GOVERNOR WILL RESCIND PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE IHSS RESIDUAL PROGRAM - OTHER CUTS REMAIN ON TABLE
 

SACRAMENTO -  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will reportedly withdraw his proposal that calls for the elimination of the In-Home Supportive Services "residual program" with details to be announced at a major Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing scheduled Thursday morning (April 22).  A major protest rally is still scheduled to coincide with the hearing, with the rally to begin on the West Steps of the State Capitol just after 9:00 AM.

The stunning news - similar to the Governor's  reversal last December of his original proposal to suspend the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities - means that the program impacting 75,000 children and adults with developmental and other disabilities and seniors who have as their in-home worker their parent (if they are a minor child with disabilities) or spouse will not be axed and will remain in place.

The Schwarzenegger Administration indicated that they will submit proposals to the federal government that will help fund the IHSS Residual Program, which currently is only funded by state money.  The proposal is a waiver that allows exceptions  to the federal Medicaid program (called "Medi-Cal" in California).  Two years ago, at a Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing held March 2002, former Governor Davis' Department of Finance and Department of Social Services assured the subcommittee then that such waivers could be obtained, though no progress was apparently made until now.

The reversal by the Governor on the IHSS Residual Program does not include however other cuts he is proposing to In-Home Supportive Services regarding eliminating the state's share of the cost of employee wages beyond the minimum wage, and eliminating requirements for county public authorities that oversee the IHSS programs locally.  Those remaining proposed cuts, advocates claim, will devastate the in-home services for children and adults with developmental and other disabilities.  Other cuts, to community-based services funded through regional centers for children and adults with developmental disabilities, cuts to SSI/SSP, Medi-Cal and other services also remain on the table for consideration.

HEARING TO BE HELD
The hearing by the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veterans on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's controversial proposal for massive reductions and program elimination to  in-home services for children and adults with disabilities and seniors is scheduled to be held Thursday morning, April 22, at the State Capitol, in Room 4203.  Except for the stunning news from the Schwarzenegger Administration,  no major actions are expected by the subcommittee, this hearing is likely the last opportunity in the Senate for full scale public testimony on these issues and could have impact on the Governor's revisions to his proposed budget that he will release in mid-May.

The exact time of the April 22 hearing is linked to when the full Senate floor session adjourns, though budget committee staff believe the hearing could start as early as 9:30 AM, possibly 10:00 AM (the first item on the agenda will focus on some veteran budget issues).  [NOTE: A copy of the hearing agenda for April 22 can be viewed or downloaded from the California Disability Community Action Network website at www.cdcan.org, under "Budget Issues" and then under "Senate Documents".  A copy can also be found at the Senate committee site at: http://www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/COMMITTEE/STANDING/BFR/_home/Agendas.htm   ]

NEXT STEPS
* Details of the Governor's reversal on the IHSS Residual Program will be made public at the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 hearing Thursday morning.
* Governor is scheduled to release his revisions to the 2004-05 proposed budget during the week of May 10 - with May 14 the likely date at this time.  The Governor's revisions - referred to as "the May Revise" is considered a major event every budget year because it contains updated financial figures and assumptions that could result in more cuts, or rescinding reductions and perhaps even hinting or proposing possible revenue enhancements (tax increases).
* Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Los Angeles) holds a strictly informational hearing between 9:30 AM and 1 PM on April 23, Friday, at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Los Angeles on impact of proposed cuts to in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors.   The same subcommittee will hold formal hearings in Sacramento at the State Capitol on April 26, Monday at 4 PM on services and programs under the Department of Developmental Services (with a protest rally on the North Steps of the Capitol planned at 2 PM), and a hearing on in-home services and programs under the Department of Aging, set for 1:30 PM on April 28,  Wednesday. A protest march and rally is scheduled for the same day - to begin at 11 AM from outside the Sacramento Convention Center to the South Steps of the State Capitol.
* Both the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 will hold hearings in early and mid May to take final actions on many of the budget issues, though most of the controversial issues are likely to be decided in a special joint budget committee (conference committee).

URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT - THANKS AGAIN!
As  of 4/21/04, many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations.  As mentioned before, individual thank you letters are now being sent out (due to workload have been delayed!). However, until grant funding is finalized, contributions from people and organizations is still very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months. Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN). CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization (work on this will have this happen in within the next few months) Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network,  1225 8th Street Suite #480, Sacramento, CA  95814.  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.org.