The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, but It Bends Towards Justice!

Tuesday Morning Memo, January 17, 2017

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Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

…The Week Ahead

The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But It Bends Towards Justice!

–Martin Luther King Jr.

As we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday, let his Hopes, Dreams and Legacy live on, especially now!

The Arc is all about advocacy and leadership, just like Martin Luther King, Jr. Every one of the700 local chapters in the country advocates for the civil and human rights of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and their families. And I’m honored to announce and welcome our newest chapter in the country from Kern County, California, the Exceptional Family Center, and their president, Grace Huerta. Their mission is to celebrate the success of families and their children with a developmental disability through collaboration, education, empowerment, and mutual support.

The Arc/UCP 10th Annual Public Policy Conference

REGISTER TODAY!

New federal policies may be impacting our community and we need to be aware and alert. We are still dealing with the implementation of several state initiatives with statewide implications for our entire community and Governor Brown has just released his 2017 Budget!

Come to our 10th Annual Public Policy Conference on March 26 and 27th and stay in Sacramento to meet with your representatives on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Conference is convenient to the capitol at Sacramento’s Holiday Inn Downtown-Arena 916-446-0100.

DISCOUNTED HOTEL RATES END FEBRUARY 24TH!

We have a power packed conference this year, with inspiring speakers from across the country and real conversations about the future of persons with developmental disabilities and their families in California and the country.

Some featured speakers are Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc U.S. to let us know how The Arc is preparing for the new administration; Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office for Special Education Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) who will share the real threats and solutions facing life under the new administration. Tom Coleman, Legal Director of the Disability and Guardianship Project of Spectrum Institute to speak on “Supported Decision-Making” a topic families and professionals are struggling to understand. The implementation of the ABLE ACT is here and we have the national expert, John Ariale and state implementation director, Christina Elliot here to show us the way to success. Scott Graves of the California Budget & Policy Center will, once again, breakdown the Governor’s Budget for everyone to understand. We will also be addressing SSI, Affordable Housing opportunities, IHSS updates, CCS and the Transition to Managed Care. And of course we will highlight our Lanterman Coalition and their work as we work through our 2017 Campaign to ‘Keep the Lanterman Promise’ with family IPP trainings available both mornings at breakfast. And there’s more…………….

Stay tuned to your Monday Morning Memo for more details as we unveil more about our program and speakers.

Keep Saying No

The Arc of United States along with the other 58 member organizations, has signed a letter to Senators and Representatives expressing strong opposition to block granting, setting of per capita caps, or significant cuts to the Medicaid program. Medicaid is the lifeline of funding for people with I/DD. Medicaid is funded with matching State and Federal funds. The Federal funds are almost a 50:50 match to cover costs of services to ensure that public policies are carried out; for example, self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.

MondayJanuary 16, 2017

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday

Friday January 20, 2017

Last day to submit bill requests to the Office of Legislative Counsel

…Public Policy Reports

State Budget Battle Starts – Our Community Mobilizes

Governor Brown released his $179-billion budget plan last week, and it’s clear we’re facing an uphill fight to continue to stabilize our community services and restore the cuts made during the Great Recession.

Brown’s plan, typically, is based on revenue estimates much lower than those of the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. But the analyst also suggests the Legislature set its target for state reserve funds at – or even higher – than the target Brown wants. Economic uncertainties and the question of what President-elect Trump and Congress may do make this prudence reasonable, the analyst argues.

It’s clear that the governor’s May budget revision plan this year may include even more changes than it does in most years.

We, along with the rest of the Lanterman Coalition of developmental disability organizations, are finalizing our 2017 budget strategy this week. Our strategy likely will have goal including:

-Comply with the new federal Home and Community Based Services rules to prevent further service cuts due to loss of federal funds.

-Maintain the state developmental center assets for the state community services system as the DCs are closed, and include enough money to meet residents’ needs as they exit the DCs

-Provide emergency funding to save community services that are on the edge of going under for lack of adequate state support. We will point out that this emergency funding will prevent the disruption and trauma that comes when people with DD are forced to move to other programs – and also will save the state money, because the programs they must move to almost always cost more.

Our community’s hard, three-year fight succeeded in generally stabilizing the service system and preventing more cuts. We’ve proved that mobilizing the community can work wonders. Please get ready to help again this year by signing up for the Arc-UCP Action e-List.

Greg deGiere, Public Policy Director

The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy California Collaborative

We need your help. We know that community advocacy works, because we’ve seen it. Please click here to sign up for our Action e-List!

As we get ready to start the new legislative session it would be very helpful for advocates to have the legislative calendar in your records. Below you will find the dates the legislators focus on certain parts of the legislative process:

2017 TENTATIVE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR FIRST YEAR OF BIENNIUM CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY 2017–18 REGULAR CALENDAR2017

Jan. 1 —Statutes take effect (Art. IV, Sec 8(c)).

Jan. 4 —Legislature reconvenes (J.R. 51 (a)(1)).

Jan. 10 —Budget Bill must be submitted by Governor (Art. IV, Sec. 12(a)).

Jan. 16 —Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Jan. 20 —Last day to submit bill requests to the Office of Legislative Counsel.

Feb. 17 —Last day for bills to be introduced (J.R. 61(a)(1), J.R. 54(a)).

