Moving forward, vol. 15, no. 10 (2010 March 11)

Moving Forward
Brought to you by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 11, 2010 Volume 15--Issue 10

The General Assembly reconvened on Monday the 8th and a busy week ensued. Revenue figures for February were down 10% over February last year, another $62,000,000 loss. $50 million was due to early tax refunds, but the state has seen revenues collected since July 1, the beginning of fiscal 2010, drop by 12.7 percent, or $1.35 billion, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2009. The FY 2010 amended budget has not been settled, and we have little information on negotiations for the FY 2011.

There was lots of legislative activity this week. HB 1314 establishes Individual Development Accounts to enable people of low income or with disabilities to save in a matched fund for assistive technology such as communication devices, home or vehicle modifications. A new 5 year funding plan resolution is being written. HB 1040 is encountering challenges but still moving. See the back for all updates.

A new adjournment resolution is in effect. Thursday is Day 24; Tuesday the 16th will be Day 25. See back bottom for the calendar.

Chairmanships: Appropriations, Ben Harbin, 118th;
Health Sub committee, Mickey Channell, 116th; Human Resources Sub committee, Penny Houston, 170th; Education, Terry English, 108th; Rules, Bill Hembree, 67th. For a complete list, see the Unlock website
House Leadership: Speaker of the House: David Ralston, 7th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Jan Jones, 46th; Majority Leader: Jerry Keen, 179th; Minority Leader, Dubose Porter, 143rd.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2010A (Adult and Child & Adolescent)
Waiting List for HCBS / DD as of January: Short term 2912 Long Term 1839
Provide funds to enhance hospital operations and quality of care; Adult DD, Adult Forensic, Adult Mental Health, Direct Care Support Services, BHDD Admin (State Hospitals) $20,333,333 This figure is the total of the following categories:

Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: Tommy Williams, 19th; Majority Leader: Chip Rogers, 21st; Minority Leader: Robert Brown, 26th.
Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Sonny Perdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us
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

Adult Developmental Disabilities: Provide funds to enhance hos-

pital operations and quality of care.

1,834,903

Adult Forensic: Provide funds to enhance hospital operations and

quality of care.

4,476,156

Adult Mental Health: Provide funds to enhance hospital opera-

tions and quality of care.

2,201,611

BHDD Administration: Provide funds to enhance hospital opera-

tions and quality of care

1,446,129

Direct Care Support Services: Provide funds to enhance hospital

operations and quality of care.

10,374,534

Budget Information: In this issue, we have edited the
budget information down to the 2010 Amended. House approved February 11th. Senate approved February 18th. After the conference committee resolves differences on FY 2010A, we will carry the information on the FY 2011 budget.

Restore funds to Marcus Center (House: move from Sexual Offender Review Board database request: 274,000)
Department of Community Health; FY 2010A
Waiting List for ICWP: 177 from the Community

The 2010 Session tackles the 2010 supplemental budget (ending June 30, 2010) and 2011 FY budget (beginning July 1, 2010).
Department of Education Budget FY 2010A

Revise pre-admission screening and resident review (PASSR)

contract and use community service boards

(644,585)

Infant and Child Essential Health Treatment Services (Includes

Babies Can't Wait Program): Reduce funds for operating ex-

penses and contractual services

(62,853)

Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS): Decrease federal Reduce funds for programmatic grant-in-aid to Public Health

funds to reflect projected expenditures.

( 2,198,541) districts (Governor & Senate: 205,744)

(House: 469,936)

Reduce funds for Special Needs Scholarships based on actual need. [Special Needs Scholarships] (4,015,110)
Reduce funding Preschool Handicapped program. (1,110,989)

Department of Human Services; FY 2010A (Division of Aging Services)
Community Care Services Program (CCSP) Waiting List Medicaid; 1935 Non-Medicaid; 20,195

QBE Equalization: Reduce funding (17,446,343) (House: No reduction) (Senate: No reduction)

Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs), reduce funding (Governor: 1,063,736) (House & Senate: 483,236 or 4% reduction)

Reduce funds provided for the Georgia Network for Educational

and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) [SED]

(2,764,827)

Reduce funds for the following contracts: Alzheimer respite ser-

vices ($225,000); Center for the Visually Impaired ($177,859);

Mobile Daycare ($36,228); Haralson County Senior Center

($15,000); Kinship Care ($478,275); Senior Legal Hotline

($259,669); Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

($70,000); Navigator Training ($70,000); non-Medicaid Home

and Community Based respite services ($1,376,718) and Senior

Connections in DeKalb County ($20,000).

