Possible temp relief for Nov 1 cuts to homecare; take action now!

From John Wiklins, IHSS consumer (homecare client) and advocate for the disabled.

On Monday, November 2, in the Assembly, Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D - Santa Rosa) will offer amendments to SB 69 which will offer temporary relief - for the counties, IHSS consumer and IHSS providers -  from the IHSS program changes which are to go into effect November 1.

 

When those amendments are adopted she will ask for a floor vote. A 2/3 vote will be needed for this urgency bill; if the 2/3 approval happens, the bill will go to the Senate for concurrence. All of this can happen on the same day - tomorrow, November 2.

 

The language of the bill will be available on Monday. The bill has two purposes:

1) Stop the implementation of the November 1 program changes

2) Require the administration to undertake a real stakeholder process concerning the implementation of the changes. The changes would go ahead 90 days after the stakeholder process finishes.

 

We expect these program changes will be named in the bill as the ones which should be delayed:

 

1) The new provider enrollment form

 

2) The new provider orientation requirement

 

3) The criminal background check requirement

 

4)  Unannounced visits to consumers

 

5) Requirement that providers use a physical address rather than a PO Box

 

6) Addition of civil penalties to fraud convictions

Your help is needed right now callfax or email Senator Wiggins and Assemblywoman Evans today!

Senator Pat Wiggins  


Santa Rosa
Phone: (707) 576-2771
Fax: (707) 576-2773
Email: email her now

Sacramento
Phone: (916) 651-4002
Fax: (916) 323-6958


Assemblywoman Noreen Evans


Sacramento
Phone: (916) 319-2007
Fax: (916) 319-2107
Email: email her now

Santa Rosa
Phone: (707) 546-4500
Fax: (707) 546-9031

1) Please call, fax or email your legislator and tell her/him what this bill is about (they will be seeing the new contents of the bill for the first time on Monday) and how important this bill is to you.

2) Please call or fax the Governor and tell him he has the chance to do the right thing and delay these changes by signing SB 69 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-445-4633 or email

3) Send a floor alert to all legislators if you or your organization have the capacity to do that.

The tight timeframe was forced upon the Legislature by the inadequate, and last minute nature of implementation instructions.  Assembly Budget and Senate Budget committees heard the issues in specific detail when they met last week, Wednesday, October 28.

Almost half of the counties in California have told the administration that they have not been given the information and tools they need to implement these program changes.

Stakeholders have had little or no opportunity for feedback on these extremely significant and troubling program changes, which were adopted in a rush in the last days of the budget negotiations in July.

PLEASE ACT NOW

Thank you!