Moving forward, vol. 16, no. 1 (2011 January 6)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Jan 6, 2011 Volume 16--Issue 1

Happy New Year! This is the first issue of Moving Forward for the 2011 Legislative Session. In this issue,
we review the leadership changes in the House and Senate, the budget items of interest to the disabilities community (still in the proposed stage), and preview the pre-filed legislation. Nathan Deal will be inaugurated as the 82nd Governor of Georgia on Monday January 10th. We expect the budget address within two weeks of inauguration. Revenue collections are up, providing some relief to the budget crunch. September was up 5.7% over September last year, October's revenues were up 8.2% over last year, and November's revenues were up 6.7% over November last year. Total FY 11 revenue improvement over FY 2101 is 7.4%. The state still faces a potential shortfall of $2 billion. There isn't much left to cut in state agency budgets. Legislators will face some tough decisions in trying to balance the FY 2012 budget.

House and Senate News:

Settlement Agreement between the

House Leadership -- Speaker of the House: David Ralston, 7th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Jan Jones, 46th. The Speaker vote is held the opening day of the session, but we do not

US Department of Justice and the State of Georgia:

expect any changes. Majority Leader: Larry O'Neal 146th; Minority Leader: Stacey Abrams.

The following summarizes the settlement details for persons with developmental disabilities. The

Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle;

complete settlement, including the components

President Pro Tempore: Tommie Williams, 19th; Majority

benefitting persons with mental illness can be found

Leader: Chip Rogers, 21st; Majority Whip: Cecil Staton, 18th; Minority Leader: Robert Brown, 26th. Minority Whip: Steve

on the GCDD website, www.gcdd.org.

Henson, 41st.

All admissions of individuals with developmental

Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Nathan Deal, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.state.ga.us

disabilities to State Hospitals will be ceased by July 1, 2011. Georgia will transition all individuals with developmental

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.

disabilities in the State Hospitals to community settings by July 1, 2015. Georgia will create 1150 home and community based waivers for individuals with developmental disabilities by

July 1, 2015: 750 waivers to transition individuals from

Budget Information: The 2011 Session tackles the 2011 supplemental budget, referred to here as FY 2011A, (ending June 30, 2011) and 2012

State Hospitals to community settings, and 400 to prevent the institutionalization of those individuals currently living in the community.

FY budget (beginning July 1, 2011).

Georgia will serve those individuals receiving home and

community based waivers under the Agreement in their

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2011A and FY 2012

own home or their family's home consistent with each individual's informed choice.

Georgia will provide those individuals receiving home and

This will be the second full year budget for the new Department of BHDD. The Department has been protected from the budget cuts facing most other state

community based waivers under the Agreement with support coordination to assist them in gaining access to medical, social, education, transportation, housing,

agencies, and has received some new money. Georgia

nutritional, and other needed services.

reached a settlement with the Department of Justice on

Georgia will provide family supports to 2350 families of

October 19, 2010, which lays out five years of deliverables

individuals with developmental disabilities by July 1, 2015

to better serve people with mental illness and

to help those families continue to care for a family

developmental disabilities currently living in state

member with developmental disabilities at home.

institutions or at risk of institutionalization. We'll need resources in the budget to implement the settlement agreement (see following). The Commissioner of the DBHDD, Dr. Frank Shelp, submitted a budget to the

Georgia will have six mobile crisis teams by July 1, 2012 to respond to individuals with developmental disabilities experiencing a crisis.

Governor, and those proposed figures are presented on

Georgia will establish 12 crisis respite homes by July 1,

page 2.

2014, to provide respite services to individuals with

We await the Governor's budget address to hear what he

developmental disabilities and their families.

will propose to the legislature for funding.

