Moving forward, vol. 15, no. 5 (2010 February 4)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Feb 4, 2010 Volume 15--Issue 5

FY 2010 amended budget moving: Legislators are anxious to wrap up the amended budget for the
remainder of the 2010 fiscal year so they can tackle the challenges of the FY 2011 fiscal year budget. We are expecting the 2010 budget to be on House desks next Thursday, February 11th.
HB 1040, The long awaited "exceptions to the Nurse Practice Act" is finally in motion. See details on back.

Self-Advocates Day at the Capitol is February 9th: New and experienced self-advocates will be walking or rolling the halls to remind their legislators of the challenges, needs, and contributions of people with disabilities to Georgia's communities. Come and Lend your voice!
Monday February 8th will the 14th Legislative Day

Chairmanships: Appropriations, Ben Harbin, 118th;

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental

Health Sub committee, Mickey Channell, 116th; Human Re-

Disabilities; FY 2010A (Adult and Child & Adolescent)

sources Sub committee, Penny Houston, 170th; Education,

Terry English, 108th; Rules, Bill Hembree, 67th. For a complete Waiting List for HCBS / DD as of November: Short term

list, see the Unlock website

Long Term

2807 1796

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.

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 hospi-

tal 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 operations

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 Department of Community Health; FY 2010A
budget information down to the 2010 Amended, expected

to be on the House Floor Thursday the 11th. After pas- Waiting List for ICWP: 177 from the Community

sage, we will carry the information on the FY 2011 budget.

Revise pre-admission screening and resident review (PASSR)

contract and use community service boards

(644,585)

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

Infant and Child Essential Health Treatment Services (Includes

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

penses and contractual services

(62,853)

Department of Education Budget FY 2010A

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

districts

(205,744)

Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS): Decrease federal

funds to reflect projected expenditures.

(2,198,541) Department of Human Services; FY 2010A (Division of

Aging Services)

Reduce funds for Special Needs Scholarships based on actual

need. [Special Needs Scholarships]

(4,015,110) Community Care Services Program (CCSP) Waiting List

Medicaid; 1935 Non-Medicaid; 20,195

Reduce funding to the Preschool Handicapped program.

(1,110,989)

Reduce funds for the following contracts: Alzheimer respite services ($225,000); Center for the Visually Impaired ($177,859);

QBE Equalization: Reduce funding

(17,446,343)

Mobile Daycare ($36,228); Haralson County Senior Center ($15,000); Kinship Care ($478,275); Senior Legal Hotline

Reduce the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program.

($259,669); Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

($281,214,364) ($70,000); Navigator Training ($70,000); non-Medicaid Home

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

Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs), reduce funding Connections in DeKalb County ($20,000).

(1,063,736) (2,728,749)

Reduce funds provided for the Georgia Network for Educational

and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) [SED]

(2,764,827)

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

certain conditions shall not require licensure as a registered professional nurse. Sponsors: Pruett, 144; Cooper, 41; Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72.

HB 128: Relating to disabled veterans and blind persons engaging in ped- Status: JudyNC, House Second Readers.

dling, operating businesses, or practicing professions, so as to provide that

a certificate of eligibility for an exemption from occupation taxes, adminis- SB 5: Relating to the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles, so as to

trative fees, and regulatory fees shall be valid for a period of ten years; eliminate certain exceptions to the required use of safety belts; Sponsors:

Sponsor: Benton, 31. Status: I & L, Senate Read and Referred.

Thomas, 54; J.Hill, 4; Harp, 29; Stoner, 6; Hill, 32; and others. Status:

A&CA; House Second Readers.

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; Status: HumR; House Second Readers.

SB 90: Relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide the option for parents to enroll their child in another school within the local school system, a school in another local school system, or in a private school under certain conditions; to provide for the amount of scholarship and method of payments, and other matters. Sponsors: Johnson, 1; Rogers, 21; Jud Hill, 32; Unterman, 45; Moody, 56. Status: ED&Y; recommitted.

