Assembly Budget Subcommittee Set to Hear Governor's Proposed Cuts to In-Home Services for Children and Adults With Disabilities & Seniors 4/28 - Informational IHSS Hearing Set for San Bernarndino for May 14

SACRAMENTO  -  Like the State Senate Budget Subcommittee last week, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services is set to hear final public testimony in Sacramento on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger controversial budget proposals for massive cuts to California's in-home services for children and adults with developmental and other disabilities and seniors, in a hearing set scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, April 28, beginning at 1:30 PM,  at the State Capitol in Room 4202.

Hundreds are expected to march for the rights of people with disabilities and seniors, starting from outside the Sacramento Convention Center (at 13th and K Street Mall) at 11:00 AM Wednesday morning to the South Steps of the State Capitol, where a protest rally will be held,  to coincide with the budget subcommittee hearing later in the afternoon. [for more information including lodging, transportation and parking information, please see www.cdcan.org website]  The protest march and rally is the fourth consecutive protest by people with disabilities at the State Capitol coinciding with budget hearings in less than a week.

Governor Schwarzenegger indicated on Thursday that he was backing off from his original proposal to eliminate the "residual program" of in-home supportive services if federal funds could help pay for the program, but was continuing to push for the other massive cuts to in-home services, cuts to community-based services for children and adults  with developmental disabilities, cuts to SSI/SSP, cuts to Medi-Cal and other health programs.  The action by the Governor gives about 75,000 children and adults with developmental and other disabilities (including seniors) served under the IHSS "residual program" a possibly temporary reprieve - while the threat of massive cuts to in-home services and other critical programs remain. A major component of  the "residual program", which is only supported with state funds,  permits parents of minor children with disabilities or the spouse of a person with disabilities (including the elderly) to be the in-home worker for their loved one.
Schwarzenegger Administration officials said at a budget hearing last week that they were optimistic that such a proposal to match federal funds to the IHSS "residual program"  would be approved by the federal government  - though many advocates are concerned about those prospects and about the wide range of other cuts impacting people with disabilities and seniors that remain alive.  The federal government would need to give final approval for any proposal seeking federal funds for the IHSS "residual program".  The Department of Social Services is scheduled to provide a draft proposal seeking federal funds (requesting an exception to the Medicaid rules, called a "waiver") to the Legislature and stakeholders on or just after May 1.

MORE ASSEMBLY BUDGET INFO HEARINGS ON IHSS
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1, chaired by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Los Angeles) as previously reported, will hold a separate informational hearing on the Governor's proposed cuts to in-home services on April 30 in Bakersfield, and another informational hearing tentatively scheduled for May 14 (Friday) in the city of San Bernarndino - the exact time and location not yet available.

04/30/04  - Friday  9:30 AM to 1 PM
Who: Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services
Where: Kern County Library Auditorium, 701 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, 93301-4816 (between S and Q Streets)
Department: Department of Social Services
Specific Budget Issues: Informational hearing only on Governor's proposed cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, including update on his proposal to rescind elimination of the "residual program" of IHSS pending approval for federal funds to support that program. Also on agenda is proposed cuts to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).   No action can be taken at an informational hearing
Priority:  VERY HIGH
Who This Impacts: Children and adults with developmental and other disabilities, including people with traumatic brain injuries and seniors, their families, community-based organizations who provide services/supports, independent living centers,  public authorities who oversee IHSS programs within their counties, county public authority advisory committees,  regional centers, in-home workers and other direct care and other workers and other advocates
Rally or protest being planned: Yes, a media event and rally is being planned.  See CDCAN website and also alert for further
details.

05/14/04 - Friday  (time not yet known and this hearing date is tentative)
Who: Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services
Where: City of San Bernarndino (exact location to be announced)
Specific Budget Issues: Reportedly, same as the April 30th informational hearing (In-home services)
Priority: VERY HIGH
Who This Impacts: same as April 30th hearing.

SAVE THE DATE - DIRECT ACTION FOR MAY REVISE
* APRIL 30 - FRIDAY 10 AM to 12 NOON - 10th Disability Rights/Issues Townhall Telemeeting (see CDCAN website to participate as a host site and for other details).  Update on the budget and what happened at the budget hearings and next steps.
* WEEK OF MAY 10th - LIKELY MAY 14 - Save the date for simultaneous press conferences and demonstrations across California (targeting over 40-50 cities) at the SAME time the Governor releases his revisions to his proposed budget for 2004-2005, as a response to any additional or continued proposed cuts that impact children and adults with disabilities and seniors. You can participate in your OWN community with this direct action (tied to voter registration and district organizing)