CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT 
#075-2011  – MARCH 15, 2011 –  TUESDAY

BUDGET TRAILER BILLS RELEASED – FIVE BILLS DEALING WITH HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AMENDED YESTERDAY IN STATE SENATE

Action Signals Possible Vote on Budget Plan in State Senate Even If Stalemate Between Governor and Legislative Republicans Continues

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 03/15/2011 – 09:40 AM  (Pacific Time) –  The Legislature amended yesterday the budget related bills that make the necessary proposed changes to State law in order to implement the reductions and other changes in the proposed 2011-2012 State Budget.  Released are five separate bills – referred to as “budget trailer bills” dealing with reductions or changes in five key areas in health and human services impacting children and adults with disabilities (including developmental), mental health needs, the blind, seniors and low income families.

The budget trailer bills are critically important in determining how the Legislature – and the State intends to actually implement the over $12.5 billion of proposed reductions in State general fund spending (some of that amount is due to fund shifts and new federal money).  The language in the bills differs in many respects to the language originally proposed by Governor Brown in January. 

The release of the budget trailer bills signals that the Legislature – or at least the State Senate – may be preparing for a vote this week on the budget even if no agreement is reached with the Governor and Senate Republicans. 

The following are the budget trailer bills amended yesterday in the State Senate that impact health and human services (included with links to open and print the documents):

AB 97 – Health Budget Trailer Bill (as amended 03/14/2011)

Includes reductions to Medi-Cal, including elimination of Adult Day Health Centers, 10% reduction to Medi-Cal providers, mandatory co-payments and other cuts (133 pages):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_97_bill_20110314_amended_sen_v98.pdf

AB 96 – Human Services Budget Trailer Bill (as amended 03/14/2011)

Includes reductions to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), CalWORKS, SSI/SSP individual grant reductions (80 pages):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_96_bill_20110314_amended_sen_v98.pdf

AB 98 – Developmental Services Budget Trailer Bill (as amended 03/14/2011)

Includes all budget trailer bills dealing with regional centers and developmental services under the Developmental Services budget (36 pages):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_98_bill_20110314_amended_sen_v98.pdf

AB 99 – Proposition 10 Budget Trailer Bill (as amended 03/14/2011)

Contains the necessary changes in State law dealing with the shifting (or reduction) of $1 billion in Proposition funds to Medi-Cal children’s programs (7 pages):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_99_bill_20110314_amended_sen_v98.pdf

AB 100 – Mental Health Services Act (as amended 03/14/2011)

Contains necessary changes in State law to shift (reduction) about $900 million from Mental Health Services Act to 3 mental health community based programs (17 pages):

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ab_100_bill_20110314_amended_sen_v98.pdf