Moving forward, vol. 11, no. 7 (2006 February 24)

Volume 11, Issue 7

February 24, 2006

Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for Georgia ~ Unlock the Waiting Lists! Campaign

The Supplemental Budget for FY 2006 is in conference to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. The Senate added $53,038 state, $137,725 total) for 10 waiver slots for the Independent Care Waiver Program and $3.6 million to the DCH budget to fund families who were receiving assistance through the Katie Beckett program prior to the change in eligibility but are not receiving it now. The House added another $400,000 to the Katie Beckett line item. The Conference Committee is Senators Hill, 4th, Williams,19th, and Stephens, 27th and Representatives, Burkhalter, 50th, Harbin, 118th, and Keen, 179th.

of his or her parent or guardian. Sponsors: Moody 56th, Weber 40th, Douglas 17th, Thomas 2nd, Fort 39th, Tate 38th and others. Status: Senate Read and Referred
SB 478: Sexual Offenses; persons who commit sexual offenses upon persons having a mental abnormality shall have enhanced penalties; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Thompson 33rd. Status: Senate Read and Referred
SB 480: Georgia Qualified Medication Aide Act: so as to provide for the
certification of qualified medication aides; to provide for powers and responsibilities of the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses; to provide for certification standards and requirements, etc. Sponsors: Unterman, 45th; Thomas, 54th, Goggans, 7th. Status: Senate Read Second Time.

Disability Day at the Capitol!! Were you there?
Contact Information Questions for House Members: 404-656-5082 Questions for Senate Members: 404-656-0028 General Mailing Address Information: Representative or Senator (Last Name) Georgia House of Representatives or Georgia Senate State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Senate Leadership Presiding: Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor Senate President Pro Tempore: Eric Johnson, 1st Senate Majority Leader: Tommy Williams, 19th Senate Majority Whip: Mitch Seabaugh, 28th Senate Minority Leader: Robert Brown, 26th Senate Minority Whip: David Adelman, 42nd
House Leadership Speaker of the House: Glenn Richardson, 19th Speaker Pro Tempore: Mark Burkhalter, 50th Majority Leader: Jerry Keen, 179th Majority Whip: Barry Fleming, 117th Minority Leader: Dubose Porter, 143rd Minority Whip: Carolyn Hugley, 133rd
House Appropriations: Chair--Ben Harbin, 118th Vice Chair Education--Jan Jones, 46th Vice Chair Health and Human Services--Jeff Brown, 69th
Senate Appropriations: Chair--Jack Hill, 4th Sub Com. Chair Education--Dan Moody, 56th Sub Com. Chair Community Health--Greg Goggans,7th Sub Com. Chair Human Develop.--Renee Unterman, 45th

SB 500: 2006 Georgia Accuracy in Elections Act; require all electronic recording voting systems to produce a permanent paper record of the votes recorded on such systems for each voter; to provide that voters have an opportunity to verify such record after voting; to provide for certain storage devices for such systems; to provide that such paper records be retained for use in recounts and election challenge proceedings. Sponsors: Hill 32nd, Staton 18th, Stephens 27th, Wiles 37th. Status: Senate Read Second Time
SB 515: Quality Basic Education Act; relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to expand the grades of eligibility for the remedial education program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Moody 56th, Weber 40th, Douglas 17th, Starr 44th, and Thomas 54th. Status: Senate Read and Referred
HB 728: "Mattie's Call Act"; relating to specific programs in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative intent; to provide for the administration of funds by the Department of Education for adapted sports and physical education programs. Sponsors: Franklin 43rd, Brooks 63rd, Jones 44th, Cooper 41st, Walker 107th, Drenner 86th.. Status: Passed House, Senate read and referred.
HB 898: Access to Postsecondary Education Instructional Material Act; to enact "The Access to Postsecondary Education Instructional Material Act"; to provide for definitions; to provide for requests to publishers for electronic versions of instructional material; to provide for duties of publishers. Sponsors: Hembree 67th, Millar 79th, Fludd 66th, Kidd 115th. Status: House Second Readers
HB 900: Adapted sports for disabled students; relating to specific programs in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative intent; to provide for the administration of funds by the Department of Education for adapted sports and physical education programs. Sponsors: Harbin 118th. Status: House Second Readers
HB 959: Mallory's Act; relating to parking permits for persons with disabilities, so as to change certain provisions relating to permits for permanently disabled persons; to provide for permits issued to permanently disabled minors. Sponsors: Maddox 172nd, Lindsey 54th, Fleming 117th, O`Neal 146th, Roberts 154th, and others. Status: Senate Read and Referred

Legislation Tracker You may view any bill in its entirety at: http://www.legis.state.ga.us
This is the second year of a 2 year session. Thursday February 23th is the 24th Legislative Day.

