Moving forward, vol. 15, no. 14 (2010 April 15)

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

7KH'HYHORSPHQWDO'LVDELOLWLHV$GYRFDWHV Guide to Legislation
April 15, 2010 Volume 15Issue 14

Moving Forward SLOWLY! The Legislature met for Days 34, 35 and 36, and as of Wednesday, will meet Tuesday and Wednesday the 20th and 21st for Days 37 and 38, the April 27th and 29th for Days 39 and 40, Sine Die. The House voted out the FY 2011 budget on Wednesday, which included significant revenues from the hospital bed tax bill and the fees bill. In a surprise compromise, the House attached 307 to the fee bill (1055), and added a couple of tax break amendments. The net effect of collecting hospital bed taxes and increased fees on services against ad valorum, property tax and seniors income tax breaks is yet to be assessed, as there was no fiscal note.

On the Good News front, HB 1040, Amendments to the Nurse Practice Act, and HB 1314, Individual Development Accounts, were both approved by Senate HHS on Tuesday. On to Rules!

Senate Full Appropriations will meet Tuesday AM at 10:00 on the FY 2011 budget. The FY 2010 budget is still to be resolved and approved.

Chairmanships: Appropriations, Ben Harbin, 118th; Health Sub committee, Mickey Channell, 116th; Human Re- sources Sub committee, Penny Houston, 170th; Education, Terry English, 108th; Rules, Bill Hembree, 67th. For a com- plete 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 2011 (Adult and Child & Adolescent)

Waiting List for HCBS / DD as of March:















Short term 2991 Long Term 1599

Provide funds to enhance hospital operations and quality of care; Adult/Child DD, Adult Forensic, Adult Mental Health, Direct Care Support Services, BHDD Admin (State Hospitals) $46,143,277 This figure is the total of the following categories:

Senate LeadershipPresiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; Presi- Adult Developmental Disabilities: Provide funds to enhance hos-

dent Pro Tempore: Tommy Williams, 19th; Majority Leader: pital operations and quality of care.



$803,323

Chip Rogers, 21st; Minority Leader: Robert Brown, 26th.











$6,330,600

Contact information for the GovernorThe Honorable

Adult Forensic: Provide funds to enhance hospital operations and

Sonny Perdue, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404- quality of care.







$7,659,852

656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

Visit www.vote-smart.org to identify your legislators. Find \RXUOHJLVODWRUVFRQWDFWLQIRUPDWLRQDWZZZOHJLVVWDWHJDXV

BHDD Administration: Provide funds to enhance hospital opera-

tions and quality of care







$1,083,810

House Information, 1-800-282-5800; Senate Information Direct Care Support Services: Provide funds to enhance hospital

1-800-282-5803 o p e r a t i o ns and quality of care. $21,352,436

Budget Information: These figures are from the FY

150 new developmental disability waivers $3,346,180

2011 budget as approved by the House. Senate works on

the budget over the weekend.

Annualize the waivers from FY 2010 Child/adult $5,567,066

Department of Education Budget FY 2011

Reduce operating expenses, BHDD Administration (1,185,945)

Restore funds to Marcus Center





$274,000

Gfuenodrsg itao L reeaflrencitn pg r Rojeescotuerdc eesx pSeynsdteitmur e(Gs.L R S ) : D e c r e a (s2e, 1 fe9d8e,5ra4l1 ) D e p a r t m ent of Community Health; FY 2011

House: adjust funds for Special Needs Scholarships based on Waiting List for ICWP: 177 from the Community

actual need.









