Sunday, May 2, 2010

State senate subcommittee meetings May 3 & 5, 2010

I just got this in my inbox last night at 6:20, even so if you can go then by all means do so! Thanks to Marty Omoto for this valuable information. If you want to learn more check out his website www.cdcan.us.

California Budget Crisis:
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #1 HEARING MAY 3
MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET ISSUES ON AGENDA
CAPI GRANT PROGRAM PROPOSAL TO BE HEARD
Issues to Be Heard Include Updates on Mental Health Services Medicaid Waiver;  Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission; Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT); Governor’s Proposal to Eliminate State Funded Cash Assistance for Immigrants (CAPI) Program  and California Food Assistance Program To Be Heard – No Action Likely Until Later Hearing in May.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Updated 05/01/2010  04:16  PM  (Pacific Time)] -   The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will meet next on May 3rd (Monday) at 1:30 PM in the State Capitol in Room 127 dealing with certain budget issues under the Department of Mental Health including the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and overview of major community based program areas including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT). 

The subcommittee will also hear three budget proposals by the Governor impacting programs under the Department of Social Services including the proposed elimination of the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) that provides small grants to legal immigrants with disabilities, the blind and seniors who do not qualify for the SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) program. 
A copy of the 47 page agenda is available for viewing or downloading from the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us

Most Budget Issues on Agenda Will Be Held “Open” Until Later Hearing in May
Like the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services hearing held April 29th, except for a few non-controversial items, nearly all of the budget subcommittee agenda issues and proposals up for discussion and hearing are either updates (meaning no action) or proposals that will likely be held “open” – meaning no action taken until a later subcommittee hearing in May that is held after the release of the Governor’s May14th budget revisions.  Those budget revisions – referred to as either the “May Revise” or the “May Revision” – will include the latest up to date budget spending and revenue numbers, likely new proposals for spending cuts and other budget changes.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Membership
The Assembly Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services membership consists of 4 Democrats and 2 Republicans:
Democrats:  Assemblymember Dave Jones (Democrat – Sacramento, 9th Assembly District);  Jim Beall, Jr (Democrat – San Jose, 24th Assembly District); Wes Chesbro (Democrat – Eureka, 1st Assembly District) and Hector De La Torre (Democrat – South Gate, 50th Assembly District)
Republicans:  Assemblymember Bill Emmerson (Republican – Hemet, 63rd Assembly District) and Brian Nestande (Republican – Palm Desert, 64th Assembly District)

May 3rd Assembly Subcommittee #1 Agenda
The agenda is divided into two sections
·         “Consent Items”, which are those budget issues that have no opposition and are not controversial.  There are 4 items under this section that the subcommittee – unless there is objection from one of the members – will approve in one roll call vote.  There is no public testimony for items in this section.
·         The second section are “Items to Be Heard” which include discussion on the Governor’s proposals, and also updates on various programs and services under the Department of Mental Health that were impacted by reductions as a result of the 2009-2010 State Budget approved in February 2009 and revised in July 2009.
·         Representatives of the two state departments, the Governor’s Department of Finance (DOF) , staff from the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) will be present to provide information or answer questions from the subcommittee. 
·         There will be time for brief public testimony for each item under the second section (“Items to Be Heard”). 
CONSENT ITEMS
Department of Mental Health (Budget Item 4440)
1.      Transfer Traumatic Brain Injury Responsibilities [Note: transfer to Department of Rehabilitation, as required by AB 398 in 2009]
2.      Transfer of San Mateo Pharmacy and Laboratory Services Program
3.      Convert State Counsel Position to Permanent
Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (Budget Item 4140)
1.      Mental Health Loan Assumption Awards Program
ITEMS TO BE HEARD
Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission (Budget Item 4560)
Overall background
1.      Independence of the MHSOAC (Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission)
Department of Mental Health (Budget Item 4440)
1.      Pro-Rata Proposition 63 Administration Reduction
2.      Proposition 63 Fund Shift to Department of Mental Health
3.      Care Giver Resource Centers [Note: update on impact 2009-2010 State budget reduction and additional cut from Governor’s line item veto last July]
4.      Office Patient Rights
5.      Request for Increase in Department of Mental Health Legal Positions
Overview of Department of Mental Health and Discussion of Major Program Areas (Note: includes overviews and status of the Mental Health Services Medicaid Waiver, that was given a 1 year extension due to expire September 1, 2010; State Hospital issues; update on Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA); Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care; overview and update on the Early Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program)
Department of Social Services (Budget Item 5180)
1.      Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) [Note: Governor is proposing elimination of this program – subcommittee staff is recommending that this proposal be held “open” – meaning no action taken – until a subcommittee hearing that is held after the release of the Governor’s budget revisions that are scheduled to be released on May 14th]
2.      California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)  [Note: Governor is proposing to eliminate this program that serves over 37,000 legal immigrants.  Like the CAPI proposal, subcommittee staff is recommending that this item be held “open” until after the May 14th  release of the Governor’s budget revisions. 
3.      Recent Noncitizen Entrants Program [Note: Governor is proposing to eliminate this program that serves over 24,000 persons.  Like the CAPI and CFAP proposals, the subcommittee staff is recommending holding this item “open” until after the May 14th release of the Governor’s budget revisions.]

Assembly Subcommittee Will Also Meet May 5th
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will also hold a second hearing in the coming week covering In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment grants) and developmental services including proposed closure of Lanterman Developmental Center, on May 5, Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 PM, at the State Capitol in Room 444.  The May 5th Assembly subcommittee portion of the agenda dealing  developmental services will cover the following:
·         Budget Change Proposal: Requesting Additional Resources to Increase Federal Funds Participation (this corresponds with April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #4, in Part 2)
·         Update on 2009-10 Budget Reductions  (this corresponds to the April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #1)
·         Deficiency Funding Request  (this corresponds to the April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #3 dealing with transportation)  [Note: “Deficiency” refers to when a department goes over its approved budget and the Governor is requesting State general funds to cover it. The request has to be approved by the Legislature] 
·         $25 million Savings Target Plan  (corresponds with April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee agenda item #2, Part 2, which the Senate Budget Subcommittee held “open” until after the May 14th release of the Governor’s budget revisions)
·         Update on Agnews Developmental Center Closure   (this was not part of the April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee Agenda)
·         April 1 Finance Letter – Lanterman Developmental Center Closure Plan (corresponds with April 29th Senate Budget Subcommittee Agenda, Part 1. The Senate Budget Subcommittee held the issue of closure “open” delaying action until another hearing that will be held after the May 14th release of the Governor’s budget revisions – but did approve several initial draft budget related language that deal with health and safety, employee, health clinic issues that relate to closure)
[note: “Finance Letter” refers to a notice or letter from the Governor’s Department of Finance to the Legislative budget committees that provides notice of an adjustment or other change in a budget item)

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