HB 972: Teacher certification renewal; relating to teacher certification, so as to provide that the Professional Standards Commission shall not require a course in computer skill competency for certification renewal but shall require a test in basic computer skill competency. Sponsors: Casas 103rd, Maxwell 17th, Everson 106th, Cox 102nd. Status: House Second Readers

SB 208: Central Registry: relating to treatment and rehabilitation of spinal cord disabled and head-injured persons, so as to create a state-wide central registry for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries; to require that certain information relating to brain or spinal cord injured persons be reported to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission; to provide for certain duties of the commission. Sponsors: Meyer von Bremen, 12th, Stephens, 27th, Thomas,

HB 1045: Absentee voting; provision relating to absentee voting, so as to repeal the provisions of law concerning casting absentee ballots by mail without specifying a reason; to provide for the casting of absentee ballots on the day prior to a primary, election, or run-off primary or election. Sponsors: Powell 29th, Willard 49th, McCall 30th, Bearden 68th, Crawford 127th, and others. Status: House Second Readers

54th, Hooks, 14th, Carter,13th. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported. HB 1051: Income Tax credit, certain students and teachers; provide for income

SB 266: Persons with Disabilities; taxicab companies; accessible for motorized wheelchairs; relating to access to and use of public facilities by persons with disabilities, so as to require that certain taxicab companies

tax credits for students majoring in the education of special needs students and teachers who teach special needs students. Sponsors: Buckner, 76th, Reece 11th, Sims 151st, Dickson 6th. Status: House Second Readers

operating in this state shall have a certain number of taxicabs that are accessible to persons in motorized wheelchairs; to provide for related matters. Sponsors: Unterman 45th, Grant 25th, Balfour 9th.. Status: Senate Recommitted

HR 1079: Creation of a Children's Budget Committee; creating the House Study Committee on the Creation of a Children's Budget; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Millar 79th, Burmeister 119th, Manning 32nd, Byrd 20th, Houston

SB 390: Classrooms First for Georgia Act; require local schools to spend

170th. Status: House Second Readers

minimum operating funds on direct classrooms expenditures. Sponsors: Chance HR 1113: Joint Study Comm on Feasibility of a Children and Youth Cabinet;

16th, Moody 56th, Carter 13th, Unterman 45th, Staton 18th, Hill 32nd.

create. A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee on the Feasibility of

Status: House Passed/Adopted

a Children and Youth Cabinet; and for other purposes. Sponsor: Kathy Ashe 56th,

Status: House Second Readers

SB 413: Compulsory School Attendance Law; exemptions; provide local

board of education policies; minimum annual attendance; change certain

HB 1212: PeachKids - Health Insurance for All Georgia Children Act;

provisions relating to mandatory education for children between ages six and 16; relating to programs and protection for children and youth, so as to enact the

to provide that an unemancipated minor older than the age of mandatory

"PeachKids--Health Insurance for All Georgia Children Act"; to provide for a short

attendance may not withdraw from enrollment in school without the permission title; to provide for definitions; to provide for the creation of the PeachKids health

care insurance plan; to provide for eligibility, health care services, and payment of premiums and copayments. Sponsors: Teilhet 40th, Brooks 63rd, Sims 151st, Bryant 160th, Borders 175th, and others. Status: House Second Readers

HB 1217: Disabled persons parking permits; relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for parking permits for disabled persons; to provide for specifications for such parking permits; to require that the person with the disability be the operator of or a passenger in the vehicle when such permit is being used. Sponsors: Murphy 23rd, Rice 51st, Talton 145th, Maxwell 17th, and Dollar 45th. Status: House Second Readers

HB1233: Children and youth services; transitional care centers; revise and add a definition relating to children's transitional care centers; to change certain provisions relating to licensing and inspection of child welfare agencies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Cooper 41st, Cox 102nd. Status: House Second Readers.

HR 1401: Tumlin, Natalie; advocacy movement for people with disabilities: Remembering Natalie Tumlin and her contributions to the advocacy movement for people with disabilities; recognizing the contributions of direct support professionals in supporting people with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their communities. Sponsors: Manning 32nd, Tumlin 38th, Cooper 41st, Johnson 37th, Parsons 42nd. Status: House Read and Adopted
Budget Overview

Fiscal Year 2006 Budget: HB 1026, the Supplemental Budget passed the House on February 3, and is now in the Senate for consideration.

