Moving forward, vol. 13, no. 8 (2008 March 6)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 6, 2008 Volume 13--Issue 8

House sets adjournment calendar to Day 38: Tuesday, March 11th will be Day 30, or Crossover Day. The rest of the scheduled days are as follows:
3-12 is Day 31; 3-13 is Day 32; Adjourned Friday March 14 through Monday March 17th; 3-18 is Day 33; 3-19 is Day 34; 3-20 is Day 35. Adjourned Friday, March 21 through Monday, March 24th (Easter Weekend). Tuesday March 25th is Day 36; 3-26 is Day 37 and 3-27 is Day 38. Of course, this schedule is subject to change by another resolution.
The FY 2008 budget was still not resolved as of press time, and we have no definitive information on how far along discussions on the FY 2009 have proceeded. Advocates look at this as more time to talk to legislators of the needs of the community.

If you visit the Capitol during the session, look for the DD advocates on the third floor outside the double elevators!

Department of Human Resources Budget FY 2008 supplemental (ending June 30, 2008)
Transfer state funds from Adult Developmental Disabilities services program to Adult Forensic Services program ($3,405,931) and the Adult Mental Health Services program ($23,613,653) to align budget and expenditures.
Total ($27,019,584)

Provide funding for a Very Important Parent (VIP) Recruiter for at-risk elementary, middle, and high schools.
$14,250,000
Provide funding for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. $5,656,726
Department of Early Care and Learning

DHR FY 2009 Budget (beginning July 1, 2008)

Provide funds for 1,000 additional slots

$6,425,206

Fund 500 waiver slots for consumers on the Mental

Retardation 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

Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program

waiting 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

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 235: To provide that a surrogate decision-making panel shall be included as a last resort entity that is authorized to consent to surgical or medical treatment on behalf of an incapacitated person; Sponsors: Shipp, 58th; Tumlin, 38th; others. Status: Judy, Recommitted on 4/20
HB 279: Katie Beckett waiver program; eligibility; certain children; require certain procedures. Sponsors: Collins, 27th; Cooper, 41st; Burkhalter, 50th; others. Status: Senate HHS; favorably reported
HB 540: Domestic relations; child support; to create a duty in certain circumstances to provide child support for a mentally or physically disabled child beyond the age of 18; Sponsors: Smith, 168th; Manning, 32nd. Status: Judy, House Committee Favorably Reported
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;

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

for textbook publishers; to provide requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers. Sponsors: Manning, 32nd; Reese, 11th. Status: House Educ, Favorably Reported
HB 880: To provide for requests to publishers for electronic versions of instructional material; Sponsors: Sheldon, 105th; Hembree, 67th. Status: HEd, Second Readers
HB 882: Minimum wage; raise amount. Sponsors: Beasely-Teague, 65th; Abrams, 84th; others. Status: IndR, Second Readers

Department of Education Budget, FY 2009
Adjust funds for training and experience for middle and high school graduation coaches, and add funds for graduation coaches at 14 new middle and high schools.

HB 901: "Parent Protection Act" to provide for leave for employees to attend school conferences and medical appointments. Sponsors: Bruce, 64th;Kaiser, 59th; others. Status: IndR, Second Readers

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:
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 and Referred
HB 990: General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009. Sponsors: Sponsors: Richardson, 19th; Keen, 179th. 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; Cooper, 41st; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Read and Referred
HB 1054: To provide the necessary support to the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel; to transfer the functions of the Children's Trust Fund Commission to the Governor's Office for Children and Families; to provide for the continued existence of the Children's Trust Fund. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Manning, 32nd; others. Status: Judy, Senate Read and Referred
HB 1184: So as to authorize the Georgia Student Finance Authority to establish two pilot educational assistance programs for collegiate sports for students with physical disabilities; to provide for scholarships. Sponsors: Freeman,140th; Harbin 118th; others. Status: HEd, House Passed / Adopted
HB 1209: So as to provide that a local school system may 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: Senate Read and Referred
HB 1234: So as 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: Ins, House Committee Favorably Reported
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 term; to provide for annual audits of the department. Sponsor: Butler, 18th. Status: App, Second Readers
SB 13: Labor; minimum wage law; substantive/comprehensive reform of provisions; Sponsors: Brown, 26th; Davenport, 44th. Status: I & L, Senate Read and Referred Thomas 54th. 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
Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Sonny Perdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

HB 507: To establish requirements for basic therapy services for children with disabilities detected under screening activities required by federal law; to assure similar treatments and services for categorically needy and medically fragile children; to provide certain requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals. Sponsors: Moody, 56th; Carter, 13th; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Read Second Time
SB 532: So as to enact the "New Home Access Act"; to provide for legislative findings; to require new at-grade residential structures to include certain accessibility features; 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.
SR 788: Creating the Senate Study Committee on Brain Injury Related Neurobehavioral Issues in Georgia. Sponsors: Thomas, 54th; Goggans 7th; others. Status: H&HS, Senate Read Second time

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