Communication and Collaboration Committee Meeting
May 8, 2026
DRAFT Minutes

Action items:
•	Ms. Viramontes-Nhan will add AB 1561 (Krell) Medi-Cal: complex rehabilitation technology, and AB 2081 (Stefani) Medi-Cal: Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver to the SILC watchlist. 
•	Ms. Viramontes-Nhan will send California Disability Leadership Alliance (CDLA) responses. 

1.	 Call to Order 

2.	 Introductions
Roque Alas Bucton – C and C Chair
Susan Rotchy – SILC Chair/SPIL Member/Executive Director, Independent Living Center of Solano and Contra Costa County (ILCSCC) 
Meleana Chun-Moy – SILC Member/ C and C Vice-Chair
Chris Fitzgerald – SILC Member/C and C Member
Hevin Hansen – Grant Administrator, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) 
Keith Miller – Executive Director, Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) 
Mike Valencia – Grant Administrator, DOR 
Allison Viramontes-Nhan – SILC Legislative Specialist
Danielle Hess – SILC Office Manager 

3.	 Public Comment
None

4.	 SILC Member Updates
Mr. Alas Bucton shared a past recommendation to rebrand this committee to better reflect the legislative focus of the SILC. He would like to continue this discussion. Ms. Viramontes-Nhan will speak to him after this meeting about next steps. 

He also spoke about filing an accessibility complaint with the Metro train in Los Angeles, after he got on a train that didn’t have any audible announcements. 

5.	 Approval of the Draft Minutes from February 13, 2026, Communication and Collaboration Committee Meeting
Ms. Chun-Moy motioned for approval of the Draft Minutes from February 13, 2026, and Ms. Fitzgerald seconded the motion. This passed unanimously through a roll call vote.

6.	 Communication and Collaboration Committee Purpose and Scope
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan gave some background on the role of the SILC, and the intended purpose of the C and C Committee within that scope. The SILC is nonpartisan, and does not lobby, endorse candidates, or take positions on specific legislation. The SILC conducts activities within the approved SPIL and the parameters of state and federal law. The C and C Committee focuses on how the SILC connects, communicates, and coordinates, primarily within California. 

She emphasized that the committee strengthens three areas: 
•	Communication – supporting the SILC in communicating about the SPIL and the goals of the statewide network, promoting understanding among network members about their roles within the SPIL, and sharing information on issues relating to the current SPIL that affect people with disabilities in California. 
•	Collaboration – Strengthening relationships with California partners, identifying opportunities for coordinated IL projects, identifying where guest speakers would be helpful to support member education, and monitoring how leadership transitions or policy shifts may affect IL services in California. 
•	Coordination – tracking policy and systems issues that impact IL priorities identified in the SPIL, monitoring legislation to assess potential impacts on the IL Network, elevating trends or concerns that may require additional education, and supporting alignment between the SILC priorities and California’s IL Network. 

She also emphasized that the C and C Committee does not lobby, endorse legislation or candidates, take partisan positions, speak for the council independent of formal SILC action, or function as a national or state policy committee. The committee operates within the SILC’s statutory authority under the Rehabilitation Act and the approved SPIL, and as such, its work must remain bipartisan, California-focused, and centered on SPIL implementation, not lobbying, political campaigning, or national commentary

7.	 Legislation Update 
a.	Legislative Items for Review
i.	For Consideration Bills
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan described four different bills that have been recommended to the SILC for addition to the Legislative Watchlist. She also shared additional information on how C and C members should evaluate these bills based on their relevance and potential impact on the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) goals. 

Assembly Bills
AB 1561 (Krell) Medi-Cal: complex rehabilitation technology. 
AB 1900 (Kalra) Guaranteed Health Care for All. 
AB 2081 (Stefani) Medi-Cal: Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver.

Senate Bills
SB 1052 (Gonzalez) State Council on Developmental Disabilities: appointing authorized representatives.

Mr. Alas Bucton motioned to approve AB 1561 (Krell) Medi-Cal: complex rehabilitation technology, and AB 2081 (Stefani) Medi-Cal: Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver. Ms. Rotchy seconded this motion, and it passed unanimously through a roll call vote. 

ii.	Watchlist Bills
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan shared that there are two bills on the SILC’s Watchlist, and there haven’t been any updates for those since the last meeting. There are no Federal bills on the SILC for consideration or watchlist. 

•	SB 84 (Niello) Disability access: construction-related accessibility claims: notice of violation and opportunity to correct. STATUS: 6/18/25 From Committee with author’s amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee.
•	SB 837 (Reyes) Disaster and emergency preparedness. STATUS: 5/4/26 Referred to Assembly Aging and Long Term Care and Emergency Management Committees.

b.	Legislative Items for Consideration from SILC Members
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan shared an update on a request from a member of the public that the SILC write a letter in support of renaming César Chávez Day to Farmworkers Day. After additional research, she found that this was a bill, AB 2156 Holidays: Farmworkers Day, and was signed by Governor Newsom. 

Although this is no longer relevant, she shared an overview of what the SILC can do in the future for these kinds of situations. She emphasized that due to the prohibition on lobbying, the SILC would not be able to write a letter taking a position on pending legislation. If the C and C Committee did want to provide an educational letter, they would develop a neutral, educational communication focusing on what the bill would do, why it’s being discussed, and how it connects with disability and Independent Living. This would require a formal motion, second, discussion, and vote during a publicly noticed meeting. 

c.	Current Events and Updates
Mr. Alas Bucton shared that the California Disability Leadership Alliance, led by Disability Rights California (DRC), will be having an event on May 26 at the Capitol. 

d.	Discussion on National Topics
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan shared some information on recent stories on the use of assisted suicide and the connection to Independent Living Philosophy. This is in connection to SB 1088 (Blakespear) Health care decisions: life-sustaining treatment. She specifically referenced reports of individuals being pressured to use the option of medical assistance in dying either before being fully diagnosed, or because they had plans for her donated organs. These both highlight the broader concern that people with disabilities are being offered the full range of supports and services to live in the community before more extreme options are introduced. 

8.	 Upcoming 2026 State Election and Leadership Transitions
Ms. Viramontes-Nhan shared information about how the upcoming 2026 State Election and shifts in state leadership may affect IL priorities, appointments, and state-level systems. There will be a primary on June 2, after which the top two candidates will advance to the statewide election on November 3. 

Voters have expressed affordability as a top concern, which directly intersects with health care financing, provider wages, housing stability, and California’s Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) system. The California Disability Leadership Alliance (CDLA) sent a questionnaire to all of the candidates on concerns impacting people with disabilities, to educate and inform on each candidate’s stance on the issues impacting disabled Californians. Ms. Viramontes-Nhan will provide a link to the responses. 

Additionally, all 80 California Assembly seats are up for reelection, as well as the 20 Senate seats in even-numbered districts. 

These positions are important because they make decisions about funding, rules, priorities, and appointments, which impact access to health care and support services, funding for disability programs, and the accessibility of housing and transportation. 

Mr. Alas Bucton and Ms. Chun-Moy encouraged members to vote early if available, and to use the mail-in ballot if they have concerns about the accessibility of voting in person. 

9.	 Advocacy and Collaborations – Request from Members or Partner Organizations 
a.	Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF)
Ms. Hess shared that planning for the 2026 YLF is moving forward, and she is largely working on Logistics this year. She shared that instead of a formal mentor’s luncheon this year, there will be an informal mixer for delegates and mentors on the CSUS campus. 

10.	 Summary of Activities Requiring Follow-Up at Next Meeting
a.	Next Meeting July 10, 2026 

11. Adjourn