Introduced in February, it has been making its way through the legislature and on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, came before the Senate Governmental Organization Committee for a hearing.
from a fact sheet on the bill:
"SB 1392 states that the Developmental Center property which has been dedicated to meeting the needs of people with disabilities for decades, would continue to be made available as a funding stream through lease, with the revenue generated deposited into the Californians with Developmental Disabilities Fund managed by the Department of Developmental Services. This fund would, upon the appropriation of the Legislature, be made available to continue to meet the needs for housing and other services for persons with developmental disabilities.
"SB 1392 states that the Developmental Center property which has been dedicated to meeting the needs of people with disabilities for decades, would continue to be made available as a funding stream through lease, with the revenue generated deposited into the Californians with Developmental Disabilities Fund managed by the Department of Developmental Services. This fund would, upon the appropriation of the Legislature, be made available to continue to meet the needs for housing and other services for persons with developmental disabilities.
"SB 1392 does not propose the closure of any State Developmental Center. This bill simply preserves the economic value of the real property at any developmental center and gives the state an alternative option to liquidating the asset without addressing the unmet needs of former residents. If and when a Developmental Center closes, having the option to lease the property would generate a revenue stream that could then continue to serve persons with developmental disabilities."
You can download a 2-page fact sheet (pdf) on the proposed bill here: FACT SHEET: SB 1392, (SENATORs PAVLEY AND RUBIO) - SUPPORTING PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FUND
Download the text of the bill here:
SB 1392, amended
Or track the bill by visiting this link at aroundthecapitol.com and scroll down to find SB 1392.
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PHA President Kathleen Miller was unable to attend the hearing last week, however her daughter Molly Dillon prepared and submitted a statement. It is reprinted below.
Dear Ms. Carvajal,
My name is Molly Dillon and I am a member of Parents Hospital Association (PHA), a nonprofit, all volunteer group made up of family, friends and loved ones of those residing in Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). My mother, Kathleen Miller, is the President of PHA. She is presently in the hospital recovering from knee surgery. So I write to you for both of us. I understand that Senator Pavley is sponsoring SB 1392 and that there will be a hearing tomorrow morning, April 24, 2012. Please consider these comments on the proposed legislation, which would have been submitted sooner if PHA had earlier been made aware of the proposal. PHA continues to seek greater transparency and communication from the Department of Developmental Services and would like to be considered and involved when legislation is proposed that could have impact on residents at SDC. While I appreciate that this legislation doesn’t directly address the closure of the Centers, it still feels a bit like a hungry wolf waiting at the door.
PHA firmly believes that the developmental centers do continue to serve the needs of severely developmentally disabled state citizens, many of whom would perish without these unique and specialized services. Services which, at this time, are not available outside the Centers. As President of PHA, my mother has sought data from the Department of Developmental Services on the numbers of deaths of those who were moved out of Agnews when it closed. As of this date, she has been unable to get this information. This information is essential in the evaluation of whether the Agnews closure was in fact successful for its former residents. Without this data, it is premature to say that the Agnews closure was a success. Nonetheless, I understand that many would like to see all the Centers closed, regardless of what the actual data might suggest.
In the event of a proposed closure, I too have an interest in seeing the resources at the Centers preserved on behalf of the developmentally disabled, but contemplate the use of these facilities as more than simply a funding source for community vendors. I suggest that the legislation be amended to also create the ability for DDS to enter into public-private partnerships that would preserve the special capabilities, expertise and resources currently amassed at each of the Centers in order to be redirected to better serve the most severely developmentally disabled; Much like the recent move to preserve the unique and special resources at the State Parks.
Most who deal with the current dilemmas that face the provision of services to the developmentally disabled in the State would agree that the Centers house the most difficult to serve of this population, and also the most expensive, wherever they may reside. The Centers have also come to house a special wealth of resources; Doctors who specialize in caring for the unique physical and psychological issues of this segment of the population, social workers, nurses, psyche techs, and more who all have immense experience and knowledge. Regional Center experience has demonstrated that these resources are difficult, if not impossible, to develop and sustain outside of the Centers. This is particularly true in the northern part of the State, where the lack of population and cost of living converge.
If we are to look to the Centers as a source of wealth, let’s not limit our view to a nominal amount of rental income. Members of PHA have expressed an interest in proactively developing a mixed use facility on the grounds of SDC that would help support the wealth of specialized services for all developmentally disabled who might ever need them. And there will be need for this level of expertise. If we don’t take the opportunity to foster and sustain it while we can, someday it will be gone. This legislation should include the option for the Centers to be reconfigured in a way that would both enhance financial supports and preserve expertise and specialized services, including dental, psychiatric, and medical for all developmentally disabled who need them, as well as crises intervention and a residential component for those who would struggle to survive outside the Centers. Anything less would just condone a money grab among those in need within the DD system. We must be more collaborative and forward thinking in these difficult times.
Please make my comments part of the legislative record. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Molly Dillon
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