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H&HS Committee Hearing Summary

For those who are not familiar with Assembly Bill 896, which proposes to
close California's institutions for people with developmental disabilities,
more information is available from this Inclusion Daily Express web page:

CA UCP LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - AB 896
August 22, 2001 - Wednesday evening 9:40 PM
SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS 2 HOUR HEARING ON AB 896
NO VOTE TAKEN - ACTION PROMISED ON BILL NEXT YEAR
A two hour long hearing for AB 896, presented by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner, was held August 22, Wednesday afternoon before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. As previously announced, the bill was not voted on and is being held in committee until next year for further action.

Some Democrats on the committee - particularly Sen. John Vasconcellos (who announced he would be a co-author) and Sheila Kuehl strongly stated that they would do all they could to move the bill forward to passage next year.
Sen. Vincent indicated his support for the measure. Sen. Chesbro mentioned his concerns and promised to work closely with Assemblywoman Aroner to move the bill forward. Sen. Morrow had questions regarding monitoring and assurances but gave no indication whether he supported or opposed the bill. The Chair, Sen. Deborah Ortiz, expressed several concerns over the course of the hearing, including capacity of the community.

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, who is not on the committee, did sit in for most of the hearing in to show support for the measure.

There is a possiblity of hearings in different parts of the state on the bill, jointly chaired by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Deborah Ortiz and Assemblywoman Aroner. Aroner made a commitment to continue efforts to address concerns raised during the hearing.

The hearing room was packed with people, most of them because of AB 896. It appeared the numbers of supporters and opponents of the bill were about equal.

PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED

Note: Proponents of the bill had several people, including parents, consumers speak:

* Ellen Goldblatt of PAI gave a brief overview of the legal context for the legislation.
* Mary Edwards, a parent who talked about her son Warren and a former resident of Sonoma Developmental Center who now lives in the community.
* Dr. Michael Snitzer devleopmentaland behavior pedatrician at North Bay Regional Center and talked about medical and health resources in the community
* Christina Lasson, from People First of California, read a short statement of support
* Sam Durbin, former Developmental Center consumer, who now lives in the community and serves on the Orange County Regional Center
* Bill Coffelt, who son Bill, was a former Developmental Center consumer (in Sonoma), and was the lead plaintiff in the Coffelt case.
* Randy Kitch, a consumer served by North Bay Regional Center.
"We have a right to choose where we live and die..."
The following people spoke during the rebuttal phase of the hearing (in support):
* Art Bolton, consultant with Assemblywoman Aroner, who helped to draft the original Lanterman Act, and did much of the drafting of AB 896.
* Mark Polit, parent of a son with developmental disabilities who lives in the community, president of California Alliance for Inclusive Communities
* Ann Snowhook, Autism Society of Los Angeles, and parent of a former developmental center daughter, Aileen.
* Bruce MacKenzie, representing Arc California, and parent of a daughter with developmental disabilities who lives in the community
* John Shea, consultant, who drafted a fiscal analysis of AB 896.
* Venna Friedman, Organization of Area Boards
* Adalay (mispelled) Haberman, has a son who was a former consumer in the Sonoma Developmental Center and now lives in the community

Opponents who spoke:
* Valerie Wilk, Assistant Director, Department of Public Policy, American Federation of County, State, Municipal Employees AFL-CIO (Washington DC)representing 1,000 (of the total of 9,000 DC workers) health and human services professionals employed in the developmental centers in CA.
* Mike Faircolie, California State Employees Association, representing 3,000 (of the 9,000 employees) developmental center workers.
* Tim Hill, RN nurse instructor at Agnews Developmental Center and Director staff development (does training of the staff), spoke of the health and safety issues.
* Thelma Sims, retired state teacher from Sonoma Developmental Center.
* Maureen Fitzgerald, Executive Director, California Association for the Retarded
* Toni Rhodes, founder of Taxpayers Taxpaying Clients United, and mother of Christie (a consumer), who was next to her in a wheel chair.
* Theresa DeBell, RN and member of CASH/PCR and sister of Patrick DeBell (former Developmental Center consumer, who died after moving in the community).
* Judy MacDonald, Executive Director, State Council on Developmental Disabilities
* Connie Barker, California Psychatric Association
The following people spoke in opposition to the bill during the rebuttal phase:
* Venna(?) Spear, a parent of a consumer in the developmental center
* Dr. John Keefer, licensed clinical pyschologist at Porterville Developmental Center.
* Ray Serajolie? (not certain of spelling), son (age 46) who is consumer at the Fairview Developmental Center for the past 36 years.
* Sunny Maden, president of CASH/PCR, and parent of a consumer in a developmental center.
* Gary Robinson, executive director, union of American Physicans and Dentists (representing physicians who treat people in developmental centers and doctors who treat consumers in community)
Other speakers
* Cliff Allenby, director of the state Department of Developmental Services (The Department has not taken any position)

NEXT STEPS

* There will be no further action during this year's legislative session (which ends September 14) on AB 896.
* Meetings and possible interim hearings may be held during the Fall months when the Legislature is in recess (between September 15 and end of December).
* Meetings involving stakeholders and others may be held during the recess in the fall and continuing next year after 2002 session begins.
* The bill will be amended sometime early next year, prior to a second hearing before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
* At some point early in the year, another hearing of AB 896 will be held before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
* The bill, if it passes that committee, would (at this point) go to the Senate Appropriations Committee and probably be held there until the legislature has the chance to determine which bills should be reported ("suspense file").
* If it passes out of Appropriations next year, it would then go to the Senate floor, and back to the Assembly (for agreement on any changes or amendments made in the Senate). The deadline next year for that would be the end of August 2002.
Note: a more detailed report of the hearing will be sent out Thursday evening (with testimony from key speakers and legislators)

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Marty Omoto, Legislative Director
CA Coalition United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/446-3204 Fax: 916/446-3206