Moving forward, vol. 15, no. 16 (2010 May 6)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
May 6, 2010 Volume 15--Issue 16

Moving Forward....STOP! Sine Die! The General Assembly wrapped up business for the 2009-2010 Legislation Session on Thursday the 29th! This is the last print version of Moving Forward.

As in any legislative session there were wins and losses. Finally, a amendment to the Nurse Practice Act will become law, enabling people with disabilities to designate their caregiver to be trained to assist them with routine, stable health maintenance activities. HR 1713 will provide us with a new multiyear funding and strategic plan for waiver funding and infrastructure such as rates and family support that will guide the next budget cycle. An unanticipated disappointment was HB 1314, the Individual Development Account legislation; despite unanimous passage in the Senate, it never got agreed to in the House, and so must be worked on again next year. A lesson to all of us to be vigilant to the end.

THANKS to all the advocates, self-advocates and family members for your support! We'll stay in touch in the interim for bill signings, campaign events and other information important to our community.

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 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 Leadership--Presiding: 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 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 Forensic: Provide funds to enhance hospital operations and

quality of care.

$7,659,852

BHDD Administration: Provide funds to enhance hospital opera-

tions and quality of care

$1,083,810

Direct Care Support Services: Provide funds to enhance hospital

operations and quality of care.

$21,352,436

Budget Conference Committee: House: Ben Harbin, 150 new developmental disability waivers

Jan Jones, Jerry Keen. Senate: Jack Hill, Tommy Williams, Chip Pearson.

Annualize the waivers from FY 2010 Child/adult

$3,346,180 $5,567,066

Department of Education Budget FY 2011

Reduce operating expenses, BHDD Administration Restore funds to Marcus Center

(500,000) $235,000

Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS): Decrease federal

funds to reflect projected expenditures.

(2,198,541)

House: adjust funds for Special Needs Scholarships based on

actual need.

$617,758

Department of Community Health; FY 2011

Waiting List for ICWP as of May: 145 from the Community

Eliminate the GAAMP contract

(13,157,400)

Reduce funding Preschool Handicapped program. (1,308,783) Reduce funds to reflect the revised revenue estimate CC: $0

Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs): House, re-fund

with other program money, ETCs, school improvement, math

mentors, and funds to maintain cores services

$9,316,629

Reduce funds provided for the Georgia Network for Educational

and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) [SED]

(1,473,240)

(2,073,620)

State Schools reduce funding

(1,290,922)

Increase funds for enrollment growth at the Georgia School for

the Deaf and training for teachers

$422,265

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

Provide for an additional 2,000 Pre-K slots

$14,305,034

Academic Coaches: Transfer Math mentors to RESAs, eliminate

the rest

(492,489)

Communities in Schools

(242,994)

Eliminate National Board Certification

(7,209,486)

Reduce funding tuition for multi-handicapped

(91,237)

Use Hospital provider fees funds to increase rates $29,846,581

Infant and Child Essential Health Treatment Services (Includes

Babies Can't Wait Program): Reduce funds to reflect the revised

revenue estimate (CC: 387,396) CC: Replace state funds with

federal in Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies

(324,000)

Reduce funds for programmatic grant-in-aid to Public Health

districts

(5,993,555)

Department of Human Services; FY 2011 (Division of Aging Services)

Community Care Services Program (CCSP) Waiting List Medicaid; 1935 Non-Medicaid; 20,195

Reduce funds for the following contracts: 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); and Senior Connections in DeKalb County ($20,000).
(total 949,172)

Reflect administrative savings in the Money Follows the Person

demonstration project. (CCSP) FY 2010

(116,935)

Discontinue funding for Naturally Occurring Retirement

Communities

(75,000)

Department of Community Affairs FY 2011

Eliminate funding for Home Access Program [provides home modifications]

(300,000)

Follow Us on FaceBook www.unlockthewaitinglists.com

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 certain provisions relating to organization of schools, middle school programs, and scheduling. Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97; Maxwell,17. Status: Ed&Y, House Agree Senate Amendment or sub
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 construction; to provide for automatic repeal of such suspension; Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 Mawell,17. Status: Ed&Y, House Agree Senate Amendment or Sub
HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Approp, House Committee Conference Committee report adopt.ed
HB 948: Appropriations Fiscal Year 2011. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: Approp, House Committee Conference Committee report adopted

lishing Statewide Autism Task Force. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: Ins, House Committee Favorably Reported [DEAD]
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 content. Sponsors: Staton, 18; Douglas, 17; Goggans, 7; Grant, 25. Status: S&T, Senate sent to Governor
SB 443: The "Medicaid 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 Committee Favorably reported [includes amendment BHDD Legislative Oversight Committee; DEAD]
SB 458: 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; Williams, 19; Moody, 56; Hawkins, 49; Harp, 29. Status: HHS: House Passed / Adopted

HB 1040: Relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Regis- SR 1324: A RESOLUTION recognizing the harmful and unintended conse-

tered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the perform- quences of the use of the term "mental retardation" and resolving to refrain

ance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver under

from the use of this term in future speech and legislation; and for other pur-

certain conditions shall not require licensure as a registered professional poses. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Unterman, 45; Goggans, 7; Thomas, 54.

