Assembly Schedules Series of Budget Hearings

We reported last week on the Senate’s schedule for convening budget hearings over the course of the next few months, and the Assembly has joined in with a robust schedule of hearings through May. 

Please also note that the Assembly and Senate Health Committees have scheduled a joint hearing on “Hospital Reimbursement Mechanisms” in Los Angeles on February 24. 

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services, which is chaired by Assembly Member Holly Mitchell, has set the following hearing and topic schedule: 

February 29: Department of Social Services
March 14: Joint hearing with the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education: Department of Social Services and the Department of Education
March 19: Department of Health Care Services
March 21: Health and Human Services Agency issues, Automation Projects, Department of Social Services Budget Change Proposals (BCPs), Department of Health Care Services Office of Systems Integration, Department of Social Services
March 26: Emergency Medical Services Authority, Department of Public Health
March 28: Department of Developmental Services 
April 9: Department of Health Care Services
April 11: Department of Community Services, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Aging, In Home Support Services (including proposed domestic services reductions), Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (Social Security Benefits) 
April 16: Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (Healthy Families Program shift to Medi-Cal)
April 18: Child Support, Department of Social Services, April Finance Letters 
April 23: Department of Managed Health Care, Department of Health Care Services
April 25: Alcohol and Drug Programs, Drug Medi-Cal transition oversight 
April 30: Department of State Hospitals, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, Department of Mental Health April Letters
May 2: Child Welfare Services, Realignment of Social Service Programs April 1st letters
May 7: All departments – open issues
May 9: All departments – open issues

Congressional Foster Youth Caucus Town Hall Comes to Los Angeles

The Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth has launched a 2012 Listening Tour, and one of the first stops will be in Los Angles on February 25. 

Members of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth will hear about the ongoing challenges facing foster youth in America today and best practices to help at-risk youth navigate the challenges of the foster care system and adulthood. The members of the Caucus are convening this series of Town Halls to aid them in developing policy to improve child welfare throughout the nation. 

The Caucus counts more than 40 members from both sides of the aisle and is co-chaired by House Representatives Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, Jim McDermott of Washington, and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. 

California House Representative Karen Bass, who was closely involved in child welfare policy during her terms as a member of the California State Assembly and Speaker of that same body, has invited the public to attend the Town Hall. The meeting will be held at the California Science Center at 700 Exposition Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit http://la-fosteryouthcaucus-email2.eventbrite.com/ or call (323) 965-1422.