(SACRAMENTO)—The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee will hold a series of hearings in the next few weeks to examine some of the Governor’s most complex policy changes proposed in the budget- some of which are major program redesigns.

The Budget Committee will hold three informational hearings in February and early March for an in-depth review and evaluation of best practices in the following three areas:

•    February 16, 2012:  K-12 Education Reforms
•    February 23, 2012:  Long Term Care and MediCal Managed Care
•    March 1, 2012:  CalWORKs and Child Care Proposals and Program Redesign

These hearings will include presentations by the Administration, the LAO, key stakeholders and policy experts.

“The Senate is expeditiously moving the budget process along,” said Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). “The LAO will release its revised revenue figures in February as well as its analyses and recommendations on the Governor’s proposals. This information will provide a more complete picture of our fiscal situation, and the policy issues and tradeoffs required to close the budget gap.”

“The Governor has proposed fundamental changes which need to be thoughtfully reviewed,” said Senator Mark Leno, Chair of the Budget Committee. “We’ve implemented many changes in the last number of years in rapid fashion. The Committee will thoroughly consider the Governor’s new policy ideas as we engage the public in crafting the 2012-13 budget.”

Budget Sub-Committees will also meet in February.

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