Moving forward, vol. 15, no. 11 (2010 March 18)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 18, 2010 Volume 15--Issue 11

There was a great deal of activity this week as the legislature prepares for Crossover Day. We have some progress to report! HB 1314 which establishes Individual Development Accounts to enable people to save in a matched fund for assistive technology passed out of committee on Wednesday. A new 5 year strategic and funding plan resolution was dropped, HR 1713. HB 1040 was passed out of subcommittee on Non-civil judiciary on Thursday, and goes to full Non-civil Judy Friday morning. The New Home Access Legislation was dropped, HB 1395. We are hoping to get hearings on HB 1311, and HB 565, the Commission for the Blind Legislation. Our legislation will not move further unless voted out of the House by close of business Thursday the 25th.
Monday is Day 28; Tuesday, Day 29; Wednesday in adjournment, and Thursday is Crossover Day. There is still no definitive news on either budget, but the revenue estimate for FY 2011 has been reduced again by nearly $450,000,000. BHDD and HCBS providers were spared further reductions.

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.
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

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

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

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)

the Deaf (Senate)

$145,280

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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

HR 1713: A RESOLUTION requesting that the Department of Behavioral

Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health,

HB 565: Relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to provide for legislative intent; to 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;

and the Department of Human Services submit to the General Assembly a multiyear comprehensive plan for creating a system of supports for home and community based services that support independent living of Georgians with disabilities; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Manning, 32; Gardner, 57; Houston, 170; Walker, 107; Channell, 116; Rynders, 152 Status: House First Readers.

Status: HumR; House Second Readers.

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

HB 742: Relating to consent for surgical or medical treatment, so as to provide for additional persons and entities that shall be authorized to consent to surgical or medical treatment on behalf of an incapacitated person, and for other matters. Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Gardner, 57; Lindsey, 54; Shipp, 58. Status:

insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. [Committee Sub, establishing Statewide Autism Task Force. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; Senate Committee Favorably reported.

Judy: House Committee Favorably Reported

SB 206: Relating to management of budgetary and financial affairs by the Of-

HB 907: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise certain provisions relating to organization of schools, middle school programs, and scheduling. Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97; Maxwell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read Second Time.

fice 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. Status: App, House Withdrawn, Recommitted.

HB 908: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to temporarily sus-

pend certain laws and requirements relating to expenditure controls, minimum SB 289: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to add

direct classroom expenditures, maximum class size, additional days of instruc- a definition; to revise provisions relating to services and treatment for categori-

tion, and salary schedules; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for cally needy and medically fragile children; to revise provisions relating to re-

automatic repeal of such suspension; Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 quirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals; to

Mawell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read Second Time.

provide for related matters. Sponsors: Moody, 56; Thomas, 54; Seay, 34;

Orrock, 36. Status: H&HS: Senate Read and Referred.

HB 922: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to provide that certain programs providing services to sick and disabled children shall be eligible for certain public assistance funding; to provide for related matters; Sponsors: Cox, 102; Everson, 106. Status: C&Y, House Second Readers. [tabled pending fiscal note 2/9]

SB 292: relating to courts, so as to substantially revise, supersede, and modernize provisions relating to juvenile proceedings; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services. Sponsors: Hamrick, 30; Harp, 29; Brown, 26, Ramsey, 43, Jones, 10, Unterman, 45. Status: JUDY, Senate Read and Referred.

HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ralston,

7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Ap- SB 319: Relating to textbooks for elementary and secondary education, so as

prop, Senate Transmits House.

to require the definition of "textbook" to include computer hardware and techni-

cal equipment necessary to support the use of nonprint or digital content.

HB 948: Appropriations Fiscal Year 2011. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th; Harbin, Sponsors: Staton, 18; Douglas, 17; Goggans, 7; Grant, 25. Status: S&T,

118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Approp, House

House Committee Favorably Reported.

Second Readers.

SB 330: So as to prohibit health insurers from rescinding or canceling policies

HB 985: So as to authorize taxpayers to make certain contributions through or denying claims based on misstatements or omissions except under certain

the income tax payment and refund process to programs for the education re- circumstances; to provide that no accident and sickness policy contains a provi-

garding and alleviation of multiple sclerosis. Sponsors: Fludd, 66; Mosby, 90. sion for annual or lifetime benefit limits; to provide that an insured under a

Status: W&M; House Second Readers.

group accident and sickness policy may include dependents up to age 25; and

HB 1040: Relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the performance of

for other matters. Sponsors: Smith, 52; Rogers, 21; Willimas, 19; Seabaugh, 28, Hawkins, 49. Status: I&L; Senate Read Second Time.

health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver under certain condi- SB 357: Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to suspend, rather

tions shall not require licensure as a registered professional nurse. Sponsors: than terminate, an individual's Medicaid benefits while he or she is incarcer-

Pruett, 144; Cooper, 41; Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72. Status: JudyNC, Setzler

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

Subcommittee of JudyNC passed by substitute.

Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred.

HB 1218: To enact the "Transportation Investment Act of 2010"; to provide for the creation of special districts; to provide for a referendum; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for Citizens Review Panels; and other matters. Sponsors: Cole, 125; Ralston, 7; Keen, 179; Roberts, 154, Glanton, 176. Status: Trans; House Second Readers.

SB 391: Proceedings; provide for certain children found incompetent to stand trial; relating to proceedings upon plea of mental incompetency to stand trial, so as to revise and add definitions; to provide for certain children found incompetent to stand trial. Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Hill, 4. Status: JudyNC; House Second Readers.

HB 1311: Relating to general provisions relative to the Division of Rehabilita- SB 425: Mental Health Admin.; revise definition of health services; community

tion Services, so as to eliminate financial need as a consideration in the provi- service boards; Relating to general provisions relative to administration of men-

sion of vocational rehabilitation services; to provide for related matters; to re- tal health, developmental disabilities, addictive diseases, and other disability

peal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Scott, 153; Dempsey, services, so as to revise the definition of "health services" and other matters.

13; Kaiser, 59 Status: IndR; House Second Readers

Sponsors: Balfour, 9; Henson, 41, Jones, 10; Hooks, 14; Hill, 4. Status:

H&HS; Senate Read Second Time. HB 1314: So as to provide for the comprehensive regulation of individual de-

velopment accounts; to provide for definitions; to provide for procedures, con- SB 443: The "Medicaid Care Management Organizations Act," so as to create

ditions, and limitations with respect to the creation and operation of such ac- the Medicaid Care Management Organization Legislative Oversight Committee;

counts; and for other matters. Sponsors: Sheldon, 105; Ce.Hill, 180; Kaiser, to provide for its membership, terms, and meetings; to provide for its duties;

59; Mosby, 90. Status: H&HS; House Committee Favorably Reported.

and for other matters. Sponsors: Smith, 52; Hawkins, 49; Thomas, 54; Unter-

man, 45; Mullis, 53. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred. HB 1324: Relating to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental

Disabilities; to provide for additional members of the Behavioral Health Coordi- SB 459: So as to provide for a single administrator for dental services for

nating Council; to revise a provision relating to the duties and functions of re- Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; and for other matters.

gional planning boards; and for other matters. Sponsors: Butler, 18; Pruett, Sponsors: JuHill, 39; Williams, 19; Goggans, 7; Hawkins, 39; LJackson, 2.

144; Peake, 137; Ramsey, 72. Status: Gaff; House Committee Favorably Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred.

Reported

Thursday March 25th Day 30; CROSSOVER DAY

ADJOURNMENT CALENDAR: 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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