BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULED FOR LA DEC 17 TUE

CALIFORNIA UCP ACTION ALERT 02-2003
December 12, 2002 - Thursday morning

ACTION NEEDED: COME TO ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING IN LOS ANGELES ON 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 this (and the other Assembly budget subcommittees) will hold before January. The informational hearing relating to health and human services programs (no action will be taken) is set for (all information confirmed now):

                    December 17, 2002 Tuesday morning 1:00 PM
                    Ronald Reagan State Office Building
                    300 South Spring Street Los Angeles
                    (exact address could be off)

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 recepients, 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). 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).

IS IT IMPORTANT TO GO?
Absolutely! Not only from the Los Angeles or Southern California area - but from across the state! 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). [note: we will be issuing another Alert on Friday with some talking points and other suggestions - please watch for that]. Media will likely be there.

WHY THIS ALERT
* WHAT THIS ALERT IS ADDRESSING - This alert addresses the first initial hearings on the proposed cuts in current year spending proposed by Governor Davis. The hearing on December 17 is important because it will focus on all cuts and reductions made to the Health and Human Services budgets - including those impacting people with developmental disabilities, seniors, mental health and others. This is the first and probably only opportunity for a budget subcommittee to hear from communities across the state on the impact of the Governor's proposals before January (there will be budget subcommittee meetings in January - but likely all in Sacramento).

BACKGROUND
The latest information as of Thursday morning (12/12/) is that the Assembly Budget Subcommittees, including subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), will each hold just ONE informational hearing each next week - in different locations throughout the state (health and human services is in LA, education finance in San Jose, etc). The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will only ONE informational hearing before January (December). The other Assembly subcommittees will hold only ONE informational hearing before January too - the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance (relating to education budget issues) set for December 18, Wednesday, 1 PM in San Jose at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

As of Thursday afternoon (December 12), there is no information available yet regarding what the Senate intends to do regarding public hearings (it doesn't appear they will hold any informational hearings next week - though anything can change).

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 is expected at any of these informational hearings (other than hearing testimony from people). No quorum of subcommittee members is required. No information yet on what the Senate plans to do regarding hearings.
* Final action on the Governor's proposed spending cuts and reductions is not expected until January sometime. Actual full scale budget hearings on the Governor's current year spending cuts proposal will occur sometime in early to mid January.
* 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).
GOVERNOR:
* Will continue 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 YOU CAN DO
* PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HEARING ON DEC 17 - though the hearing date, time and location could all change - please consider attending THIS important hearing to voice how the impact of the proposed cuts and reductions. It is critical the Budget Subcommittee see faces and hear voices on the impact of the Governor's proposed cuts. If you need assistance or have questions contact me at (916) 446-3204 or email at: martyomoto@rcip.com
* 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 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 Friday (UCP ACTION ALERT #04-2003)
* 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).

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)

CALIFORNIA UCP BUDGET UPDATE
December 10, 2002 - Tuesday evening

ASSEMBLY TO SCHEDULE BUDGET HEARING IN LA TUESDAY DEC 17; AN OVERVIEW ON BUDGET CUT PROPOSAL SET FOR DEC 16 AT STATE CAPITOL

The California State Assembly has so far scheduled two committee meetings on the Governor's proposed spending cuts of $10 billion to the current year budget, including an informational hearing (not yet officially announced) in Los Angeles on December 17, Tuesday afternoon, tentatively set for 1:00 PM, at the Ronald Reagan State Office Building in Los Angeles. The hearing presumably will focus on health and human services related issues in the Governor's proposed cuts to the current year budget, including the proposed $100 million reduction in regional center purchase of services budget beginning July 1, 2003, cuts to Medi-Cal, and the Department of Rehabilitation's Habilitation Program. Information, as it is confirmed, will be reported immediately in a UCP Budget Update.

There is no information yet regarding additional hearings in other locations of the state - though Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) said Monday that his intention was to hold "hearings everywhere around the state".

The full Assembly Budget Committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) is scheduled to meet on December 16, Monday morning at 8:30 AM, Room 4202 in the State Capitol, Sacramento for an overview of the Governor's proposed budget cuts and adjustments. No testimony or final action is expected to be taken at this meeting.

The latest information is that the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), is tentatively scheduled to hold a hearing in Los Angeles, on December 17, Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 PM at the Reagan State Office Building, Los Angeles. Nothing is finalized, but testimony from the general public will be taken. No action from the subcommittee is expected to take place. It is not confirmed whether or not the hearing will include other Assembly Budget Subcommittees - or if the full Budget Committee will participate or actually conduct the hearing instead.

There is no information available yet regarding what the Senate intends to do regarding public hearings.

WHAT DOES THIS ACTION MEAN
* Hearings on the budget are normally not held outside of the State Capitol, however given the potential staggering impact of cuts proposed by the Governor, the leadership of both houses want to determine how each cut or reduction will impact people.
* Today's action included no other substantive or significant action, other than to schedule (so far) two Assembly budget-related committee hearings (the hearing date for the December 17 has not yet been officially announced).
* Final action on the Governor's proposed spending cuts and reductions is not expected until January sometime.

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 - More hearings elsewhere in the state are reportedly being planned by the Assembly. No action is expected at any of those hearings (other than hearing testimony from people). No information on any other dates or locations. No information yet on what the Senate plans to do regarding hearings.
* 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 reportedly the actual subcommittee that will hold the December 17 hearing in Los Angeles. Last session this budget subcommittee was chaired by Acting Chair Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley) who has retired due to term limits. The current subcommittee 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).
GOVERNOR:
* Will continue 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 YOU CAN DO
* PLAN TO ATTEND THIS AND OTHER HEARINGS - though the hearing date, time and location could all change - consider attending THIS important hearing to voice how the impact of the proposed cuts and reductions. See December 11 UCP ACTION ALERT on this to mobilize and organize people to attend (mostly from the Los Angeles area - though people in other parts of the state may wish to attend) including letter writing campaign and targets.
* 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 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.
* 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).