CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT , #081-2011  – MARCH 21, 2011 –  MONDAY

State Budget Crisis

Assembly Adjourns – No Action On State Budget – Next Scheduled Assembly Floor Session Friday 09:00 AM – State Senate Scheduled To Convene Today At 2 PM

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN)  [Last Updated 03/21/2011 1:18 PM] –  The Assembly adjourned this afternoon just before 1:20 PM taking no further action today on the 2011-2012 State budget after a nearly two hour ceremony honoring “women of the year” from each of their legislative districts and is scheduled to meet again on Friday (March 25) at 09:00 AM and Tuesday (March 29) at noon [Monday, March 28^th is a state holiday honoring Cesar Chavez].  The Assembly remains “on call” by the Assembly Speaker on the remaining other days this week and during the weekend should new developments on the State budget require action. 

The State Senate is scheduled to convene at 2:00 PM and no vote on the remaining crucial pieces of the 2011-2012 State budget seems likely today.

As reported earlier today, there is still no agreement with any Assembly or Senate Republicans on the final major unfinished pieces of the 2011-2012 State Budget, including revenues of $12 billion.  Action also is still needed on a major budget related bill calling for elimination of redevelopment agencies, which fell one vote short of passage in the Assembly last week that means a reduction in State general funding spending of over $1.5 billion.   

Barring a change in procedure, the State Senate and Assembly needs 2/3rds vote to approve the Governor’s plan to place on a June special election ballot his proposal to extend for five years temporary tax increases that are set to expire June 30^th.  

In the Assembly that means 54 votes (or at least 2 Assembly Republican votes if all 52 Assembly Democrats vote for it) and 27 votes in the State Senate (or at least 2 Senate Republicans if all 25 Senate Democrats vote for it). 

Last week the Legislature passed the main 2011-2012 State Budget bill (SB 69) three months early, and also a series of budget related (“trailer”) bills that calls for nearly $11 billion in spending reductions, including over $6 billion in health and human services that impact children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors and low income families. 

Many of those reductions impact Medi-Cal, CalWORKS, SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment maximum individual grants, regional centers and other developmental services for over 240,000 infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities, In-Home Supportive Services, foster youth, mental health community-based services and supports. 

As of Monday morning (March 21), none of those bills have been sent to the Governor yet.