UPDATE: CAADAC Puts Licensure Bill on Hold

With several major questions yet unanswered about how and where California’s new licensure program would occur, CAADAC requested that AB 2007 be pulled from committee for further amending today. “We felt we needed to go forward with the best possible product,” said Executive Director Rhonda Messamore. “There are still several key elements that are in a state of flux right now and we thought it best to deal with them early rather than attract the typical opposition that occurs from entities which already have a license and providers that are opposed to doing anything for the profession lest they have to raise wages.”

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Affordable Care Act Update

Dear Friends,
 

As you have heard from us on many occasions, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still in the midst of evolving and growing.  News continues to trickle out of Washington, and these pieces of the puzzle help the big picture take shape. Late last week, the final rule regarding exchanges was issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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SB 1203 - Alcohol/Drug Certification/Licensure Update

The CBC has worked tirelessly to combine the most effective assets of California's private certification systems with the enforcement and oversight powers of a designated "single state agency" (Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs ADP). The CBC model would have utilized the current, efficient and cost effective infrastructure developed over the past two decades by keeping the state's counselor preparation and testing organizations (CPTOs) intact. We collectively believe it would have improved upon this system by giving the Department the statutory authority to issue certifications and licenses to counselors and to regulate CPTOs. By doing so, consumers, family members and employers would have experienced improved consumer protection, standardized complaint and enforcement standards and increased professionalism.

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SB 686 - Alcohol/Drug Counselor Certification & Licensure Bill

After months of negotiations and collaboration meetings, AODA counselor certification and licensure legislation (Senate Bill 686, De Saulnier) is on a fast track for passage before the Session ends. However, as you know the legislative process is extremely complicated and sometimes unpredictable, our chances will increase as a direct result of your participation! Consequently, all CAADAC members are encouraged to write and e-mail California legislators as soon as possible. We recognize we have many hurdles remaining and the "fast track" we are on will require our immediate attention.

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Senator DeSaulnier proposes overhaul of State's AODA treatment profession!

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Certification/Licensure - CBC Update: June 1, 2010 - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SACRAMENTO, California (May 28, 2010) - "This is truly a professional community effort that includes treatment providers, AOD counselors, licensed professionals and educators," explains Bob Tyler, "all working together to protect the consumer, increase standards, and keep certification options available and the costs down for California alcohol and other drug counselors."

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Reject Drug Medi-cal budget cuts! Immediate action necessary!

The California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors urges you to take immediate action to help stop budget cuts to the Drug Medi-Cal program.  Last week, the Governor proposed to eliminate the Drug Medi-Cal program funding.  This week, the Assembly took action to reject the Governor's proposal, which would maintain the Drug Medi-Cal funding.  We are asking you to take action and call the Senators of the Budget Subcommittee who will be taking action next week regarding this important funding.  Please contact the Senators listed below and urge them to reject the Governor's Drug Medi-Cal funding cuts.

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Budget, Licensure Top 2010 Agenda

CAADAC’s legislative program is off to an ambitious start. With the state’s budget crisis continuing into its third year of crisis and the Department of Alcohol and Drug Program’s licensure legislation in a state of flux, the association has its work cut out for it for 2010.

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CA Budget Update - July 28, 2009

The original 2009-2010 Budget allocated $108 million in Proposition 36 programs: $90 million for Proposition 36 specifically, and $18 million for the Offender Treatment Program (OTP). The $90 million in funding for Proposition 36 has been eliminated for the 2009-2010 Budget Year. The $18 million in funding for the OTP continues in the 2009-2010 Budget Year. Additionally, a one-time increase in federal Byrne JAG grants will provide a $50 million augmentation in funding for OTP in the 2009-2010 Budget Year. In total, the funding was reduced by $40 million (from $108 million to $68 million) and was identified to be solely for the OTP to allow the Legislature more control over the policy of the program.

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CA Budget Update - July 22, 2009

While full details are still emerging, here are the details that we have obtained thus far:

• Corrections: ($1.2 billion)* See below for more detail
• Healthy Families: ($226 million)
• Medi-Cal: ($1.3 billion over two years)
• Cal-Works: ($528 million)
  IHSS: ($211 million) - through new background checks and fingerprinting requirements for IHSS providers and recipients; no cuts to provider salaries

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