During a December 13th press conference, Governor Jerry Brown announced that state revenues had fallen below the legislature's predictions and that it would be necessary to enact nearly $1 billion in mid-year trigger cuts that were approved as part of the state budget passed last summer. The cuts will reduce millions of dollars in funding for several programs including education, medi-cal managed care, and developmental services.

The triggers will also cut funding for In-Home Supportive Services by $100 million by reducing service hours for almost all IHSS consumers by 20%. Consumers who receive services through one of several waiver programs such as the In-Home Operations Waiver, or Aids Waiver would be exempt from the cuts. Other consumers will have the opportunity to apply for IHSS Supplemental Care hours to try to have their hours restored.

On December 1st, prior to the governor's announcement, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken issued a temporary restraining order requiring the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to stop all actions that were being taken to implement the 20% reduction to IHSS hours until a hearing can be held on a pending lawsuit that seeks to stop the reductions on a permanent basis (David Oster et al vs. Will Lightbourne and Toby Douglas). A hearing has been set for January 19th, and the plaintiffs plan to seek a preliminary injunction that would prohibit the state from implementing the cut until the case is resolved.

Even though the 20% reduction has been temporarily halted, it is important that consumers begin to prepare themselves by becoming informed of their options. If you are a consumer and the cut is allowed to be implemented, the timeframe for you to act and request Supplemental Care will be short if you wish to keep your current hours through the application process. Disability Rights California has put together a comprehensive fact sheet that explains the 20% reductions and the process to apply for Supplemental Care. The fact sheet can be downloaded from our website at www.pascla.org. When reviewing the fact sheet, please keep in mind that many of the dates regarding implementation have changed as a result of the temporary restraining order.

Additional information on the status of the 20% cut to IHSS will be posted on our website as it becomes available.