CALIFORNIA UCP ACTION ALERT #03-2003
December 15, 2002 - Sunday evening

ACTION NEEDED: ATTEND AND TESTIFY AT ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING IN LA DEC 17 AT 1:00 PM

WHAT
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services is holding an informational hearing on the proposed cuts and reductions to the current year budget proposed by Governor Gray Davis. This is the only informational hearing that this subcommittee, which deals with health and human services program, will be holding before January. No action will be taken by the subcommittee at this meeting.

        December 17, 2002 Tuesday afternoon 1:00 PM
        Ronald Reagan State Office Building
        Department of Insurance Hearing Room
        300 South Spring Street Los Angeles 90013
        (near West 3rd Street)

WHO SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS ALERT
People with developmental (and other disabilities), people with cognitive disabilities, people with mental health needs, people with low incomes, people who are Medi-Cal recipients, seniors, their families, providers, direct care staff, advocates, and other organizations - all those a part of or connected to the California Community Advocacy Network (California CAN) who will be impacted by the Governor's proposed cuts. Please note that the UCP ALERTS have numbers which indicate the number of the Alert and the year (2003 is being used since this will reflect actions taken by the new Legislature).
BRING A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBER OR THE PERSON YOU PROVIDE SERVICES OR SUPPORTS TO AND HOLD IT DURING THE HEARING SO EVERYONE CAN SEE! HOLD IT WHEN YOU TESTIFY!

IS IT IMPORTANT TO GO?
* Absolutely! Not only from the Los Angeles or Southern California area - but from across the state!
* If you are an individual or organization from outside the LA area and have very limited resources to travel, you may want to wait for the hearings that will be held in Sacramento in January. If you cannot make it to the meeting, give/send/email  someone who is, a picture of the person you wanted to talk about so they can show it at the hearing for you.  If you don't have anyone to give it to, email or fax to me at martyomoto@rcip.com or fax to (916) 446-3206.
* It is very very important for policy makers - even if its only the chair of the subcommittee and her staff - to see the faces and hear the voices of people whose services, supports and programs could be cut or eliminated.
* Even if you only sit and listen - that helps! Please attend! Time to speak (testify) will be very very limited, so keep your remarks brief and to the point (without being rude).
*  It is critical this Budget Subcommittee see faces and hear voices on the impact of the Governor's proposed cuts.  If you need assistance or have questions you can also contact these people for this hearing, in the local LA area:
- AbilityFirst (Steve Rosenthal or Gina Collis at 626/396-1010)
- Tierra Del Sol (Steve Miller 818/352-1419)
- UCP Greater Los Angeles/Ventura (Terri Lantz at 818/782-2211 ext 582)
- For Orange County only (Patricia Johnson, Johnson Group at 818/703-8329)
- or you can contact Marty Omoto (916) 446-3204 or email at: martyomoto@rcip.com

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE DECEMBER 17 HEARING
* ANTICIPATED CROWD -A large crowd of possibly several hundreds of people are expected - mostly from the Southern California area, but some representatives coming from all parts of the State. Seating probably will be limited as a result, so get there early!  We will be there at least an hour before hand, to pass out talking points and other information.
* LENGTH OF HEARING - Assembly hearings rarely start on time, but budget committee staff anticipate the hearing lasting about 3 hours (from whatever time it actually starts).  It could last longer depending on how many people testify - and how long the chair wishes it to continue.
* WHEELCHAIR ACCESS - The building and auditorium is accessible by wheelchair.  At last report, the front row area is supposed to be made available for people with wheelchairs.  However given the numbers of people expected, even that might not be enough room. So get there early.
* SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER - This was requested, due to the number of people who are deaf or hearing impaired and wish to attend and participate at this hearing.  It is not certain if the Assembly Budget Subcommittee will have this available (we are working with them on this)
* FORMAT OF HEARING - The format of the hearing is still tentative - and could change, but it appears that two or three panels of individuals will testify very briefly on specific subject areas related to the Governor's proposed cuts. The structure of these panels appear to be very tentative.  Following the panels it is expected that Assemblywoman Chu (the chair) will open up the proceedings for very brief comments from the general public attending. An actual agenda is not yet available.
* TIME TO TESTIFY - given the very very short time allowed (which is in part dependent on how large the crowd is), please be very very very brief - and to the point. Taking longer than your time (which will probably be about 1 minute) is taking time from another person!
* WHO SHOULD TESTIFY - Legislative hearings do not "swear people in" before they testify. Except for the 2 or 3 (or more) panels of people who were asked to testify on specific points briefly, everyone else will likely line up to a microphone, simply state their name, city they are from - and their brief comments.  Everyone should testify - people with developmental and other disabilities, any attendants or direct care workers, providers, advocates, family members - no one should be invisible or silent.
* PROTOCOL - Address your comments only to the chair of the subcommittee. She (or another committee member) may ask a question, which you should answer as briefly as possible. It is more likely that no questions will be asked (given the time and expected numbers of people). Do NOT be rude, insulting or threatening (the latter will probably cause a visit from an Assembly sargent-at-arms or state police). If you ask a question, do not expect that it will be answered at that time.  The hearing in LA is not a dialog but the first step in information gathering for the subcommittee and staff and an opportunity for advocates to put a spotlight on how the fiscal crisis is impacting our communities.
* MEDIA - media (largely local LA TV news and press)are expected to be there - at least for the first 20-30 minutes of the hearing.  Show the pictures!!!!
* MEMBERS OF THE  ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #1 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - This Assembly budget subcommittee (that deals with budget issues including developmental services, Medi-Cal, etc.) is chaired by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), with Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton), Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles), Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Temecula) and Assemblyman Robert Pacheco (R-Walnut). Note: Other members of the Assembly Budget Committee, including Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles) and others in the LA area may attend and sit in on the hearing.  Not all of the subcommittee members are likely to be present at this hearing.  Assemblyman Frommer is also chair of the Assembly Health Committee.  Chu and Robert Pacheco are the only two members who have served on this subcommittee previously last year.