DHR: Annualize the cost of the 925 waiver slots for the MR/DD waiting list in the

community services adult program [$2,720,005] and child and adolescent

community services program [$564,592]

State funds: $3,284,597

Total funds

$8,302,823

Fiscal Year 2007 Budget:

DHR

Olmstead - Fund 750 MR/DD slots to Unlock the Waiting Lists; Adult services,

$5,277,697; Child and adol. Services, $1,080,974.

State Funds: $6,358,671

Total funds

$13,281,233

Realize savings by reducing non-psychiatrist physicians at Central State Hospital in

the adult mental health sub-program ($900,000) Central State Forensic Secure

inpatient services ($300,000) and State Institutional Services Adult Developmental

Disabilities subprogram ($900,000)

Total:

(2,100,000)

Realize savings by consolidating the Craig Nursing Center and the Nursing Home Center in the State Hospital Services-Adult Mental Health subprogram ($1,041,854), the State institutional Services-Adult Developmental Disabilities subprogram ($307,269) and the Direct Care Support Services subprogram ($150,877) of the Adult Services program and eliminate 38 positions. (1,500,000)

Transfer 19 mentally disabled and seriously emotionally disturbed child and adolescent consumers from Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital to the community in the Child and Adolescent Services program and eliminate 32 positions.
(1,002,687)

Annualize the cost of 925 waiver slots on the Mental Retardation/Development

Disabilities Waiting List in the Adult Services program, $2,648,987; and the child

and adolescent community services program, $548,430.

$3,197,417

Total funds: $8,302,823

Provide community services and forensic placements for consumers at West Central

Georgia Regional Hospital through the following strategies:

$3,062,846

Transfer the American Association of Adapted Sports Program contract from DOL's Warm Springs program to the Community Services Program, Child and adolescent services
$248,069

Provide funds for an additional 500 slots in the Community Care Services Program

for eligible elderly clients to enable them to be cared for at home. $1,446,132

Total Funds

$1,725,750

Brain and Spinal Chord Injury Trust Fund; to annualize salary increases employer's

share health insurance

$7,691

DCH FY 2007

Fund the projected growth in Medicaid Benefits

State: $221,163,251 Total: $648,561,287

Contract with an enrollment broker to assist the care management population in

the selection of a CMO plan

$8,460,000

Reduce Medicaid costs generated in the Aged, Blind and Disabled populations through the provision of better business practices to ensure that the member receives the right services at the right time for the right cost
(20,000,000)

Replace Tobacco funds with state funds for the Independent Care Waiver slots.

(This does not reflect an increase in slots)

$2,143,025

Transfer state funds from the Department of Human Resources community services adult program to implement Georgia Healthy Families which serves Medicaid clients who receive mental health services.
$17,910,517

Additional costs associated with savings estimates for the FY 2006 budget cuts

that will not be realized for Disease Management, Emergency Room Pilot

Expansion and with the transfer of nursing home residents to the SOURCE

program.

Yes

DCA FY 2007

Provide grants for accessibility improvements at owner-occupied homes in which an individual with a physical disability resides
$300,000

DOE FY 2007

Redirect $500,000 from Curriculum Development to Testing to align the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA) with the new Georgia Performance Standards Curriculum
YES

Provide funds for QBE enrollment growth of 2.5% and increase in teacher training and experience
$201,590,474

Provide funds to reduce the individual maximum class size for Grades K-8

$163,164,787

Provide for an increase in equalization grants

$46,575,439

Improve graduation rates by providing grants to school systems to fund 1 HS

completion counselor for every HS

$21,175,000

Provide funds for academic coaches in Needs Improvement Schools $2,467,578

DOL FY07

Reduce Special Purpose Contracts and Purchase of Service Contracts by 2% Within the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services division. [These funds provide employment services through community-based agencies]
(116,054)

Further details on the FY 2007 budget will follow. Subcommittee meetings on the FY 07 budget continue in the House and Senate.

For the compete budget reports, go to: http://www.opb.state.ga.us/

For current advocacy alerts, fact sheets and other information regarding the waiting lists go to www.unlockthewaitinglists.com, or the DD Council Website, www.GCDD.org/Public Policy.

Moving Forward is published by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities as a public information source. Please visit the Council's website for additional resources and tools to utilize in your advocacy efforts.

2 Peachtree Street, NW Suite 8-210 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 http://www.gcdd.org 888.ASK-GCDD
TDD 404-657-2133 FAX 404-657-2132
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