State Budget

The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released their overview of the Governor’s budget this week. The Analyst did provide comment on the CalWORKs proposals and the dual eligible pilot. The following is a short summary of the LAO analysis.

CalWORKs. The LAO suggests that it is a legislative priority to decide the merit of supporting work over providing subsistence. The Analyst does point out the CalWORKs proposal may help the state meet federal work participation rates. However, there are trade-offs, including significant negative impacts on low-income families. The LAO urges the Legislature to carefully consider its goals for the program.

Dual Eligibles Pilot. The LAO believes more information is needed to assess the dual eligible pilot proposal, including fiscal impacts to the state. The Analyst suggests the Legislature get more information about proposed design and financing of managed care benefits and assumptions underlying the savings estimates.

CalWORKs

AB 479 (Nestande) – Oppose
As Amended on January 4, 2012

AB 479, by Assembly Member Brian Nestande, originally focused on the In Home Supportive Services program, but the author amended it to eliminate CalWORKs safety net grants for children after parents or guardians have reached their 48-month lifetime limit on aid. 

AB 479 failed passage in the Assembly Human Services Committee on January 10.

AB 1140 (Donnelly) – Oppose
As Introduced on February 18, 2011

AB 1140, by Assembly Member Tim Donnelly, would reduce the maximum lifetime limit for CalWORKs benefits from the current 48 months to 6 months.

The Assembly Human Services Committee had scheduled AB 1140 to be heard on January 10, but Assembly Member Donnelly requested that the hearing be postponed.

Public Health

SB 554 (Yee) – Request for Comment
As Amended on January 4, 2012

SB 554, by Senator Leland Yee, originally focused on enforcement of nurse-to-patient ratios in hospital settings, but was amended to require hospitals to provide five days of direct care observation for visiting, pert-time, and traveling nurses before their presence would count in the nurse-to-patient ratio. 

The Senate Health Committee had scheduled SB 554 to be heard on January 11, but Senator Yee requested that the hearing be postponed. 

Health Care Reform

SB 951 (Hernandez) & AB 1453 (Monning) – Pending
Both As Introduced on January 5, 2012

The chairs of the Senate and Assembly Health Committees have both introduced spot bills regarding a Basic Health Plan. Senator Ed Hernandez (Chair, Senate Health Committee) and Assembly Member Bill Monning (Chair, Assembly Health Committee) introduced the bills to signal the state’s interest in developing the parameters of a Basic Health Plan. 

The federal Affordable Care Act gives states the discretion to develop a Basic Health Plan model that would be offered through the state-run health care benefits exchange. California’s health benefits exchange, known as HBEX, is taking the lead on researching the potential benefits to include in a Basic Health Plan. The HBEX research will then inform the language in SB 951 and AB 1543. CSAC will continue to monitor HBEX’s process for developing a Basic Health Plan and Senator Hernandez and Assembly Member Monning’s bills.