Feb. 20 —Presidents’ Day.

Mar. 31 —Cesar Chavez Day.

Apr. 6 —Spring Recess begins upon adjournment (J.R. 51(a)(2)).

Apr. 17 —Legislature reconvenes from Spring Recess (J.R. 51(a)(2)).

Apr. 28 —Last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committees fiscal bills introduced in their house (J.R. 61(a)(2)).

May 12 —Last day for policy committees to hear and report to the Floor nonfiscal bills introduced in their house (J.R. 61(a)(3)).

May 19 —Last day for policy committees to meet prior to June 5 (J.R. 61(a)(4)).

May 26 —Last day for fiscal committees to hear and report bills to the Floor (J.R. 61(a)(5)). Last day for fiscal committees to meet prior to June 5 (J.R. 61(a)(6)).

May 29—Memorial Day observed.

May 30-June 2 —Floor Session only. No committee may meet for any purpose except Rules Committee, bills referred pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2, and Conference Committees(J.R. 61(a)(7)).

June 2 —Last day to pass bills out of house of origin (J.R.61(a)(8)).Committee meetings may resume (J.R. 61(a)(9)).

June 15 —Budget Bill must be passed by midnight (Art. IV, Sec.12(c)(3)).

July 4—Independence Day.

July 14 —Last day for policy committees to hear and report fiscal bills for referral to fiscal committees (J.R. 61(a)(10)).

July 21 —Last day for policy committees to hear and report bills (J.R.61(a)(11)). Summer Recess begins upon adjournment, provided Budget Bill has been passed (J.R. 51(a)(3)).

Aug. 21—Legislature reconvenes from Summer Recess (J.R. 51(a)(3)).

Sep. 1 Last day for fiscal committees to meet and report bills to the Floor (J.R. 61(a)(12)).

Sep. 4 —Labor Day.

Sep. 5-15 —Floor Session only. No committee may meet for any purpose except Rules Committee, bills referred pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2, and Conference Committees (J.R.61(a)(13)).

Sep. 8 —Last day to amend on the Floor (J.R. 61(a)(14)).

Sep. 15 —Last day for any bill to be passed J.R. 61(a)(15)). Interim Recess begins upon adjournment (J.R. 51(a)(4)).

Oct. 15 —Last day for Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature on or before Sept. 15 and in the Governor’s possession after Sept. 15 (Art. IV, Sec.10(b)(1)).

(SOME DATES INCLUDED IN THIS CALENDAR ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Greg deGiere

Public Policy Director

The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy California Collaborative

1225 Eighth Street, Suite 350, Sacramento, CA 95814

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National

The Arc on the ACA: “For People with Disabilities This is a Matter of Health, Independence, and So Much More”

Posted on January 12, 2017 by The Arc

Washington, DC – As the U.S. Senate passed a budget resolution that begins the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), The Arc released the following statement and background information on why the law is critical for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD):

“Repealing the ACA without a replacement turns back the clock to a time when too many people with disabilities were discriminated against in the health insurance market. For those who were lucky enough to find affordable coverage, many were faced life and death care decisions because of arbitrary financial limits under those plans, or were stuck with service or support options that segregated them from the community.

“All people with disabilities need comprehensive, affordable care – the ACA took our country a giant step forward toward accomplishing this goal. The Arc has long supported expanding Medicaid coverage to adults and raising the income eligibility. Due to those changes, millions of Americans, including people with disabilities, gained access to affordable, comprehensive health care.

“This is about people’s lives – their health, independence, financial stability, and so much more. The clock is ticking for millions of Americans, including people with disabilities,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

The ACA made significant progress in expanding access to health care for individuals with I/DD. The ACA allowed states to extend their Medicaid programs to childless adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This change has provided coverage to individuals with I/DD and other disabilities and chronic health conditions who were not otherwise eligible for Medicaid, were in the waiting period for Medicare, or did not have access to employer sponsored health insurance because they were not working or working in low wage jobs without benefits.

• The ACA provided federal money to support Medicaid expansion. The additional federal contribution to expanding Medicaid has helped many people with disabilities access health care. It has also enabled states to continue and expand programs that provide supports and services to people with I/DD.
• Several provisions of the ACA were designed to assist states to rebalance their long term supports systems, allowing more people with I/DD to receive the services and supports they need while living in the community instead of costly and outdated institutions. These include the Community First Choice Option (CFC) and the State Plan Home and Community-Based Services Option (also known as 1915(k) and 1915(i).
• The ACA reversed years of discrimination against people with disabilities and chronic health conditions through its insurance reforms. Prior to the ACA, when people with disabilities or chronic health conditions tried to purchase health insurance in the individual market they often could not obtain coverage at all because of their pre-existing conditions; others faced sky high premiums, or were only granted very limited coverage.

Learn more from The Arc’s ACA fact sheet, and sign up for our Disability Advocacy Network to know when to take action when it matters the most.

Also, sign up for: The Arc US Capitol Insider

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Project Status Report

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and in celebration of his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” we are including the full text in the MMM. Disability rights are civil right s as well because many help to give our constituents access to their communities. Since the speech covers so much space we are not submitting for the articles, studies, or the funding opportunities sections this week as encouragement to take the time to re-read this important civil rights speech.

I Have a Dream (Also at this link is the authenticated audio version)

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.