Moving Forward
Brought to you by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Feb 11, 2010 Volume 15--Issue 6
FY 2010 amended budget passed the House 2/11, in Senate Full Appropriations 2/16. Few changes were made to the amended budget, see below for particulars.
HB 1040 "exceptions to the Nurse Practice Act" was pulled from committee Thursday, and advocates and the Governor's office worked on changes. We hope the bill will be back in committee this week.
Tuesday, February 16th is Advocacy Day at the Capitol for Unlock the Waiting Lists. Organizers are expecting 60 advocates to walk the halls talking to legislators about their needs, their lives, and the budget.
The legislature will adjourn on Mondays and Fridays beginning February 12th until March 5th. Tuesday February 16th will the 18th 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 January: list, see the Unlock website
Short term Long Term
2912 1839
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
budget information down to the 2010 Amended. House approved February 11th. Full Senate Appropirations will review Tuesday the 16th. After passage, 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).
Revise pre-admission screening and resident review (PASSR)
contract and use community service boards
(644,585)
Infant and Child Essential Health Treatment Services (Includes
Department of Education Budget FY 2010A
Babies Can't Wait Program): Reduce funds for operating ex-
penses and contractual services
(62,853)
Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS): Decrease federal
funds to reflect projected expenditures.
( 2,198,541) Reduce funds for programmatic grant-in-aid to Public Health
districts (Governor: 205,744)
(House: 469,936)
Reduce funds for Special Needs Scholarships based on actual
need. [Special Needs Scholarships]
(4,015,110) Department of Human Services; FY 2010A (Division of
Aging Services)
Reduce funding Preschool Handicapped program. (1,110,989)
Community Care Services Program (CCSP) Waiting List
QBE Equalization: Reduce funding (17,446,343)
Medicaid; 1935 Non-Medicaid; 20,195
(House: No reduction)
Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs), reduce funding (Governor: 1,063,736) (House: 483,236 or 4% reduction)
Reduce funds provided for the Georgia Network for Educational
and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) [SED]
(2,764,827)
State Schools reduce funding (Governor: 938,853)
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).
(2,728,749)
(House: restore 437,859 spread)
(House: 469,426, 2% reduction)
www.gcdd.org
Eliminate Funding for Naturally Occurring Retirement
Communities
(75,000)
Click on: Join our Legislative Listserve
Reflect administrative savings in the Money Follows the Person
demonstration project. (CCSP) FY 2010
(52,171)
www.unlockthewaitinglists.com
E-mail us at unlockthewaitinglists@gcdd.org
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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
nurse. Sponsors: Pruett, 144; Cooper, 41; Cole, 125; Ramsey, 72.
Status: JudyNC, House Second Readers.
HB 128: Relating to disabled veterans and blind persons engaging in ped-
dling, operating businesses, or practicing professions, so as to provide that SB 5: Relating to the use of safety belts in passenger vehicles, so as to
a certificate of eligibility for an exemption from occupation taxes, adminis- eliminate certain exceptions to the required use of safety belts; Sponsors:
trative fees, and regulatory fees shall be valid for a period of ten years; Thomas, 54; J.Hill, 4; Harp, 29; Stoner, 6; Hill, 32; and others. Status:
Sponsor: Benton, 31. Status: I & L, Senate Read and Referred.
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 SB 153: Relating to parking for persons with disabilities, so as to provide
Act"; to provide definitions; to require an evaluation of a blind or visually for use of more than one parking place by persons with disabilities when all
impaired child to determine such child's need for Braille instruction; to re- parking places for persons with disabilities are full. Sponsors: Henson,
quire Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a blind or 41; Ramsey, 43. Status: Hum R; House withdrawn, recommitted
visually impaired student; Sponsors: Manning, 32; Reese, 11; Status: Ed;
House Second Readers.
