BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 106|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 106
Author: Assembly Budget Committee
Amended: 6/9/11 in Senate
Vote: 21
PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT
SUBJECT : Budget Act of 2011: Human Services
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill makes statutory changes necessary to
implement Human Services-related portions of the 2011-12
budget.
Senate Floor Amendments of 6/9/11 delete the prior version
of the bill related to "cash management" and the Budget
Act, and implement language regarding Human
Services-related provisions of the Budget Act of 2011.
ANALYSIS : This is the Human Services Budget Trailer
Bill. It contains provisions, including the following key
changes, that are necessary to implement the 2011-12
budget:
Elimination of Boards or Commissions
1. Eliminates the Rural Health Policy Council (RHPC). The
RHPC was created in 1996 to coordinate rural health
policy and distribute grant funding (none of which has
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been available for several years). The RHPC is
comprised of representatives of several state
departments, and the Administration indicates that those
departments will continue to coordinate their work after
the RHPC is eliminated.
2. Eliminates the Continuing Care Advisory Committee (CCAC)
within the Department of Social Services. Under
existing law, the CCAC acts in an advisory capacity to
the department, and the Administration indicates that
the department will continue to consult with
stakeholders regarding policies related to continuing
care facilities.
3. Eliminates the Health Care Quality Improvement and Cost
Containment Commission. The Commission was created to
research and recommend strategies for promoting quality
health care. The Administration indicates that federal
health care reform implementation efforts have
superseded the Commission's role.
4. Eliminates the California Health Policy and Data
Advisory Commission (HPDAC). Under existing law, the
HPDAC has advised the Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development (OSHPD) on issues related to
health facility and other provider data. The
Administration indicates that this formal entity is no
longer needed, and that OSHPD will continue to consult
with stakeholders, as appropriate.
Children's Programs
5. As required by a recent court order, increases by around
30 percent the monthly rates paid to foster families for
the care and supervision of children in foster care.
Beginning with 2011-12, the rates will also increase
annually based on cost of living adjustments. These
changes also impact the rates paid for other permanent
family placements, including specified adoptions and
guardianships. The total General Fund impact of these
increases is $17.4 million in 2011-12.
6. Extends, until January 1, 2013, an existing moratorium
on the establishment of new or changed foster care rates
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for group homes. Continues to allow for case-by-case
exceptions to the moratorium, as appropriate.
7. Requires the Department of Social Services, in
partnership with the Office of Systems Integration, to
report to the Legislature, by January 10, 2012,
regarding specified child welfare-related automation
needs and functionalities. This requirement stems from
the suspension of development efforts related to a
replacement system for CWS/CMS (anticipated to result in
$3.1 million General Fund savings in 2011-12).
8. Further delays, until January 1, 2012, implementation of
the resource family approval pilot established by AB 340
(Hancock), Chapter 464, Statutes of 2007.
9. Further delays, until July 1, 2013, the implementation
of requirements, created by AB 2985 (Maze), Chapter 387,
Statutes of 2006, for county welfare departments to
engage in specified activities to identify and prevent
the impacts of identity theft on foster youth. This
delay results in savings of $0.3 million General Fund.
10.Makes technical changes to correct an inaccurate
reference to the state/county sharing ratios used for
repayment of overpayments in the foster care and
adoption assistance programs.
California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities to Kids
(CalWORKs) Program
11.Makes technical changes to statutes enacted by SB 72
(Senate Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 8, Statutes
of 2011, the human services trailer bill included in the
March budget package, including refinements to statutes
related to subsidized employment programs, changes to
simplify implementation of the new 48-month time limit,
corrections to provisions regarding suspension of the
CalLearn program so that recipients can continue to
receive welfare-to-work services, and clarification of
eligibility for specified pregnant teens.
12.Repeals graduated reductions of 5, 10, or 15 percent to
grants for children in specified cases with no aided
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adult. These grant reductions were enacted in SB 72,
and were in addition to an 8 percent reduction to the
maximum aid payment that was also enacted as part of the
March budget package. This change results in an erosion
of $86.3 million in previously anticipated 2011-12
General Fund savings.
13.Deletes exemptions from work participation requirements
for specified parents or relative caregivers who are
caring for a child between the ages of 24 and 35 months
of age, inclusive. Those exemptions were enacted by SB
72 in March. This change corresponds to a revised
reduction amount of $376.9 million (from the $427
million reduction that was included in the March budget
package) to the single allocation of funding for
CalWORKs administration, child care, and welfare-to-work
services.
Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) Program
14.Transfers administration of the Drug Medi-Cal program
from the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs to the
Department of Health Care Services, effective July 1,
2012.
15.Authorizes transition activities prior to July 1, 2012,
consistent with a related administrative and
programmatic transition plan that must be developed and
submitted to the Legislature, after consultation with
stakeholders, as specified.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program
16.Clarifies provisions enacted by SB 72, including
amendments to include intent language with respect to
the across-the-board reduction that may be triggered, to
exempt recipients of services under specified waiver
programs from the reduction, to revise when services may
be authorized temporarily pending the receipt of a
required medical certification, and to delete a
prohibition on the replacement of reduced IHSS hours
with additional Waiver Personal Care Services hours
(which was more recently determined to potentially
result in increased, rather than decreased, costs).
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17.Requires the Department of Social Services, in
consultation with designated stakeholders, to develop a
new rate-setting methodology for public authority IHSS
administrative costs, which is intended to take effect
beginning with the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Other
18.Declares that the state will reimburse local agencies or
school districts for any costs that the Commission on
State Mandates determines are mandated by the state.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
CTW:mw 6/9/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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