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www.disabilityrightsca.org
May 29, 2019
Senator Holly J. Mitchell, Chair, Budget Conference Committee
Assembly Member Philip Ting, Vice Chair
Senator Jim Nielsen
Senator Richard D. Roth
Senator Nancy Skinner
Senator John M.W. Moorlach
Assembly Member Kevin McCarty
Assembly Member Chad Mayes
Assembly Member Jay Obernolte
Assembly Member Shirley Weber
RE: Department of Developmental Services - Regional Center Safety Net Supports for IDD Individuals with Severe Mental Illness. Item 4300.
Dear Chair Mitchell, Vice Chair Ting, and Conferees:
Disability Rights California sponsored and SUPPORTS the Assembly Budget Committee action for the Regional Center safety net supports for IDD individuals with severe mental illnesses:
Item: 4300. Approve $5 M GF one-time for Regional Center Safety Net Supports for IDD with Severe Mental Illness, with placeholder TBL.
The Senate Budget Committee took no action on this item.
We support the Assembly Budget Committee action which appropriates $5 million to develop and support crisis and other services for regional center consumers who also have mental health disabilities with placeholder TBL.
The California developmental disabilities system is at a crossroads. We, appropriately, are closing California's large state institutions. ‎Unfortunately, we have not developed an adequate community safety net. As a result, regional center consumers and their families struggle to find appropriate services and placements to address significant behavioral challenges and co-occurring mental health needs. The $5 million would initiate the development of services for this unique group of consumers and ensure that they do not remain in psychiatric facilities, institutions for mental diseases or jails where their needs are unmet. The need for this funding is further made evident because of the department's proposal to lift the now nearly decade long legislative moratorium on new placements at Canyon Springs because it has no other placement to serve a small group of dually diagnosed consumers. These funds will help develop new service models to help avoid this unnecessary institutionalization and ensure that these individuals can thrive in the community.
Sincerely,

Catherine Blakemore
Executive Director
Disability Rights California
cc:	Christopher Woods, Senate Budget Director
Joe Stephenshaw, Senate Budget Staff Director
Renita Polk, Senate Budget Consultant
Kirk Feely, Senate Republican Budget Director
Jason Sisney, Assembly Budget Director
Christian Griffith, Assembly Budget Chief Consultant
Nicole Vasquez, Assembly Budget Consultant
Cyndi Hillery, Assembly Republican Budget Director
Mareva Brown, Policy Consultant, President proTem Policy Office
Gail Gronert, Policy Consultant, Speaker’s Policy Office