CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
CAPITOL NEWS REPORT - ISSUE #134-2004
Linking people to disability rights and unified action
Website: www.cdcan.org  Toll-free info Lines Up!
July 27, 2004 - Tuesday afternoon

State Budget 27 Days Late
LEGISLATURE TO VOTE ON BUDGET WED 7/28
SWIFT APPROVAL BY GOV LATER THIS WEEK
MAJOR CHANGE TO MEDI-CAL TO BE ANNOUNCED 8/2

SACRAMENTO   -  Both houses of the California Legislature have scheduled floor sessions tomorrow (Wednesday, July 28) to vote on the long delayed state budget for 2004-2005, after the Governor and legislative leaders reached an over-all agreement late last night.   None of the three main issues holding up approval of the budget have direct or immediate impact to people with disabilities or seniors.  No changes were reported to the main budget bill and the series of budget related bills (called "trailer bills") that contain the levels of reductions and cuts to services or issues that impact people with disabilities and seniors previously reported in early July [see below for details of major issues].  Meanwhile,though not specifically a part of this year's budgt,  the Schwarzenegger Administration's proposal for a major "redesign" of the state's Medicaid system is scheduled to be unveiled on Monday, August 2 - though this could be delayed.  The proposed "redesign" will have major impact on the state's budget for 2005-2006.

The Assembly is scheduled to meet at 10:00 AM tomorrow, while the Senate is set to convene at 1:00 PM.  Both houses are expected to provide the necessary 2/3rds vote as required by the State Constitution to approve the state budget and send it to the Governor.  In addition, both houses will also approve a series of other budget related bills - referred to as "trailer bills", including those that have direct impact to people with disabilities.  Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to move quickly to approve the main budget bill later this week, with final action on the other budget related bills - called "trailer bills" to occur over the next 2 weeks or so.  Due to the Assembly session, a roundtable meeting at the State Capitol  on the 1999 US Supreme Court Olmstead Decision, previously scheduled for July 28,  has been postponed. The meeting will be rescheduled.

NEXT STEPS
LEGISLATURE - Both houses are expected to adjourn after the voteson the budget tomorrow,  for the remainder of the week - which is all that is left of their one month long summer recess.  Both houses are scheduled to reconvene on Monday, August 2 to complete the final month of the Legislature's two year session, which ends at midnight, August 31.
GOVERNOR - Can blue pencil (or line item veto) spending levels in the main budget bill - but is not likely to tamper with those areas where agreements or understandings have been made with the legislative leadership.  The Governor will also need to approve a series of other budget related pieces of legislation - called "trailer bills" that contain additional provisions or requirements or changes in existing law to carry out changes in spending, or implement reductions.  One of these "trailer bills" that impact people with disabilities and seniors will be AB 2117, once it is amended, dealing with health related issues.  As normal, the Governor usually takes several days - sometimes two weeks or so, to approve these measures.

SUMMARY OF SOME OF MAJOR ISSUES IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES/SENIORS
A full CDCAN Capitol News Report on the status of all budget items impacting children and adults with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, seniors, people with mental health needs will be issued when a budget is passed by the Legislature and approved by the Governor later this week.  However here is an update on some of the major issues in the budget that impact people with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries and seniors:
Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program (SSI/SSP)
* A delay of three months (from January 1 to April 1, 2005) of passing on the cost of living adjustments for SSI/SSP recipients, representing a $35 million reduction
In-Home Supportive Services for Children/Adults with Disabilities and Seniors
* No rollback of IHSS worker wages, no elimination of public authorities or advisory committees.
* Continuation of the Residual Program (as reported in April)  through matching federal funds (approval with federal government still pending) and legislative language that outlines program requirements and benefits be continued.
* IHSS "Quality Assurance Initiative" that some advocates believe will result in some reduction in hours and services - though the Administration believes this initiative will make the program more efficient, and cost effective.
Community-Based Services Funded Through Regional Centers
* No statewide limits or standards for regional center funded community-based services (also known as "purchase of service standards")
* 18 month expiration date (sunset)  for the fair hearing provisions that are part of the proposed parental/family share of cost plan that the budget subcommittees in both houses previously passed and is part of the budget plan.
* Unspecified or unallocated reduction of $7 million to the regional center budget that funds community-based services for people with  developmental disabilities (in addition to the continuation of cost containment measures that were put in place last year).
* Unspecified or unallocated reduction of $6.4 million to regional center operations budget, in addition to continuation of last year's operation budget reduction.
Developmental Centers (People with developmental disabilities) and State Hospitals
* Legislative language that rejects the Governor's proposal to move temporarily 200 residents from Agnews Developmental Center to Sonoma Developmental Center, and requires community options in the transition residents at Agnews Developmental Center, that is  proposed for closure in 2006
Other Issues
Medi-Cal
* No major changes or reductions to Medi-Cal in this year's budget.  However the Schwarzenegger Administration is expected to release next week - August 2, Monday  (though some rumors indicate the date will be delayed) the long awaited proposal to "redesign" the state's Medicaid program, which advocates say will have tremendous sweeping impact to people with disabilities and seniors.  No details available and it is not certain yet how the Schwarzenegger Administration will proceed with the proposal after it is released.  Many of the proposed changes to the program are meant to take effect for the next budget year that begins July 1, 2005.
Two meetings related to the Medi-Cal Redesign - though not sponsored by the State, have been scheduled for July 28th:
* Jul 28 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM - A roundtable discussion on state proposals that seek an exception or waiver of existing federal Medicaid regulations" is being held tomorrow, at the State Capitol, Room 112,  sponsored by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the UC Berkeley Center for Health and Public Policy.  The panel discussion is  titled "Medicaid HIFA Waivers: Lessons for California".  Seating limited. Please RSVP to chpps@uclink.berkeley.edu, or call (510)643-1675 with questions.
* Jul 28  3:00 PM to 4:00 PM -  a "Roundtable Discussion on the Governor's Proposal to Restructure the Medi-Cal Program."  at 1121 L St, Suite 904, downtown Sacramento (across the street from the State Capitol), sponsored by the California Budget Project and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Seating limited.  RSVP to cbp@cbp.org, or call (916)444-0500.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT (AS OF JULY 27, 2004)
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.  Contributions from people and organizations is still very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months, as we work to establish non-profit status.
Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN).  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.org.    CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization but will be soon.  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.  
* Who Is CDCAN?
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them. In addition it also goes to news organizations, state and local government officials and staff.
* How To Receive CDCAN Capitol News Reports and Alerts
If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that  request to:  martyomoto@rcip.com  OR sign up via the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.org.   Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy  this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  -  California Disability Community Action Network   WEBSITE: www.cdcan.org 
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com 
INFO HOTLINE TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-877-260-0267 (cannot leave messages) SAME INFO HOTLINE FOR SACRAMENTO AREA:  486-4652