ADVISORY/Key Legislators Scheduled to Speak to Hundreds of Developmentally Disabled at State Capitol.News and Assignment Editors ADVISORY...for Wednesday, April 12 SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
When: Wednesday, April 12: Noon
Where: State Capitol West Steps
What: State legislators will speak to hundreds of Californians
with Developmental Disabilities at Rally
Why: To support higher wages paid to community-care direct service
workers who care for persons with developmental disabilities.
Members of the California State Legislature These are tables of members of the California State Legislature (California State Senate and California State Assembly). Members of the California State Senate Senate Session District including Senate President Pro Tempore president pro tem·po·re n. pl. presidents pro tempore The senator who presides over the U.S. Senate in the absence of the Vice President. John Burton John Burton is the name of:
n.pl the pathologic conditions that have their origin in the embryology and growth and development of an individual. DDs usually appear clinically before 18 years of age. . The Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) is sponsoring a rally in which more than 800 persons with developmental disabilities (mental retardation mental retardation, below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. , cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. , epilepsy, autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. , and other similar disabling conditions), their family members, and advocates will travel from throughout the state to attend. This year's rally theme, "System Reform Begins with a Living Wage" addresses the crisis of the low wages paid to those persons who care for persons with developmental disabilities in the community. "There is a crisis in the community, especially in the high cost coastal and urban areas of California," says ARCA Executive Director Bob Baldo. "The wages paid to these direct care staff workers is grossly inadequate, sometimes as low as $6.50 an hour with no benefits." An October 1999 State Auditor General's report concluded that the system needs an immediate influx of state dollars to stabilize the community-based programs, noting that the staff have a 50 percent average yearly turnover rate, average salaries of $8.89 per hour and only 40 percent who receive benefits. This results in difficulty in recruiting and retaining quality staff. In the fall of 1999 Governor Davis vetoed Senate Bill (SB) (Chesbro) 1104 which the Legislature unanimously supported. SB 1104 would have increased direct care wage by 4 percent. Moreover, the Governor's 2000-01 Budget contains no funding to address the crisis. ARCA and is supporting Senate Bill 1332 (Chesbro) which would provide a 20 percent rate increase to community-based day programs and respite care Respite Care Short-term or temporary care of a few hours or weeks of the sick or disabled to provide relief, or respite, to the regular caregiver, usually a family member. Notes: agencies and allow those agencies to provide wage increases to direct care workers. California's 21 regional centers are private, non-profit agencies that operate under contract with the state Department of Developmental Services and provide services for more than 155,000 persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Regional centers are located throughout the state, serving all 58 counties. |
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