SB 161: Relating to insurance coverage for autism, so as to require certain
insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. Sponsors: Grant, 25;
HB 636: Relating to criminal and related provisions pertaining to financial Williams, 19; Johnson, 1; Thomas, 54; Cowsert, 46. Status: I&L; recom-
institutions, so as to provide for the protection of aged or incapacitated
mitted
adults; to provide for mandated and voluntary reporting; to provide for civil
penalties. Sponsors: Mitchell, 88; Maxwell, 17; Marin, 96. Status: Judy, SB 206: Relating to management of budgetary and financial affairs by the
House Second Readers.
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
HB 742: Relating to consent for surgical or medical treatment, so as to
contents and requirements of each report; to provide for related matters.
provide for additional persons and entities that shall be authorized to con- Sponsors: Goggans, 7; J.Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Rogers, 21; Cowsert, 46.
sent to surgical or medical treatment on behalf of an incapacitated person, Status: App, House Committee Favorably Reported.
and for other matters. Sponsors: Oliver, 83; Gardner, 57; Lindsey, 54;
Shipp, 58. Status: Judy: House Second Readers
SB 247: Relating to general provisions relative to standards and require-
ments for construction of buildings and other structures generally, so as to
HB 907: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise cer- enact the "New Home Access Act"; to require new at-grade residential
tain provisions relating to organization of schools, middle school programs, structures to include certain accessibility features. Sponsors: Orrock, 36;
and scheduling. Sponsors: (1) Casas, 103; Coleman, 97; Maxwell,17.
Douglas, 17; Moody, 56; Jones, 10; Hill, 32 and others. Status: RU&I;
Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read and Referred.
Senate Read & Referred.
HB 908: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to temporarily SB 289: Relating to therapy services for children with disabilities, so as to
suspend certain laws and requirements relating to expenditure controls, add a definition; to revise provisions relating to services and treatment for
minimum direct classroom expenditures, maximum class size, additional categorically needy and medically fragile children; to revise provisions relat-
days of instruction, and salary schedules; to provide for statutory construc- ing to requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and
tion; to provide for automatic repeal of such suspension; Sponsors: (1) appeals; to provide for related matters. Sponsors: Moody, 56; Thomas,
Casas, 103; Coleman, 97 Mawell,17. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read and Re- 54; Seay, 34; Orrock, 36. Status: H&HS: Senate Read and Referred.
ferred .
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. [tabled pending fiscal note 2/9]
referred.
HB 947: Supplemental Appropriations Fiscal Year 2010. Sponsors: Ral- SB 301: Relating to education, so as to raise the age of mandatory educa-
ston, 7th; Harbin, 118; Jones, 46; Keen, 179; Cole, 125; Pruett, 144.
tion from 16 to 17; to revise provisions relating to adult literacy for purposes
Status: App, House Committee Favorably Reported .
of conformity; Sponsors: Jackson, 2; James, 35. Status: Prefiled.
HB 985: So as to authorize taxpayers to make certain contributions
SB 319: Relating to textbooks for elementary and secondary education, so
through the income tax payment and refund process to programs for the as to require the definition of "textbook" to include computer hardware and
education regarding and alleviation of multiple sclerosis. Sponsors: Fludd, technical equipment necessary to support the use of nonprint or digital con-
66; Mosby, 90. Status: W&M; House Second Readers.
tent. Sponsors: Staton, 18; Douglas, 17; Goggans, 7; Grant, 25. Status:
S&T, House First Readers.
HB 999: Relating to health, to provide for portable medical orders; to pro-
vide for requirements regarding who may administer a portable medical SB 357: Relating to medical assistance generally, so as to suspend, rather
order; to provide for the approval of the court with respect to certain port- than terminate, an individual's Medicaid benefits while he or she is incarcer-
able medical orders; and other; Sponsors: Lindsey, 54; Jacobs, 80;
ated. Sponsors: Jones, 10; Butler, 55; Orrock, 36; Seay, 34; Harbison, 50.
Oliver, 83; Willard, 49. Status: Judy: House Second Readers.
Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred.
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 certain conditions shall not require licensure as a registered professional
SR 56: A Resolution creating the Georgia Vulnerable Adult Study Commission. Sponsor: Ramsey, 43. Status: H&HS; Read & Referred.
Dates to Remember: 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
Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm
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