In the past week, both the Senate and Assembly Budget
Subcommittees on Health and Human Services considered the
Governor’s proposal to revise the County In-Home Supportive
Services (IHSS) Maintenance of Effort (MOE). CSAC and counties
were featured on panels at both hearings and shared our gratitude
and strong support for the Governor’s proposal. On March 14, CSAC
Executive Director Graham Knaus testified at the Senate Budget
Subcommittee #3 hearing. Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos, who
serves as a Co-Chair of the CSAC IHSS Working Group, testified
before the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 Wednesday.
Creating a more sustainable structure for counties to manage IHSS
costs and deliver these services on behalf of the state is one of
CSAC’s top 2019 legislative priorities. At the hearings, Knaus
and Supervisor Ramos outlined the negative impacts that would
occur under the current structure, including severe Realignment
shortfalls and reductions in health and mental health services.
They highlighted our engagement with the Administration
throughout last summer and fall and our appreciation for their
collaboration and consideration of county concerns as the
Department of Finance developed the Realignment report that
serves as the basis for the Governor’s proposal.
The Governor is proposing to lower the County MOE base, reduce
the annual inflation factor on the MOE from seven to four
percent, and stop the redirection of Realignment growth funding
from health and mental health to social services. These changes
will result in an increased State General Fund commitment to IHSS
of $241.7 million in 2019-20, growing to $547.3 million in
2022-23. This proposal will help avoid the anticipated severe
shortfalls and negative community impacts and will allow counties
to continue to deliver vital services on behalf of the state. For
more information on CSAC’s support for the Governor’s IHSS
proposal, see our
coalition support letter.
As with nearly all budget items at this time of year, both
subcommittees did not vote on the proposal, but are holding the
item open to vote at a later date, likely following the
Governor’s May Revision. CSAC will continue to partner with the
Administration, the Legislature, and counties on the necessary
trailer bill language to enact this proposal.
