Moving forward, vol. 14, no. 6 (2009 February 19)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
February 19, 2009 Volume 14--Issue 6

Day 21
Revenue Down again! A 14% decline in January's revenue collections com-
pared to a year ago forced the Governor to reduce the FY 2009 amended budget by another $449,546,479. This will result in further cuts to agency budgets. The most significant cuts are to Education ($98 million), Board of Regents ($20 million) and Department of Community Health ($1.76 million). The Governor factored in the $465 million FMAP increase from the Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act to offset the Home Owners Tax Relief Grant, which will leave $428 million in the hands of homeowners. He will also move $150 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve which was included in the FY 2010 budget, to be incorporated in the FY 2009 budget.

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Department of Human Resources FY 2009 supplemental (ending June 30, 2009)

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

(all parentheses are deductions)

Georgia's estimated share of the package:

Reduce funding for new provider and other MHDDAD $1.7 billion

Medicaid enhanced FMAP

training, and quality compliance audits (510,534) $1.28 billion

State Fiscal Stabilization

Defer provider rate increase provided for in FY 2009 $420 million

Title I Grants

(863,724) $1.0 billion
Reduce funds for 135 vacant MRWP slots provided

Roads and bridges

for in FY 2009 (slots vacant due to attrition will be $331 million

Special Education

made available to new consumers, instead of with new money; adults, children, 6 mos) (1,684,229) $90 million

Public Housing

Reflect savings from implementation of an integrated $82 million

and more medically appropriate system for serving $33 million children with special needs (Infant and Child Essen-

tial Health Program)

(1,200,000) $29 million

Child care Homelessness prevention Headstart / Early Start

Reflect savings from implementation of an integrated See our website on Monday for more details.

and more medically appropriate system for serving

children with special needs, (Infant and Health Pro-

motion)

(545,069)

Legislation HB 20: Relating to administrative procedure, so as to provide that policies or rules of the Department of Human Resources and the

Additional Cuts to DHR: $97,511

Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission regarding loans, grants, and benefits shall not be excluded from the requirements

Department of Community Health

regarding rule making; Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Gardner, 57; Benfield, 85; Stephens, 164. Status: Gaff; House committee favorably

FY 2009 Supplemental (ending June 30, 2009) reported.

Defer FY 2009 rate increases provided for service providers including ICWP personal support
(355,598)

Delay implementation of 75 new ICWP waivers until

Jan 1, 2009

(586,822)

Additional Cuts to DCH: ($1,762,558)

HB 22: Relating to the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles, so as to require the use of safety belts in all passenger vehicles, including pickup trucks; to require the use of safety belts by occupants in the rear seats of a passenger vehicle; Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Manning, 32; Hugley, 133; Stephens, 164, Abrams, 84, and others. Status: A&CA; second readers.
HB 37: Relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial relations, so as to enact the "Parent Protection Act"; to provide for leave for employees to attend school conferences and medical appointments. Sponsors: Bruce, 64. Status: House prefiled.

DOE Budget, FY 2009 Supplemental (ending HB 39: Relating to the excise tax on tobacco products, so as to

June 30, 2009)

increase the amount of such tax with respect to cigarettes and loose or smokeless tobacco; Sponsor: Stephens,164, Status:

Reduce funds for graduation coaches, and spring

House second readers.

training for coaches

(1,033,333) HB 89: the "Georgia Medical Assistance Act of 1977," so as to

require physicians who participate in the state employees' or board

Reduce Special Needs Scholarships

(113,135)

of regents' health insurance plan to also participate in the Medicaid program, and other. Sponsor: Powell, 29. Status: H&HS; second

Reduce low incidence S.E. grants

readers. (16,534)

Reduce QBE funding by 2%

HB 118: Supplemental Appropriations, State Fiscal Year July 1, (135,799,719) 2008 to June 30, 2009. Sponsors: Richardson, 19; Keen, 17;

Burkhalter, 50; Harbin, 115; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: App;
Additional cuts to Education ($98,751,469) second readers.

Disability Day at the Capitol, Feb 25th
Register Today at www.gcdd.org

HB 119: Appropriations, State Fiscal Year July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Sponsors: Richardson, 19; Keen, 17; Burkhalter, 50; Harbin, 115; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: App; 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.

