Lives are at risk. Critical community based programs that serve our neediest and most vulnerable citizens are shutting down or turning away desperate Californian's who rely on state funded services to survive. Additionally, caseloads at regional centers are higher than the state promised the federal government they would be. We are in a crisis at every level of this system, putting billions in federal funds at risk, and we cannot continue to provide safe and adequate service levels without your immediate intervention. The time for finger pointing and blame is over. We need your help now. We understand you may have differences of opinion on how to address California's neglected developmental services system. We also know that many legislators on both sides of the political aisle have worked in good faith this year towards an acceptable solution. But those efforts have thus far failed, leaving us with an unnactpable and unconsciounable situation that must now be fixed. If the legislator chooses to adjourn September 11th without addressing this issue and approving this despretly needed funding, we would have no choice but to consider that failure an act of indifference and disregard for people with developmental disabilites, their families, and those that serve them. Our dire situation is well documented and has been discussed exhaustively at legislative hearings attended by people and programs that serve them from across california. Community based programs and regional centers that implement existing law under the states fame "lanterman act" such as housing, employment oppurtunities, meaningful day activities and other services--have received just one rate increase this century, while cost of providing services has risen approximately 30 percent. The lanterman coalition has been consistent this year in calling for a ten percent, across-the-board increase to provider rates and regional center operations funding to stabilize the system that serves this very vulnerable population. As the first of this legislative session comes to a close, Californian's with developmental disabilites, their families and those that serve them are watching closely and counting on you to do the right thing.