Talking Points

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A majority of Disability Action Coalition members agree with the following positions and would like to encourage you to discuss them during your legislative appointments:

SUPPORT:

AB 154 (Beall) will ensure that healthcare plans cover the treatment of mental illness and prevents healthcare plans from adopting their own narrow definitions. It expands the coverage requirement for certain health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after a specified date, to include the diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness for individuals of all ages.

SB 48 (Leno) prevents further stereotypes and educates people about the historical contributions of people with disabilities. It furthers the passage of ACR 162, “Disability History Week”, by requiring instruction in social sciences to include a study of the role and contributions of specific groups which include, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, and persons with disabilities. It prohibits discriminatory content based on race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, and sexual orientation.

SB 930 (Evans) repeals the requirement that In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) consumers provide fingerprint images at the time of assessment or reassessment. It also eliminates the requirement that each provider’s timesheet include provider and recipient fingerprints and allows providers to use post office boxes. These requirements were originally proposed as anti-fraud measures in 2010, but no evidence of fraud could be produced to justify these hastily enacted measures.

OPPOSE:

Support a balanced approach to solving the budget crisis by extending the current revenues and finding new funding sources that support programs that maintain health and minimize unnecessary and unwanted institutionalization. The ability of the public to vote on the Governor’s proposal is an important part of this balanced approach. The other option, an all cuts budget, would mean more harmful cuts to programs people with disabilities care about. Cuts alone will cost California in the long run.

Oppose the cut of $7.517 million to the IHSS Public Authorities. Public Authorities have already been reduced by 68% since FY 09/10. More cuts threaten the continued existence and operations of Public Authorities. Public Authorities preserve consumer choice and make the IHSS program work efficiently for IHSS consumers.  

Oppose the elimination of redevelopment low- and moderate-income housing funds and the elimination of state review of local housing plans. The funding and review process are vital for the creation of affordable, accessible housing to meet the needs of people with disabilities. This is one of redevelopments most important functions. The lack of affordable, accessible housing is a major obstacle to community integration of people with disabilities and a cause of homelessness.

Oppose the cut from $85 million to $25 million for funds to help people transitioning out of Adult Day Health Centers (ADHC). The legislature has already voted to eliminate Adult Day Health Centers (ADHC), a community based medical service program that serves about 35,000 Californians with disabilities. The program keeps many individuals from entering costly nursing home placements. The legislature said it wants to create another ADHC-like program through a federal waiver, but the May Revision contains no funds for a new ADHC. The lack of planning has already forced some people with disabilities into nursing homes.

Cuts to the developmental disabilities system should minimize the impact on consumers. Any changes in services must be driven by the individual program plans.

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