Moving forward, vol. 13, no. 10 (2008 March 20)

Moving Forward
Brought to you by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 20, 2008 Volume 13--Issue 10

What a Difference a Week Makes! Yesterday, full House Appropriations voted out the FY 2009 budget, RESTORING all the cuts to waiver services that Gov. Perdue had proposed the prior week. We are back at 500 MRWP services, 100 ICWP slots for Money Follows Person and 50 slots for the ICWP community waiting list. See Below. An added bonus was $500,000 for the production of Braille college text materials. The budget will be voted on Thursday afternoon, and then moves to the Senate for their consideration. Stay tuned to the Unlock the Waiting Lists alerts for info on next steps. In order to keep pace with the annual growth in the waiting list, we need AT LEAST 1000 new services. We appreciate the House's efforts to restore some frightening reductions to the budget. Concrete Change and the Accessible Housing Coalition presented SB 532 to the Senate Regulated Industries committee, Senator Shafer, Chairman. Several housing advocates spoke of the need for basic accessibility features, and the testimony was wellreceived. See below for info on HR 1632, the Study Committee for Accessible Housing.

Department of Human Resources Budget FY 2008 supplemental (ending June 30, 2008)
The Conference Committee signed off on the FY 2008 budget on Wednesday March 19th.

high school graduation coaches, and add funds for graduation coaches at 14 new middle and high schools.
$10,238,722
Total funds: $2,176,267

DHR FY 2009 Budget (beginning July 1, 2008)
[The figures reported here reflect the HOUSE version of the budget at this point in time.]

Provide funding for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. $5,656,726

Provide funds to restore austerity reductions through redi-

rection and new funds.

$90,000,000

Fund 500 waiver slots for consumers on the Mental Retar-

dation Waiver Program waiting list, adults

$5,186,220

children $1,062,238

total state funds for 500 waiver services

$6,248,458

Reflect anticipated other funds to fund 500 waiver slots for

consumers on the Mental Retardation Waiver Program

waiting list.

federal match adults $7,779,330

federal match children $1,593,357

total federal match for 500 waiver services $9,372,687

Annualize the cost of 1,500 waiver slots on the Mental Re-

tardation/Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program wait-

ing list,

adults

$7,733,469

children

$1,419,549

total state funds to annualize 1500 services $9,153,018

Reflect anticipated other funds to fund 1,500 waiver slots for consumers on the Mental Retardation Waiver/ Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program waiting list.
federal match adults $11,600,204 federal match children $2,129,324 total federal funds to annualize 1500 services $13,729,529
Department of Community Health DY 2009 Budget (beginning July 1, 2008)
Add 100 Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) slots for Money Follows Person Demonstration Grant to move qualified members from institutions to the community
$1,423,047 Total Funds: $3,968,341

Provide funds for 50 slots in the ICWP program to address

the community waiting list.

$780,000

Total funds: $2,176,267

The House added a 2.5% increase to all Medicaid Provider rates.
Department of Education Budget, FY 2009

Adjust funds for training and experience for middle and

Add funds to the preschool handicapped program based in

enrollment increases.

$457,613

Department of Early Care and Learning

Provide funds for 1,000 additional slots

$6,425,206

Board of Regents
Provide funds for the production of Braille College Materials $500,000
Legislation

HB 188: Jury duty: To provide for an exemption for a primary caregiver of a person aged six or older with physical or cognitive limitations. Sponsors: Rynders, 152nd; Manning, 32nd; others. Status: Judy, Senate Read and Referred
HB 652: To require Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a student who is a blind or visually impaired child; to provide requirements for the individualized education program; to provide requirements for textbook publishers; to provide requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers. Sponsors: Manning, 32nd; Reese, 11th. Status: ED&Y, Senate Committee Favorably Reported
HB 930: Disabled veterans and blind persons; eligibility certificate; valid for five years. Sponsor: Benton, 31st. Status: RI&Util, Senate Read and Referred
HB 984: Relating to children and youth services, so as to revise definitions and add a new definition relating to children's transition care centers; to change certain provisions relating to licensing and inspection of child welfare agencies. Sponsors: Cox, 102nd; Carter, 175th; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Read Second Time
HB 990: General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009. Sponsors: Sponsors: Richardson, 19th; Keen, 179th. Status: App, House Committee Favorably Reported Cooper, 41st; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Committee Favorably Reported

