" of institutionalization; proposes additional 8.4% across the board cut in service hours.  Proposes to eliminate the MSSP for 11,000 seniors and Medi-Cal eligible who are otherwise at risk of institutionalization.

Governor Brown released his proposed 2011-12 spending plan calling for massive permanent reductions to a wide range of state funded programs.