(total 2,728,749)

(House: restore 437,859 spread;

Senate, restore 225,000 to Alzheimer Respite)

State Schools reduce funding (Governor: 938,853) (House& Senate: 469,426, 2% reduction)

Increase funds for enrollment growth at the Georgia School for

the Deaf (Senate)

$145,280

Eliminate Funding for Naturally Occurring Retirement

Communities

(75,000)

Reflect administrative savings in the Money Follows the Person

demonstration project. (CCSP) FY 2010

(52,171)

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The Georgia 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: Carried Over from Last Session and New

SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain

insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. Sponsors: Grant, 25;

HB 565: Relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; Recom-

for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to provide for legislative intent; to mitted

provide for the composition and appointment of commission members; to

provide for an executive director; to provide for an annual report; to provide for a complaint process; to specify the powers and duties of the commission, transferring functions otherwise assigned Sponsors: Howard, 121; Parham, 141; Benfield, 85; Status: HumR; House Second Readers.

SB 206: Relating to management of budgetary and financial affairs by the Office of Planning and Budget, so as to require tax expenditure reviews as a part of the budget report; to provide for a definition; to provide for contents and requirements of each report; to provide for related matters.

Sponsors: Goggans, 7; J.Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Rogers, 21; Cowsert, 46.

HB 742: Relating to consent for surgical or medical treatment, so as to

Status: App, House Withdrawn, Recommitted.

provide for additional persons and entities that shall be authorized to con-

sent to surgical or medical treatment on behalf of an incapacitated person, SB 289: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to

and for other matters. Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Gardner, 57; Lindsey, 54; add a definition; to revise provisions relating to services and treatment for

Shipp, 58. Status: Judy: House Second Readers

categorically needy and medically fragile children; to revise provisions relating to requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and

HB 907: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise cer- appeals; to provide for related matters. Sponsors: Moody, 56; Thomas,

tain provisions relating to organization of schools, middle school programs, 54; Seay, 34; Orrock, 36. Status: H&HS: Senate Read and Referred.

and scheduling. Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97; Maxwell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read Second Time.

SB 292: relating to courts, so as to substantially revise, supersede, and

modernize provisions relating to juvenile proceedings; to amend Article 1 of

HB 908: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to temporarily Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to

suspend certain laws and requirements relating to expenditure controls, children and youth services. Sponsors: Hamrick, 30; Harp, 29; Brown, 26,

minimum direct classroom expenditures, maximum class size, additional Ramsey, 43, Jones, 10, Unterman, 45. Status: JUDY, Senate Read and

days of instruction, and salary schedules; to provide for statutory construc- Referred.

tion; to provide for automatic repeal of such suspension; Sponsors: (1)

Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 Mawell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read and Re- SB 319: Relating to textbooks for elementary and secondary education, so

ferred .

as to require the definition of "textbook" to include computer hardware and

technical equipment necessary to support the use of nonprint or digital con-

HB 922: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to tent. Sponsors: Staton, 18; Douglas, 17; Goggans, 7; Grant, 25. Status:

provide that certain programs providing services to sick and disabled chil- S&T, House Second Readers.

dren shall be eligible for certain public assistance funding; to provide for

related matters; Sponsors: Cox, 102; Everson, 106. Status: C&Y, House SB 330: So as to prohibit health insurers from rescinding or canceling poli-

Second Readers. [tabled pending fiscal note 2/9]

cies or denying claims based on misstatements or omissions except under

certain circumstances; to provide that no accident and sickness policy con-

HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ral- tains a provision for annual or lifetime benefit limits; to provide that an in-

ston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144.

sured under a group accident and sickness policy may include dependents

Status: Approp, Senate Transmits House.

up to age 25; and for other matters. Sponsors: Smith, 52; Rogers, 21;

Willimas, 19; Seabaugh, 28, Hawkins, 49. Status: I&L: Senate Committee

HB 948: Appropriations Fiscal Year 2011. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th;

Favorably Reported.

Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Ap-

prop, House Second Readers.

SB 357: Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to suspend, rather

than terminate, an individual's Medicaid benefits while he or she is incarcer-

HB 985: So as to authorize taxpayers to make certain contributions

ated. Sponsors: Jones, 10; Butler, 55; Orrock, 36; Seay, 34; Harbison, 50.

through the income tax payment and refund process to programs for the Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred.

education regarding and alleviation of multiple sclerosis. Sponsors: Fludd,

66; Mosby, 90. Status: W&M; House Second Readers.

SB 391: Proceedings; provide for certain children found incompetent to

stand trial; relating to proceedings upon plea of mental incompetency to

HB 1040: Relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Regis- stand trial, so as to revise and add definitions; to provide for certain chil-

tered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the perform- dren found incompetent to stand trial. Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Hill, 4.

ance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver under

Status: Judy: Senate Committee Favorably Reported.

certain conditions shall not require licensure as a registered professional

nurse. Sponsors: Pruett, 144; Cooper, 41; Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72.

SB 425: Mental Health Admin.; revise definition of health services; com-

Status: JudyNC, [Passed Setzler Subcommittee of JudyNC]

munity service boards; Relating to general provisions relative to administra-

tion of mental health, developmental disabilities, addictive diseases, and

HB 1218: To enact the "Transportation Investment Act of 2010"; to provide other disability services, so as to revise the definition of "health services"

for the creation of special districts; to provide for a referendum; to provide and other matters. Sponsors: Balfour, 9; Henson, 41, Jones, 10; Hooks,

for annual reporting; to provide for Citizens Review Panels; and other mat- 14; Hill, 4. Status: H&HS; Senate Read Second Time.

ters. Sponsors: Cole, 125; Ralston, 7; Keen, 179; Roberts, 154, Glanton,

176. Status: Trans: House Second Readers.

SB 443: The "Medicaid Care Management Organizations Act," so as to

create the Medicaid Care Management Organization Legislative Oversight

HB 1314: So as to provide for the comprehensive regulation of individual Committee; to provide for its membership, terms, and meetings; to provide

development accounts; to provide for definitions; to provide for proce- for its duties; and for other matters. Sponsors: Smith, 52; Hawkins, 49;

dures, conditions, and limitations with respect to the creation and operation Thomas, 54; Unterman, 45; Mullis, 53. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and

of such accounts; and for other matters. Sponsors: Sheldon, 105; Ce.Hill, Referred.

180; Kaiser, 59; Mosby, 90. Status: H&HS, House First Readers.

SB 459: So as to provide for a single administrator for dental services for

HB 1324: Relating to the Department of Behavioral Health and Develop- Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; and for other mat-

mental Disabilities; to provide for additional members of the Behavioral

ters. Sponsors: JuHill, 39; Williams, 19; Goggans, 7; Hawkins, 39; LJack-

Health Coordinating Council; to revise a provision relating to the duties and son, 2. Status: Senate Read and Referred.

functions of regional planning boards; and for other matters. Sponsors:

Butler, 18; Pruett, 144; Peake, 137; Ramsey, 72. Status: Gaff; House

Thursday March 25th Day 30; CROSSOVER DAY

First Readers.

Bills that don't pass one chamber are dead for the session.

ADJOURNMENT CALENDAR Thursday, March 11th; Day 24. Adjourned Friday March 12th through Monday March 15th. Tuesday, March 16th, Day 25. Wednesday, March 17th, Day 26. Thursday, March 18th, Day 27. Adjourned Friday March 19th
through Sunday March 21. Monday, March 22, Day 28. Tuesday, March 23, Day 29. ADJOURNED Wednesday, March 24th. Thursday March 25th Day 30; CROSSOVER DAY.
ADJOURNED Friday, March 26th through Sunday, March 28th. Monday, March 29th, Day 31

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