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities collaborates with Georgia citizens, public and private advocacy organizations, and policymakers to positively influence public policies that enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Legislation Continued:

term; to provide for annual audits of the department. Sponsor: Butler, 18th. Status: App, Second Readers

HB 1044: To provide that respite care services programs shall not be considered adult day centers for purposes of licensure. Sponsors: Walker, 107th; Copper 41; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Committee Favorably Reported

HR 1632: A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Accessibility. Sponsors: Butler, 18th; O'Neal, 146; others. Status: Rules; House Second Readers

SB 469: So as to revise the definition of "personal care

HB 1054: To provide the necessary support to the Georgia home"; to provide guidelines for and oversight of host

Child Fatality Review Panel; to transfer the functions of the homes; to define "host home". Sponsors: Harp 29th;

Children's Trust Fund Commission to the Governor's Office Thomas, 54th. Status: HumR, House Second Readers

for Children and Families; to provide for the continued ex-

istence of the Children's Trust Fund. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Manning, 32nd; others. Status: Judy, Senate Read and Referred

SB 507: To establish requirements for basic therapy services for children with disabilities detected under screening activities required by federal law; to assure similar treat-

ments and services for categorically needy and medically

HB 1184: So as to authorize the Georgia Student Finance fragile children; to provide certain requirements relating to

Authority to establish two pilot educational assistance pro- administrative prior approval for services and appeals.

grams for collegiate sports for students with physical dis- Sponsors: Moody, 56th; Carter, 13th; others. Status:

abilities; to provide for scholarships. Sponsors: Free-

H&HS, House Second Readers

man,140th; Harbin 118th; others. Status: H ED, Senate

Committee Favorably Reported

SB 532: So as to enact the "New Home Access Act"; to

provide for legislative findings; to require new at-grade

HB 1209: So as to provide that a local school system may residential structures to include certain accessibility fea-

enter into a contract with the State Board of Education for increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability; Sponsors: Coleman, 97th; Golick 34th; Smith, V, 129th; Cole, 125th; Maxwell, 17th. Status: ED&Y, Sen-

tures; to provide for exceptions; to provide for applicability; to provide for a penalty; to provide for statutory construction. Sponsors: Orrock, 36th; Carter, 13th; others. Status: RI&Util; Senate Read and Referred

ate Read and Referred

HB 1234: To revise a definition relating to quality assessment fees on care management organizations for purposes of conformity; so as to provide that an administrative law judge can consolidate complaints or claims against a care management organization. Sponsors: Channell, 116th; Cooper, 41st; others. Status: GvtO, Senate Read and

SB 547: Relating to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund, so as to expand the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund provisions under the Constitution of Georgia to authorize additional penalty assessments for additional violations; to provide for effective date and applicability. Sponsor: Chance, 16th. Status: Judy, House Second Readers

Referred

SR 788: Creating the Senate Study Committee on Brain

HB 1341: Relating to the Department of Human Resources, so as to provide a limitation on expenditures of department funds for administrative costs; to define a

Injury Related Neurobehavioral Issues in Georgia. Sponsors: Thomas, 54th; Goggans 7th; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Read Second time

Who Are My Elected Officials?
Find your legislators, learn House and Senate leadership
Visit www.vote-smart.org to identify your legislators. Find your legislators' contact information at www.legis.state.ga.us House Information, 1-800-2825800; Senate Information 1-800-282-5803
Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: Eric Johnson, 1st
House Leadership-- Speaker of the House: Glenn Richardson, 19th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Mark Burhalter, 50th
Senate Appropriations--Chair: Jack Hill, 4th
House Appropriations--Chair: Ben Harbin, 118th

SR 1074: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide for additional penalties or fees for offenses involving illegal parking in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, operating a motorcycle without protective headgear, opeating a boat or other watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and reckless driving; to provide that the General Assembly is authorized to allocate such additional penalties or fees to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund. Sponsor: Chance, 16th. Status: Judy, House Second Readers

Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Sonny Perdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

2 Peachtree Street, NW Suite 26-246 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 http://www.gcdd.org
Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm
888-ASK-GCDD
TDD 404-657-2133 FAX 404-657-2132