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Archived
News and Projects DDS Proposed Budget Cuts
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) may soon - perhaps this week or next - release a draft of proposed statewide "purchase of services" (POS) standards. The idea of proposed standards, which would justify the proposed reduction of $52 million in community services and supports for people with developmental disabilities, is strongly opposed by many advocates. DDS may hold field hearings in several locations in the state possibly this month in the Bay Area, in the Los Angeles area and one or more other locations. Details should be available very soon and will be passed on immediately.
The $52 million proposed reduction is just one of several proposed reductions in services and supports impacting people with disabilities (in this case, specifically people with developmental disabilities). The proposed reduction is still pending further action in the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 (which deals with health and human services issues), chaired by Senator Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata). It is not certain when the Senate subcommittee will take action on the Administration's proposed reduction. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, voted April 8th to reject the proposed cuts.
IMPACT TO PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES * Uncertain, but if one agrees that the developmental services system has never been fully funded for the past 10 years and in fact is facing a crisis in funding currently in community services and supports, then any reduction - even $52 million - will have a direct impact to people with developmental disabilities, their families, providers and others. The specifics won't be available until advocates can review the proposed standards in "purchase of services" - services and supports that are purchased in the community for people with developmental disabilities via the 21 regional centers, who in turn receive funding from the state (via DDS). * These proposed reductions need to be put in context with the other proposed cuts in work activity programs and supported employment programs for people with developmental disabilities (amounting to over $7 million) that are still pending before the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 (the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 voted April 22 to reject those cuts, including a proposed freeze on work activity program rates that are scheduled to increase 2002-2003). In addition, the Administration has proposed cuts or reductions in other programs - including In-home Supportive Services (IHSS), including freezing the state's statutory contribution toward an increase in wages for workers (providers). Some of these cuts in IHSS were rejected by both the Senate Budget Subcommittee and Assembly Budget Subcommittee in March, but others - including wages - remain on the table.
NEXT STEPS * LEGISLATURE: The Legislature will continue reviewing the Governor's proposed budget, with both Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees holding hearings on May 6th (Monday). Both houses intend to finalize review of the budget by the subcommittees by mid-May (the Senate intends to finalize subcommittee actions by May 19, Sunday). Presumably, the draft standards that DDS is preparing for release, will be considered and reviewed by the Budget Subcommittees. Important hearings on the budget relating to people with developmental disabilities are May 6, May 19. May 8th is a hearing date impacting Department of Social Services which COULD include items relating to IHSS. Other scheduled hearing dates (see previous UCP Budget Alert) may or may not included items and issues impacting people with disabilties. As of Friday morning, May 3, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 still has not released hearing schedule after the May 14 release of the Governor's revisions. No details yet - but we will pass them on as soon as they are available. * GOVERNOR - The Governor's revisions (to be released May 14, Tuesday) to his proposed 2002-2003 budget, may contain additional cuts to services and supports to people with disabilities in general - and probably to people with developmental disabilities specifically. Other drastic cuts are feared for other human services programs, including those impacting older Californians, children, immigrants and others. * DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (DDS) - the Department, in previous budget hearings, said they would issue a draft standards of "purchase of services" (POS) before June and convene stakeholder meetings to review it and receive input. They also made some references to issuing emergency regulations relating to the proposed reductions in community services and supports (pending approval of that proposal in the budget - and pending approval of the entire 2002-2003 state budget itself). There are no specifics yet. * FIELD HEARINGS - no specific details on when or where (other than possible general locations in the Bay Area and the LA area and one or two other areas in the state). This information might be available today, along with the draft standards or in the next few days. Presumably people can also comment on the draft standards (that would justify reductions in community services and supports) also with letters. * OLMSTEAD DECISION - one can use this US Supreme Court Decision to support the position of no reductions in community services and supports. In addition, Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 (and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee will soon follow) approved language to be included as part of the state budget that will require the California Health and Human Services Agency to develop a "state plan" to implement the Olmstead Decision.
WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER DOING * FIELD HEARINGS - organize, and get as many people to these field hearings. We will pass on dates and locations. This will be a good forum to oppose reductions in community services and supports. We will also pass on the draft standards. * LEGISLATIVE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS - people are needed to attend (and testify) at these hearings -as people did on April 8th (in large numbers) and April 22 - and also during the March hearings on IHSS and Department of Rehabilitation, and most recently, the April 30 Olmstead Informational Hearings. The next hearings are on MAY 6th (see separate UCP Alert). Another critical hearing date - where final action by the Seante Budget Subcommittee #3 is expected (impacting nearly all human services programs, including developmental disabilities, mental health, IHSS, etc) will take place May 19, Sunday (see separate UCP Alert), which will also review and take actions based on the Governor's revisions released earlier on May 14. * LETTER WRITING - see separate UCP Budget Alert, which includes sample letter, addresses of targets (including the Governor). This is very important! Many people have written - more letters are needed! * REGISTER TO VOTE - Jay Gallaird, executive director of the Golden Gate Regional Center in San Francisco, and many other advocates have urged people to register to vote as a means to push for community funding for services and supports for people with disabilities. People with disabilities, family members, direct care workers and others should ALL register to vote in time for the November election. All state office holders (including Governor), all members of the Assembly and a third of the members of the state Senate - and all members of Congress, are up for election (in addition to local elected officials in some areas). * MEETINGS - advocates are calling local and statewide meetings to organize and push for the state to meet its responsiblities to people with disabilities. See separate UCP Alerts for statewide meetings (one is being scheduled for May 16th or 17th in Sacramento). We will being publishing information about local meetings as well. Read More Archived News Stories AB896 General Human Interest Litigation State Budget
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