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

Status: Senate Read and Adopted.

Status: H&HS, House Agree Senate Amendment or sub

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

HB 1218: To enact the "Transportation Investment Act of 2010"; to provide stand trial; relating to proceedings upon plea of mental incompetency to

for the creation of special districts; to provide for a referendum; to provide stand trial, so as to revise and add definitions; to provide for certain chil-

for annual reporting; to provide for Citizens Review Panels; and other mat- dren found incompetent to stand trial. Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Hill, 4.

ters. Sponsors: Cole, 125; Ralston, 7; Keen, 179; Roberts, 154, Glanton, Status: JudyNC; HB 1324: Relating to the Department of Behavioral

176. Status: Trans. [Prior Transportation bill stripped and replaced,

Health and Developmental Disabilities; to provide for additional members of

passed House and Senate Wednesday.]

the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council; to revise a provision relating to

the duties and functions of regional planning boards; and for other matters.

HB 1314: So as to provide for the comprehensive regulation of individual Sponsors: Butler, 18; Pruett, 144; Peake, 137; Ramsey, 72. Status:

development accounts; to provide for definitions; to provide for proce-

GvtO: Status: Combined and substituted for Conference Committee report

dures, conditions, and limitations with respect to the creation and operation for SB 244.

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

180; Kaiser, 59; Mosby, 90. Status: H&HS; Senate approved / adopted Tax / Revenue Bills:

[DEAD]

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

HB 1393: So as to provide for an exemption to the total local sales and Office of Planning and Budget, so as to require tax expenditure reviews as

use tax cap otherwise applicable; to provide such exemption for a certain a part of the budget report; to provide for a definition; to provide for con-

tax levied for purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transporta- tents and requirements of each report; to provide for related matters.

tion which is first levied after January 1, 2010 (C-Tran Bill). Sponsors:

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

Abdul-Salaam, 74; Jordan, 77; Sinkfield, 60; Glanton, 76; Talton, 145.

Status: App, Senate Agrees to House Amendment or Sub

Status: Fin; House Agree Senate Amendment or sub

HB 1055: Relating to drivers' licenses, so as to change the fees for issu-

HB 1395: To provide that new slab-on-grade residential structures shall ance of temporary licenses or identification cards; to change the fees and

have certain features to provide for accessibility; Sponsors: Kidd, 141; terms for certain permanent commercial and noncommercial drivers' li-

Ashe, 56; Oliver, 83; Millar, 79; Powell, 29, Gardner, 57. Status: RegI: censes and identification cards; Sponsors: Levitas, 82; Rice, 51; Ram-

House Second Readers,. [hearing held; DEAD

sey, 72; Cole, 125; Smith, 131 Status: FIN; Senate Agrees House Amend-

HB 1407: To provide for a single administrator for dental services for Medi- ment or Sub

caid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; to require the Depart- [NOTE: HB 307 [imposing a 1.45% bed tax on hospitals, excluding psychi-

ment of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such atric, state, and critical access hospitals, to raise about $169 million] was

single administrator; to provide for requirements for the single administra- attached to HB 1055 and amendments passed House on 4-13. Amend-

tor. Sponsors: Rogers, 26; Channell, 116, Cooper, 41. Status: H&HS; ments included elimination of the state income tax on Seniors over $35,000

Senate Passed / Adopted

passive income, ad valorum tax credit for businesses and quarter mille

HR 1713: A RESOLUTION requesting that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community

property tax cut. AJC reports $387,000,000 loss to state revenue over five years]

Health, and the Department of Human Services submit to the General As- HB 1023: to enact the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success Act of

sembly a multiyear comprehensive plan for creating a system of supports 2010; to provide for a period of time for the waiver of certain filing fees oth-

for home and community based services that support independent living of erwise charged in connection with such entities; to provide that, for a period

Georgians with disabilities; and for other purposes. Sponsors: Manning, of time, employers who hire persons receiving employment security bene-

32; Gardner, 57; Houston, 170; Walker, 107; Channell, 116; Rynders, 152 fits shall be entitled to a credit against employer contributions; so as to pro-

Status: House Passed / Adopted.

vide that a portion of net long-term capital gains shall be excluded from

SB 367: Influenza bill stripped and replaced with 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

state taxable income of corporations and individuals; Sponsors: Graves, 12; Everson, 106; Lunsford, 110; Ramsey, 72; M. Scott, 2. Status: Senate Passed / Adopted.

treatment on behalf of an incapacitated person; to provide for immunity; [NOTE: HB 1219, Sponsor, Knight, 126, relating to tax credits for low-

and other matters. Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Gardner, 57; Lindsey, 54; Shipp, income residents, to change certain provisions regarding the claiming and

58. Status: Senate agree House amendment or sub

allowing of such tax credit. Status: Attached to HB 1069, House confer-

SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain ence committee report adopted.

insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. [Committee Sub, estab-

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for your tireless work and energetic spirit on behalf of people with disabilities. Stay connected through the websites and action alerts for election activity! Sine Die!

Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm
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