TALKING POINTS AND SOME DO'S AND DON'TS
* BE BRIEF! - Talking longer than the time permitted means taking AWAY time from another person - and also making the hearing last longer (which is hard on the seniors, and other people with disabilities who are there)
* FOCUS ON YOURSELF OR PEOPLE WHO USE CRITICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS - Given the very very short time allowed to testify, keep your remarks focused on how critical the services and supports are to YOUR life - or to the life of YOUR family member - or to the life of the PEOPLE you advocate for or the PEOPLE you serve as a provider or direct care worker - and the impact of losing any of those things due to the Governor's proposed budget reductions.
* TALK ABOUT PEOPLE - Talk about the impact on PEOPLE - their needs for services and supports.  It is MORE critical to mention the service or support (ie, respite -day program, medical care, equipment, etc) than to mention WHO you receive the service from (simply because of the time - and also because the subcommittee needs to understand the personal impact in cutting a particular budget or program on YOU as a person - and less on how it impacts a particular regional center, specific provider or other entity).
* KEEP IT SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT - Talk about what you know - and keep it focused, simple and to the point.
* HANDING OUT PICTURES OR OTHER ITEMS - If you are testifying about another person, it is always helpful and useful to show a picture of that person to the subcommittee members, because it helps remind them that there is a real face to the name you are talking about. If you can leave the picture with the subcommittee, along with comments (include your name and address) that is even better.  If you intend to leave ANYTHING with the subcommittee, always ask permission of the chair FIRST.  She will then let you know what to do (a Assembly Sergeant At Arms will likely come to you and distribute whatever information or pictures that you have). As people are testifying or as the hearing proceeds - hold those pictures up ALL through the hearing! Let them see those faces!

NEXT STEPS
LEGISLATURE:
* FLOOR SESSIONS - The full Assembly and Senate are not expected to convene floor
sessions either in special session on the budget - or in regular session, until
January 6 (Monday). Final action on the Governor's proposed spending cuts and
reductions are not expected until sometime in early to mid January.
* HEARINGS - No action will occur at any of these informational hearings (other than hearing testimony from people). The Senate, at last report, will not hold any hearings prior to January and has set up internal Senate Budget Committee "work groups" based on subject area to review the Governor's proposed reductions, during the interim.
* Actual full scale budget hearings - in both houses - on the Governor's current year spending cuts proposal will occur sometime in early to mid January.
GOVERNOR:
* Continues preparations for submitting his proposed budget for 2003-2004 on
January 10 - which advocates fear will be the other proverbial shoe to drop. That
proposal is likely to contain a mixture of revenue increases and more program cuts.
* Even if the Legislature adopts every one of the Governor's special session proposed spending cuts and reductions, that would still leave a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion and growing (some fiscal observers say the deficit will total over $30 billion - which means if the Legislature adopts the Governor's current year cuts, the hole left would still be a staggering $20 billion).

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO
* SAVE THE DATE! Statewide advocacy organizing strategy meeting will be held in Sacramento on JAN 8 OR 9 (date will be finalized by late Monday 12/16). The meeting will feature remarks by Lt. Governor Bustamante and others, to support and urge that we continue our efforts at organizing and mobilization. In addition, a second part of the meeting will focus on the impact of staggering workers compensation costs to community providers and what can be done. Watch for special UCP ACTION ALERT on this meeting! [note: this replaces the tentative December 19th meeting]
* ORGANIZE! MOBILIZE! CA COMMUNITY ADVOCACY NETWORK (or California CAN)  - as
previously announced on 10/31/02 CA UCP ACTION ALERT, this non-partisan effort to
organize people with disabilities, families, advocates, direct care workers and
providers, and others is underway. Several organizing meetings in communities across the state have been held or many more are planned. If you are interested in participating or helping with a community meeting on the funding crisis (and to mobilize your community to take next steps) please contact:  martyomoto@rcip.com The network is an effort to link all groups (statewide, local - large or small) and individuals interested or involved in issues relating to people with developmental and other disabilities with coordinated advocacy, self advocacy, leadership training and development, etc.
* LETTER WRITING - there will be a NEW UCP ACTION ALERT with DIFFERENT persons to
write letters to.  Please watch for it Monday! NEW people to write to!
* MAKE THIS ISSUE A PERSON'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND FUNDING A PRIORITY FOR YOU AND YOUR
ORGANIZATION!!! - if you have not already done so, you should put this funding crisis (and for people with developmental disabilities and their families, it is also a critical civil rights issue with the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act at stake) at the very, very top of your organization or group's agenda. If you need information or assistance in organizing, please contact:  martyomoto@rcip.com (or call or write to the number below).
* DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! AND LET'S STAY UNITED AND TOGETHER!

NOTE: This is a report to Californians with developmental (and other disabilities),
families, providers and other advocates from the California Coalition of United
Cerebral Palsy Associations. If you would like to get on the UCP Update distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that request to: martyomoto@rcip.com. Please allow some time to be removed from the list (it takes time to delete names from distribution listing). Additions can be added immediately.  Please also send announcements of meetings, and any alerts or legislative reports you or your organization sends out etc. Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy this (attribution is nice, but so are new boots).  Thanks! Remember - we are all in this together.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Marty Omoto, Legislative Director
CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814
916/446-3204  FAX: 916/446-3206 email: martyomoto@rcip.com
Coalition Chair: Michael Williams (UCP of the Golden Gate)
Immediate Past Chair: Ron Cohen (UCP LA and Ventura Counties)