$52 million from the California HIV/AIDS

$52 million from the California HIV/AIDS budget for FY 2010/2011 in his vetoes to the final budget. Project Inform wants to reassure the community that these recent cuts, while still devastating to California’s HIV prevention and care activities, are not new cuts but rather uphold the cuts that were taken last year. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program was not affected by the veto and, barring future cuts, should continue to serve all who need it in FY 2010/2011.

On Friday, August 8, the Governor vetoed close to $60 million in funds for HIV/AIDS programs. These funds were included in the FY 2010/2011 budget sent by the Legislature to the Governor for signature on Friday morning. The money was intended to restore the funding that was cut last year from HIV prevention and care programs. The budget also included $87.5 million in new state general fund for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program which was not affected by the veto.

Last fiscal year the Governor cut $85 million in state general fund to HIV/AIDS programs. This included $25 million in cuts to the ADAP. The $25 million ADAP cut was backfilled with money from pharmaceutical rebates.

The Governor included $87.5 million in new state general fund for ADAP in his January 2010 budget proposal but no money to restore the cuts taken in other program areas. The Legislature retained the $87.5 million in ADAP funding and also restored $52 million to programs that were cut in last year’s budget cycle along with $7.6 M to ADAP in the budget they sent back to the Governor for his signature. The Governor chose to veto all of the restored money, which totaled approximately $60 million. The $87.5 million in additional ADAP money was not reduced.