Letters to the Senate Human Services Committee opposing AB1427

Letter to Senate and Assembly leaders asking that they oppose the Governor's budget proposal to permanently reduce the State's share of cost for wages of IHSS workers, eliminate existing rate and cost freezes for regional center services, and restore additional proposed service reductions. 7/1/05.

Letter to Senate Human Services Committee in support of AB 1378 (Lieber) that would authorize the Department of Developmental Services to provide for an orderly closure of Agnews Developmental Center by operating community facilities and using and contracting for departmental employees to assist at these facilities. 6/27/05.

Letter to Senate Human Services Committee in support of AB 609 (Lieber) that would require the Department of Developmental Services to establish an Agnews Developmental Center Campus Advisory Group to provide recommendations to the Legislature by June 30, 2006 on the use of real property at the Agnews campus, including options to benefit people with developmental disabilities. 6/27/05. 

Letter to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee pointing out the inequities of public decision makers providing a pay raise for state legislators and other state employee groups at the same time they continue to freeze and reduce funding to community programs for people with developmental disabilities. 6/22/05. (Same letter sent to Assembly Budget committee with copy to Governor Schwarzenegger, 6/22/05.) 

Letter to Legislative Budget Conference Committee asking that it augment the Department of Developmental Services' budget by $94.7 million by lifting program rate freezes, eliminating program rate reductions, and rejecting remaining cost containment actions. Also asks that it modify the new Self-Determination program by allowing for participation of congregate services, eliminating a proposed 10 percent reduction in participants' individual budgets, and requiring that proposed regulations go through a normal, non-emergency review period. 5/31/05.

Letter to Legislative Budget Conference Committee asking that it augment Department of Developmental Services' budget by $94.7 million and make changes to proposed self-determination program, 5/31/05. 
 

Letter to Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services asking that it augment DDS budget to eliminate existing rate freezes and restore other proposed reductions for regional center services, 5/19/05. 
 

Letter to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi commenting on the crippling effect increases in workers' compensation insurance premiums have had on many community programs and additional increases that will result from proposed changes in rates and classifications, 9/15/04.

Letter from DDS dated 9/2/04 responding to CAR letter of 7/22/04 on inadequacy of community rates.

Letter to DDS, in conjunction with Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), asking that they address problems with community rates by developing a system to gauge the health and financial integrity of existing facilities and take steps to prevent programs in imminent financial danger from reducing services or closing, 7/22/04.  Copy sent to ARCA.

Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger opposing rate freezes and cuts for work activity programs, 6/30/04.  (Same letter sent to Legislative Budget Conference Committee members, and Assembly and Senate Republican and Democratic leaders.)

CAR Position Statement: The Future of Congregate Day Programs and Developmental Centers, 6/24/04.

Response from Department of Developmental Services to CAR letter of 4/14/04, providing explanation of departmental actions, 6/21/04.

Letter to Legislative Budget Conference Committee identifying inadequacy of funding for many existing community programs and supporting redirection of $11 million for Bay-Area community-based projects, 6/9/04.

Letter to Legislative Budget Conference Committee regarding need for uniform budget standards and employee funding procedures for developmental centers and regional center programs and opposing unallocated reduction to regional center services, 6/9/04.

Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger expressing concern that proposed agreements and compacts to commit future tax receipts to identified sectors of government will limit funds available for critical health and human service programs, 6/1/04

Letter to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #3 proposing changes in state budgeting procedures and redirection of funds to developmental services programs, 5/21/04.

Letter to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee #3 opposing proposed elimination of IHSS Residual program, 4/21/04.

Letter to DDS regarding problems with regional center procedures for transitioning special need clients to community and lack of funding parity, 4/14/04.

Letter to Senate Health and Human Services Committee in support of SB 1895 (Burton)4/9/04.  SB 1895 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to insure maximum use of state and federal funds to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education and related services.

Letter to members of Assembly opposing proposed elimination of In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Residual program, 2/27/04.  (Same letter sent to members of Senate.)

Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger opposing proposed elimination of IHSS Residual program, 2/27/04.

Summary Comments of California Association for the Retarded, prepared by Les Gary and Maureen Fitzgerald, September 29, 2000, as part of Department of Developmental Services report entitled Options to Meet the Future Needs of Consumers in Developmental Centers.