HB 128: Relating to disabled veterans and blind persons engaging in tax payment and refund process to programs for the education re-

peddling, operating businesses, or practicing professions, so as to garding and alleviation of multiple sclerosis; Sponsors: Seay, 34;

provide that a certificate of eligibility for an exemption from occupa- Adelman, 42; Brown, 26; Butler, 55; Orrock, 36 and others. Status:

tion taxes, administrative fees, and regulatory fees shall be valid for a Fin; read & referred.

period of ten years; Sponsor: Benton 31. Status: Senate read and

referred to I & L

SB 39: So as to provide for a 1 percent sales tax to be used to fund

transportation projects in special transportation districts within the

HB 149: Relating to financing under the "Quality Basic Education state; to provide for the creation of such districts, the governance

Act," so as to enact the "Move on When Ready Act"; to provide for thereof, and the development of a list of transportation projects by the

definitions; to provide a program for eleventh and twelfth grade stu- district; and other. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Stoner, 6; Williams, 19;

dents to attend postsecondary colleges and schools for high school Reed, 35; Rogers, 21 and others. Status: Trans; House, second

credit; Sponsors: Jones, 46; Hembree, 67; Dempsey, 13; Powell, readers.

171; Harden, 147. Status: Ed; favorably reported, comm. sub.

SB 54: Relating to banking and finance, so as to repeal and reenact

HB 228: So as to reorganize and reestablish various state health

the "Georgia Fair Lending Act"; to prohibit abusive home loan prac-

and human services agencies; to establish the Department of Health, tices; Sponsors: Thompson, 33; Fort, 39; Reed, 35; Status: B&FI;

the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Behav- Senate read & referred.

ioral Health; to reassign various functions of the Department of Com-

munity Health and the Department of Human Resources to the new SB 90: So as to provide the option for parents to enroll their child in

agencies; Sponsors: Butler, 18; Harbin, 118; Cole, 125; Keen, 179; another school within the local school system, a school in another

Olive, 83. Status: App; second readers.

local school system, or in a private school under certain conditions; to

provide for the amount of scholarship and method of payments.

HB 377: To provide that all contracts between the Department of

Sponsors: Johnson, 1; Rogers, 21; Hill, 32; Unterman, 45; Moody,

Community Health and health care management organizations, third 56. Status: ED&Y: Senate read and referred.

party administrators of health care plans, or other entities and their

subcontractors, including the state health benefit plan and the Medi- SB 92: So as to convert Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Pro-

caid program, shall be subject to the provisions of the open records gram funds to premium assistance to allow low-income families to

act; Sponsors: Powell, 29; Chambers, 81; Roberts, 154; Levitas, participate in private sector health insurance plans. Sponsors: Hill,

82; Williams,165; Bearden, 68. Status: H&HS: House second read- 32; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54t; Rogers, 21; Murphy, 27. Status: I&L:

ers

Senate read and referred.

HB 426: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders; Sponsors: Dempsey, 13; Burkhalter, 50; Parter, 143; Cole, 125; Manning, 32. Status: Ins; second readers.

SB 146: Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to require the Department of Community Health to contract with a single administrator for dental services; Sponsors: Hill, 32; Jackson, 2; Hawkins, 49; Goggans, 7. Status: H&HS, Senate read and referred.

HB 428: DHR; So as to provide that financial assistance received by parents adopting a special needs child from such department shall extend to a person taking custody of such child under certain circumstances. Sponsors: Kaiser, 59; Thomas, 100; Gardner, 57; Manning, 32; Ashe, 56. Status: Judy; House withdrawn, recommitted
SB 5: Relating to the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles, so as to eliminate certain exceptions to the required use of safety belts; Sponsors: Thomas, 54; Hill, 4; Harp, 29; Stoner, 6; Hill, 32; and others. Status: A&CA, House second readers.
SB 25: Relating to income tax returns and information, so as to authorize taxpayers to make certain contributions through the income

SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; Senate read and referred.
SB 165: So as to authorize DCH to obtain income eligibility verification from the Department of Revenue for applicants for Medicaid and PeachCare programs. Sponsors: Goggans, 7; Williams, 19; Hill, 4; Hawkins, 49. Status: H&HS, Senate read and referred.
SR 56: A Resolution creating the Georgia Vulnerable Adult Study Commission. Sponsors: Ramsey, 43 Status: H&HS; Senate read & referred.

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, 1-800-282-5800; Senate Information 1-800-282-5803
Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: Tommy Williams, 19th; House Leadership-- Speaker of the House: Glenn Richardson, 19th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Mark Burhalter, 50th; 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 Development: Renee Unterman, 45th.
House Appropriations--Chair: Ben Harbin, 118th; Vice Chair Education: Jan Jones, 46th; Vice Chair Health: Mickey Channell, 116th; Vice Chair Human Services: Mark Butler, 18th. Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Sonny Purdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

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