$617,758 Eliminate the GAAMP contract





(13,157,400)

Reduce funding Preschool Handicapped program. (1,308,783) U s e Hospital provider fees funds to increase rates $25,488,041

Reduce funds to reflect the revised revenue estimate (893,242) Infant and Child Essential Health Treatment Services (Includes

Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs): House, re-fund with other program money, ETCs, school improvement, math

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revenue estimate









(911,154)

mentors, and funds to maintain cores services $9,316,629 Reduce funds for programmatic grant-in-aid to Public Health

districts











(205,744)

Reduce funds provided for the Georgia Network for Educational

and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) [SED]

(1,473,240) DA ge ipnagr t Smeervnitc eosf ) H uman Services; FY 2011 (Division of

















(2,073,620)

Community Care Services Program (CCSP) Waiting List

State Schools reduce funding (1,290,922) Medicaid; 1935 Non-Medicaid; 20,195

Increase funds for enrollment growth at the Georgia School for Reduce funds for the following contracts: Alzheimer respite ser-

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

the Deaf and training for teachers



$422,265 Mobile Daycare ($36,228); Haralson County Senior Center

DECAL: Reduce funds for Resource Coordinators (9,250,000)

($15,000); Kinship Care ($478,275); Senior Legal Hotline ($259,669); Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

Provide for an additional 2,000 Pre-K slots $14,305,034 ($70,000); Navigator Training ($70,000); non-Medicaid Home

Academic Coaches: Transfer Math mentors to RESAs, eliminate and Community Based respite services ($1,376,718) and Senior

the rest (492,489) Connections in DeKalb County ($20,000).

Communities in Schools, reduce 40% (514,973)



(total 2,728,749) [House: Restore 1,779,577]

Eliminate National Board Certification (7,209,486) R e flect administrative savings in the Money Follows the Person

Department of Community Affairs FY 2011

demonstration project. (CCSP) FY 2010 (116,935)

Discontinue funding for Naturally Occurring Retirement

Eliminate funding for Home Access Program (300,000) Communities









(75,000)

[provides home modifications]













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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:
HB 907: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise cer- tain 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.
HB 908: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to temporarily suspend certain laws and requirements relating to expenditure controls, minimum direct classroom expenditures, maximum class size, additional days of instruction, and salary schedules; to provide for statutory construc- tion; to provide for automatic repeal of such suspension; Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 Mawell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Passed/ Adopted
HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ral- ston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Approp, Senate Transmits House.
HB 948: Appropriations Fiscal Year 2011. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Ap- prop, House Passed/Adopted
HB 1040: Relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Regis- tered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the perform- ance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver under certain conditions shall not require licensure as a registered professional nurse. Sponsors: Pruett, 144; Cooper, 41; Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72. Status: H&HS, Senate Committee Favorably Reported

SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. [Committee Sub, estab- lishing Statewide Autism Task Force. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: Ins, House Committee Fa- vorably Reported
SB 319: Relating to textbooks for elementary and secondary education, so as to require the definition of "textbook" to include computer hardware and technical equipment necessary to support the use of nonprint or digital con- tent. Sponsors: Staton, 18; Douglas, 17; Goggans, 7; Grant, 25. Status: S&T, House Committee Favorably Reported
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 chil- dren found incompetent to stand trial. Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Hill, 4. Status: JudyNC; Senate Agrees to House Amendment or Sub
6%7KHMedicaid Care Management Organizations Act," so as to create the Medicaid Care Management Organization Legislative Oversight Committee; to provide for its membership, terms, and meetings; to provide for its duties; and for other matters. Sponsors: Smith, 52; Hawkins, 49; Thomas, 54; Unterman, 45; Mullis, 53. Status: H&HS; House Second Readers
SB 458: To the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles, so as to elimi- nate certain exceptions to the required use of safety belts. Sponsors: Thomas, 54; Williams, 19; Moody, 56; Hawkins, 49; Harp, 29. Status: HHS: House Committee Favorably Reported.

HB 1218: To enact the "Transportation Investment Act of 2010"; to provide SR 1324: A RESOLUTION recognizing the harmful and unintended conse- for the creation of special districts; to provide for a referendum; to provide quences of the use of the term "mental retardation" and resolving to refrain for annual reporting; to provide for Citizens Review Panels; and other mat- from the use of this term in future speech and legislation; and for other pur- ters. Sponsors: Cole, 125; Ralston, 7; Keen, 179; Roberts, 154, Glanton, poses. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Unterman, 45; Goggans, 7; Thomas, 54. 176. Status: Trans; House Committee Favorably Reported [Ongoing ne- Status: Senate Read and Adopted.

gotiations].



