Use Seatbelts – It Could Be a Bumpy Ride
ACTION ALERT
Right around the corner, the bill draft submission deadline is at the end of January, with securing authors for bills to be done by late February. New committee assignments are arriving – Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins has announced chairs and floor leaders. Senate President pro Tempore Kevin De Leon is beginning his tenure leading the Senate and committee assignment decisions are high on the “to do” list.
Governor Brown will present his proposed budget materials shortly before our Regional Meetings January 21 and 22. Given recent revenue updates from the Legislative Analyst predicting $2 billion in higher revenues this fiscal year than assumed when the budget was negotiated, we plan to advocate as strongly as we can for the 10% across-the-board increase in community services and operations in the regional center system. Additional increased costs driven by government actions (e.g., increased minimum wage by state and local governments, new sick leave requirements in July of 2015, expected shortfalls from federal overtime law changes, etc.) will be very high on Legislative Priorities for 2015.
Changes in Medicaid regulations will become an increased topic of meetings throughout California’s “DD system” and we await the Department of Developmental Services’ announcement of its “Communication Plan” which we expect will include a variety of activities to build awareness and to solicit feedback as the state embarks on the transition planning required under the CMS rules for complying with HCBS regulations. If you have not already done so, please formally submit comments on your own realities, priorities and concerns as the system moves forward. These comments need to be emailed or mailed as soon as possible.
Please email all comments to: STP@dhcs.ca.gov, or send via U.S.P.S. to:
Department of Health Care Services
Long-Term Care Division, STP comments
1501 Capitol Avenue, MS 4503
PO Box 997437
Sacramento, CA 95899-7437
