Moving forward, vol. 14, no. 9 (2009 March 12)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 12, 2009 Volume 14--Issue 9

Crossover Day!

Day 30

Legislation that does not clear the House or the Senate today will not move forward this year, but can be carried over to the 2010 session. The Senate version of the DHR Restructuring legislation, SB 222, is on the calendar. The House version, HB 228, passed yesterday. A conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences in the bill.

Budget: FY 2009 was completed and presented to both houses on the 10th. See be-
low left for restored funds. Committee meetings have begun on the FY 2010 budget, which presents a challenge due to further reductions in state revenues and the need to include the federal stimulus money. Below are the FY 2010 figures from MHDDAD and DCH. Please watch your action alerts. As of print time, there are no new funds included in the DD budget except for 150 money follows person waivers.

Department of Human Resources FY 2009 Supp. (ending 6-30-09) RESTORED

Department of Community Health (FY 2010)

Reduce funds for 135 vacant MRWP slots provided for in FY 2009 (slots vacant due to attrition will be

Add 100 ICWP waivers for Money Follows the Person

program

$1,572,750

made available to new consumers, instead of with Reduce state general funds provided in FY 2009 for

new money; adults, children, 6 mos)

1,380,098 provider rate increases

(35,083,373)

Elder Community Living Services Non-Medicaid HCBS Elder Services Elder Support (meals on Wheels)

225,000 292,843 261,250

[Increase funds to reflect change in Medicaid federal participation rate, Low Income Medicaid and Aged, Blind and Disabled]
(450,349,998)

[Increase funds to reflect change in Medicaid [Note: all items in bold reflecting change in

federal participation rate]

(51,773,198) the Medicaid federal participation rate means

CASH TAKEN OUT of each budget.]

Department of Community Health

FY 2009 Supplemental (No Changes)

Legislation

Defer FY 2009 rate increases for service providers HB 37: Relating to general provisions relative to labor and

including ICWP personal support

(354,680) industrial relations, so as to enact the "Parent Protection

Act"; to provide for leave for employees to attend school

Delay implementation of 75 new ICWP waivers until conferences and medical appointments. Sponsors: Bruce,

Jan 1, 2009

(586,822) 64, Kaiser, 59; Ashe, 56; Lundsford, 110; Mosby, 90.

Status: IndR; Second Readers. [These waivers have begun being awarded to con-

sumers]

HB 39: Relating to the excise tax on tobacco products, so as

to increase the amount of such tax with respect to cigarettes

[Increase funds to reflect change in Medicaid and loose or smokeless tobacco; Sponsor: Stephens,164,

federal participation rate]

(221,150,658) Status: House Second Readers.

FY 2010 Budget
Governor announced additional cuts to the state budget of $1,624,108,401. Dollars from the federal

HB 118: Supplemental Appropriations, State Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. Sponsors: Richardson, 19; Keen, 17; Burkhalter, 50; Harbin, 115; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: App; Senate Passed/Adopted

stimulus package will replace approximately $1.1 billion of the cuts, so state agencies will be asked to reduce their budgets by approximately half a billion dollars. The following figures reflect the Governor's revised recommendations for the 2010 fiscal year.

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.

Department of Human Resources:

HB 128: Relating to disabled veterans and blind persons engaging in peddling, operating businesses, or practicing

professions, so as to provide that a certificate of eligibility for

Provide funds for 150 MRWP waiver program slots an exemption from occupation taxes, administrative fees,

for the Money Follows the Person

$2,387,318 and regulatory fees shall be valid for a period of ten years;

Sponsor: Benton 31. Status: Senate Read and Referred to Annualize the cost of 365 waiver slots $3,023,994 I & L

Reduce funds for 135 vacant MRWP slots provided HB 149: So as to enact the "Move on When Ready Act"; to

for in FY 2009

(3,368,458) provide for definitions; to provide a program for eleventh and

twelfth grade students to attend postsecondary colleges and Replace state funds with other funds from new pro- schools for high school credit; Sponsors: Jones, 46; Hem-

vider fees in DCH and annualize the FY 2009 pro- bree, 67; Dempsey, 13; Powell, 171; Harden, 147. Status:

vider rate increase for waiver services (716,892) Sen. Ed&Y: Read and Referred.

Increase funds to reflect change in Medicaid

federal participation rate]

(44,622,015)

[All figures, Adult DD and Child and Adolescent DD]

Sine Die: HR 565 sets the calendar for the rest of the session; Adjournment set for April 3rd.

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 228: So as to reorganize and reestablish various state ders. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas,

health and human services agencies; to establish the Depart- 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; Senate Read Second Time.

ment of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the

Department of Behavioral Health; to reassign various func- SB 165: So as to authorize DCH to obtain income eligibility

tions of the Department of Community Health and the Depart- verification from the Department of Revenue for applicants for

ment of Human Resources to the new agencies; Sponsors: Medicaid and PeachCare programs. Sponsors: Goggans, 7;

Butler, 18; Harbin, 118; Cole, 125; Keen, 179; Olive, 83. Williams, 19; Hill, 4; Hawkins, 49. Status: Ins: House Second

Status: App; House passed/adopted

Readers.

HB 457: Relating to protection of disabled adults and elder SB 222: so as to reorganize and reestablish various state

persons, so as to revise the definition of the term "disabled health and human services agencies; to establish the Depart-

adult"; to provide that certain acts against disabled adults in ment of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the

long-term care facilities are unlawful; and other matters. Spon- Department of Behavioral Health; to reassign various func-

sors: Peake, 137; Cooper, 41, Horne, 71; Levitas, 82; Lunds- tions of the Department of Community Health and the Depart-

ford, 110. Status: H&HS; House committee favorably re-

ment of Human Resources to the new agencies. Sponsors:

ported

Unterman, 45; Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Grant, 25; Goggans, 7.

Status: GovtO; Senate read second time

HB 565: So as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to provide for the composition and appointment of commission members; to provide for an executive director; to provide for duties; to provide for an annual report; to provide for a complaint process; to specify the powers and duties of the commission, and for other purposes. Sponsors: Howard, 121; Parham, 141; Benfield, 85. Status: HumR:

SB 244: relating to definitions relative to the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the performance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver shall not be prohibited; Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Thomas, 54; Goggans, 7. Status: H&HS, Senate read second time.

House second readers.

SB 247: relating to general provisions relative to standards

HB 566: So as to enact the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; to provide definitions; to require an evaluation of a blind or visually impaired child to determine such child's need for Braille instruction; to require Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a blind or visually impaired student; to provide requirements for textbook

and requirements for construction of buildings and other structures generally, so as to enact the "New Home Access Act"; to require new at-grade residential structures to include certain accessibility features. Sponsors: Orrock, 36; Douglas, 17; Moody, 56; Jones, 10; Hill, 32 and others. Status: RU&I, Senate Read and Referred.

publishers relating to Braille instructional materials; to provide license requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Manning, 32; Reece, 11. Status: Ed: House second readers.

SR 56: A Resolution creating the Georgia Vulnerable Adult Study Commission. Sponsors: Ramsey, 43. Status: H&HS; read & referred.

SB 153: relating to parking for persons with disabilities, so as to provide for use of more than one parking place by persons with disabilities when all parking places for persons with disabilities are full. Sponsors: Henson, 41; Ramsey, 43. Status: Pub Saf: Senate passed/adopted
SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain insurance coverage of autism spectrum disor-

Please check www.unlockthewaitinglists.com for updates and alerts on the budget situation.
Please contact your own legislator and tell them how important home and community-based services are
to you and your family.

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 Perdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

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