HB 566: To enact the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; to provide definitions; to require an evaluation of a blind or visually SB 153: Relating to parking for persons with disabilities, so as to provide impaired child to determine such child's need for Braille instruction; to re- for use of more than one parking place by persons with disabilities when all quire Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a blind or parking places for persons with disabilities are full. Sponsors: Henson, visually impaired student; Sponsors: Manning, 32; Reese, 11; Status: Ed; 41; Ramsey, 43. Status: Hum R; House withdrawn, recommitted

House Second Readers.

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

HB 636: Relating to criminal and related provisions pertaining to financial institutions, so as to provide for the protection of aged or incapacitated adults; to provide for mandated and voluntary reporting; to provide for civil

insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; recommitted

penalties. Sponsors: Mitchell, 88; Maxwell, 17; Marin, 96. Status: Judy,

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

HB 882: So as to expand the definition of "bullying"; to provide that a student can be reassigned to another school for the purpose of separating such student from his or her bullying victim; to direct the Department of Education to develop a model policy regarding bullying; to provide for im-

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 Second Readers.

mediate notification of law enforcement officials when a student commits an

alleged physical assault or battery on another student or on a teacher or SB 247: Relating to general provisions relative to standards and require-

other school employee; Sponsor: Jacobs, 80. Status: Prefiled.

ments for construction of buildings and other structures generally, so as to

enact the "New Home Access Act"; to require new at-grade residential

HB 907: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise cer- structures to include certain accessibility features. Sponsors: Orrock, 36;

tain provisions relating to organization of schools, middle school programs, Douglas, 17; Moody, 56; Jones, 10; Hill, 32 and others. Status: RU&I;

and scheduling. Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97; Maxwell,17.

Senate Read & Referred.

Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read and Referred.

SB 289: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to

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)

add a definition; to revise provisions relating to services and treatment for categorically needy and medically fragile children; to revise provisions relating to requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals; to provide for related matters. Sponsors: Moody, 56; Thomas, 54; Seay, 34; Orrock, 36. Status: H&HS: Senate Read and Referred.

Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 Mawell,17. Status: Ed, House Second Readers. SB 292: relating to courts, so as to substantially revise, supersede, and

HB 922: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to modernize provisions relating to juvenile proceedings; to amend Article 1 of

provide that certain programs providing services to sick and disabled chil- Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to

dren shall be eligible for certain public assistance funding; to provide for children and youth services. Sponsors: Hamrick, 30; Harp, 29; Brown, 26,

related matters; Sponsors: Cox, 102; Everson, 106. Status: C&Y, House Ramsey, 43, Jones, 10, Unterman, 45. Status: JUDY, Senate read and

Second Readers.

referred.

HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ral- SB 297: Relating to special license plates and special parking permitsf or

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

persons with disabilities, so as to require submission of an updated affidavit

Status: App, Second Readers.

by a practitioner of the healing arts; Sponsor: Seay, 34. Status: Prefiled.

HB 948: Appropriations Fiscal Year 2011. Sponsors: Ralston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144. Status: App, Second Readers.

SB 301: Relating to education, so as to raise the age of mandatory education from 16 to 17; to revise provisions relating to adult literacy for purposes of conformity; Sponsors: Jackson, 2; James, 35. Status: Prefiled.

HB 999: Relating to health, to provide for portable medical orders; to provide for requirements regarding who may administer a portable medical order; to provide for the approval of the court with respect to certain portable medical orders; and other; Sponsors: Lindsey, 54; Jacobs, 80; Oliver, 83; Willard, 49. Status: Judy: House Second Readers.

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, House First Readers.

HB 1040: Relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act," so as to provide that the performance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver under

SR 56: A Resolution creating the Georgia Vulnerable Adult Study Commission. Sponsor: Ramsey, 43. Status: H&HS; Read & Referred.

Dates to Remember: Self-Advocates Day at the Capitol: February 9th Poor People's Day at the
Capitol: Education Day, February 10th; Action Day, February 11th Advocacy Day at the Capitol for Unlock the Waiting Lists: February 16th Transit Day 2010: February 18th
Disability Day at the Capitol: February 25th!
Mental Health Day at the Capitol: March 4th

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