HB 1314: So as to provide for the comprehensive regulation of individual development accounts; to provide for definitions; to provide for proce-

Tax / Revenue Bills:

dures, conditions, and limitations with respect to the creation and operation SB 206: Relating to management of budgetary and financial affairs by the

of such accounts; and for other matters. Sponsors: Sheldon, 105; Ce.Hill, Office of Planning and Budget, so as to require tax expenditure reviews as

180; Kaiser, 59; Mosby, 90. Status: H&HS; Senate Committee Favorably a part of the budget report; to provide for a definition; to provide for con-

Reported

tents and requirements of each report; to provide for related matters.

HB 1324: Relating to the Department of Behavioral Health and Develop- mental Disabilities; to provide for additional members of the Behavioral

Sponsors: Goggans, 7; J.Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Rogers, 21; Cowsert, 46.
Status: App, House Passed/Adopted

Health Coordinating Council; to revise a provision relating to the duties and HB 307: So as to provide for a fee to be imposed on hospitals to be used

functions of regional planning boards; and for other matters. Sponsors: to obtain federal financial participation for medical assistance payments

Butler, 18; Pruett, 144; Peake, 137; Ramsey, 72. Status: GvtO: Senate under Medicaid; Sponsors: Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72. Status: FIN;

Read Second Time

Passed/Adopted, with an amendment. [imposes a 1.45% bed tax on hospi-

HB 1393: So as to provide for an exemption to the total local sales and use tax cap otherwise applicable; to provide such exemption for a certain

tals, excluding psychiatric, state, and critical access hospitals. Expected to raise about $169 million]

tax levied for purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transporta- tion which is first levied after January 1, 2010 (C-Tran Bill). Sponsors: Abdul-Salaam, 74; Jordan, 77; Sinkfield, 60; Glanton, 76; Talton, 145. Status: Fin; Senate Read and Referred

HB 1055: Relating to drivers' licenses, so as to change the fees for issu- ance of temporary licenses or identification cards; to change the fees and terms for certain permanent commercial and noncommercial drivers' li- censes and identification cards; to provide for related matters Sponsors:

HB 1395: To provide that new slab-on-grade residential structures shall have certain features to provide for accessibility; Sponsors: Kidd, 141;

Levitas, 82; Rice, 51; Ramsey, 72; Cole, 125; Smith, 131 Status: FIN; Senate Read and Referred.

Ashe, 56; Oliver, 83; Millar, 79; Powell, 29, Gardner, 57. Status: RegI: [NOTE: HB 307 was attached to HB 1055 and amendments passed

House Second Readers,. >'LGQW&URVVRYHUEXWSODQQLQJDKHDULQJ@

House on Wednesday. Amendments included elimination of the state

HB 1407: To provide for a single administrator for dental services for Medi- caid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; to require the Depart-

income tax on Seniors over $35,000 passive income, ad valorum tax credit for businesses and quarter mille property tax cut. AJC reports

ment of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such $387,000,000 loss to state revenue over five years]

single administrator; to provide for requirements for the single administra- tor. Sponsors: Rogers, 26; Channell, 116, Cooper, 41. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred

HB 1023: to enact the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success Act of 2010; to provide for a period of time for the waiver of certain filing fees oth- erwise charged in connection with such entities; to provide that, for a period

HR 1713: A RESOLUTION requesting that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Human Services submit to the General As- sembly 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,

of time, employers who hire persons receiving employment security bene- fits shall be entitled to a credit against employer contributions; so as to pro- vide that a portion of net long-term capital gains shall be excluded from state taxable income of corporations and individuals; Sponsors: Graves, 12; Everson, 106; Lunsford, 110; Ramsey, 72; M. Scott, 2. Status: Senate Passed / Adopted.

32; Gardner, 57; Houston, 170; Walker, 107; Channell, 116; Rynders, 152



Status: House Second Readers.



ADJOURNMENT CALENDAR: Monday, 19th in recess. Tuesday, April 20, Day 37. Wednesday, April 21, Day 38.









Tuesday, April 27th, Day 39, Thursday, April 29th SINE DIE!











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