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Guest Column

 Reforming the Status Quo in California

By Senator Mimi Walters
 
Several criticisms have been launched this past week against the Governor’s proposal to reform our state’s social services.  While some called his proposal draconian and an attack on the poorest and most vulnerable, nothing could be further from the truth.  As we have learned, most of these attacks are being made from the usual suspects who have a financial stake in maintaining the status quo.  
 
Californians are suffering.  With over 2.1 million unemployed, restricting the use of our state welfare system to only the neediest Californians should be the focus of any reform.   
In 1996, when President Bill Clinton signed his Welfare Reform Act, individuals were no longer allowed to stay on the welfare rolls indefinitely and those receiving cash assistance were required to meet minimum work requirements.  The five year limitation reduced the Californian’s welfare recipients by 53.8% (1996 - 2008).  While our state made some progress in reducing its welfare rolls, California still lags behind the rest of nation, which has reduced its rolls by 74.5%.  
 
While California accounts for only 12 percent of the population, we are home to roughly 1/3rd of the nation’s welfare recipients.  
 
With the lack of oversight, follow-up, and accountability only 22% of our state’s welfare recipients are meeting the minimum federal work requirements; this is down from 44% in 1999.  The failure to have 50% of welfare recipients meeting the federal minimum work requirements has already placed a $150 million penalty on California’s books.  Unless our state institutes some new reforms, the penalties will grow to $400 million in subsequent years.  
 
The State of California currently provides no fiscal incentive for people become self-sufficient and participate in work-related activities.
 
The proposed reforms are meant to ensure that welfare recipients meet the federal work standards by having them take advantage of job training, community service, resume updating workshops, volunteering, attending high school diploma programs, and vocational training.  By making some additional reforms, Senate Republicans seek to expand those eligible to receive assistance during these difficult times by strengthening accountability procedures and making periodic reviews of this program.  
 
In House Supportive Services (IHSS) currently costs about $5.4 billion annually and supports over 440,000 aged, blind, and/or disabled individuals with services like housecleaning, meal preparation, grocery shopping, personal care services, accompaniment to medial appointments, and protective supervision for those that are mentally impaired.  Furthermore, participation in the program has doubled in the past decade and costs are forecast to grow 7.9% per year through 2014.  

In March of 2009, the Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes issued a report on IHSS and found that the program operates under an “honor system”, where the state has no comprehensive or measurable way to validate the delivery of services.  It also found that fraud detection is inconsistent.  While some counties investigate fraud, referring cases to state investigators, other do not, and the number of fraud cases statewide goes unchecked as data is not routinely collected.  

How can the state collect data or investigate fraud cases when it only has just two state investigators?  How can the Democratic Leadership continue to cut vital programs for our aged, blind, and disabled, while protecting the continued fraud that takes away scarce resources from our most vulnerable Californians?

The state of California simply does not have the means to continue spending, and that means making choices.  We will have to look for reforms and ensure Californians that they are getting their value for every dollar they invest in our state.

Governor’s In House Support Services Reform Proposal:   

•    Fingerprinting and background checks for all providers
•    Require all recipients to complete fingerprint imaging to eliminate duplicate aid claims
•    Increase investigators to review cases of potential fraud
•    Conduct unannounced home visits
•    Target mailings for suspected providers
•    Train county staff to better identify fraud
•    Utilize face-to-face provider enrollment
•    Increase timecard accountability (require signature under penalty of perjury)
•    Prohibit the use of post office boxes for mailing provider checks
•    Allow counties to use IHSS administrative funds for fraud investigation

State Welfare Requirements:
 
•         One person household 32 hours a week total
•         Two person household 35 hours a week total
 
Minimum State Welfare Work Requirements Activities Include:
 
•         Attend job training seminars
•         Attend vocational education & training programs
•         Attend resume updating programs
•         Get involved in community service
•         Look for a job- visiting career centers
•         Attend interview preparation training
•         Attend adult basic education courses (Earning A High School Diploma)
•         Receive mental health services
•         Receive substance abuse services
•         Receive domestic violence services
•         Obtaining a job

______________________________________________

Mimi Walters represents the 33rd Senate District covering Orange County.

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