Sacramento, Calif., Latest Site for State HIV/AIDS Budget Proposal Protests

The Los Angeles Times examined the effects of the proposed $80.1 million in budget cuts to HIV/AIDS programs in the state, as advocates are expected today to convene at the California State Capitol in Sacramento to protest the cuts. According to the Times, the proposed cuts would mean that the costs of running many HIV/AIDS-related programs would be shifted to local jurisdictions study, which "would become increasingly difficult for cash-strapped counties." HIV/AIDS programs would also need to rely more heavily on available federal financing. HIV education, prevention, counseling and testing services and early intervention programs would be affected, the Times reports. The state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program would stand to lose $12 million (Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, 6/9). In related news, the Santa Cruz News examined how the proposed state budget cuts could put the Santa Cruz AIDS Project’s centers and programs, including sex education in schools and a needle exchange program "in serious jeopardy" (Lussenhop, Santa Cruz News, 6/9).

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