Take Action--Advocacy Questions and Answers How can I take action on legislation? (1) Form a relationship with your representatives and senators by calling, emailing, faxing, and scheduling meetings to tell them about how their decisions on the budget and laws affect the quality of life for you and your family. (2) Visit GCDD's website for additional resources like fact sheets to utilize in your advocacy efforts: www.gcdd.org/ public policy (3) Visit www.unlockthewaitinglists.com and click on Action Center. How can I contact my state representative or senator? Every member has an email address. However, the most effective way to communicate is by letter or phone. Legislators prefer to hear from their own constituents and may not pay attention to mass emails or form letters from people outside their districts. Information about legislators is also available in the "White Book," available at www.legis.state.ga.us, click on "Picture Book" or obtain them from the House or Senate Clerks' Offices in the Capitol. How did my legislators vote? Voting Records are online by bill number, not by legislator. This may take up to five days following the actual vote. Go to www.legis.state.ga.us then click on House or Senate, then click on House votes or Senate votes for a complete roll call on how each person voted on a certain bill. Printed copies may be obtained from the Clerk of the House (404) 656-5015 or the Secretary of the Senate (404) 656-5040. A complete record of votes on every bill is available for a fee.

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.

Proposed DBHDD Budget for Developmental Disabilities

Department of Human Services; FY 2012 (Division of Aging Services)

150 COMP waivers to support moving people into the community No adds to the budget for Division of Aging Services.

from the state hospitals in FY 2011A and in FY 2012

Restore $1,045,000 in state funding to continue the

100 proposed waivers for people ALREADY in the community but Nutritional Services Improvement Program, which will

on the waiting lists (state dollars)

provide 138,000 meals to Georgia's vulnerable senior

FY2011A:

population. This funding will also maximize the federal $3,587,634 funding.

FY 2012:

$14,556,172

Services for 400 families to receive family support services

Legislation: Prefiled for this Session

(state dollars) FY2011A:

$1,297,600

HB 23: to enact the "Foster Children's Psychotropic Medication Monitoring Act"; to require the Department of Human

FY2012:

$1,497,600 Services to establish regulations governing the use of

Crisis, respite and nursing supports: To build up community infrastructure for when TIC admissions are discontinued

psychotropic medications for foster children in state custody. Sponsor: M.Oliver, 83. Status: Prefiled

FY2011A:

$9,590,095 HB 24: to substantially revise, supersede, and modernize

FY2012:

$19,130,190

provisions relating to evidence, [including] to change provisions relating to foreign language interpreters and interpret-

The settlement proposes 100 waivers for people in the

ers for the hearing impaired. Sponsors: Willard, 49;

community at risk of institutionalization. This will not meet Lindsey, 54; Weldon, 3, Dobbs, 53; Jacobs, 80. Status:

the need of individuals with developmental disabilities who Prefiled

have been on the waiting list for services. Unlock the

Waiting Lists Campaign asks for funding to provide 1500

Glossary

NOW / COMP waivers at a cost of approximately $20,000,000 state dollars.

Appropriation--a specific amount of money that is intended for use by a specific state program

Waiting List for HCBS / DD as of October: Short term 3496 DCH--Department of Community Health Long term 2221 DD--Developmental Disabilities

FMAP restoration: Under ARRA, the federal match portion DHS--Department of Human Services

for Medicaid was increased. This will shift back beginning 6/30/2011.

DBHDD--Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

In FY 2011A, $10,367,000 state dollars will have to be DOE--Department of Education

restored to the BHDD budget to make up difference in FMAP DOL--Department of Labor

percentage

FY--Fiscal Year

In FY 2012, $54,101,830 state dollars will have to be restored to the BHDD budget

HB--House Bill HR--House Resolution

Department of Community Health; FY 2012; Proposed

SB--Senate Bill SR--Senate Resolution

Department proposes to continue filling the 135 ICWP waiver slots under the MFP initiative which have not been awarded as yet, but funds remain in the base budget.

Unlock supports adding funding to support 163 ICWP waivers for people with physical disabilities waiting in the community for services.

FY 2012 state dollars

$2,712,322

www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter
and Capitol Impact

Dates to Remember:
Martin Luther King Remembrance: January 17th Arc Legislative Reception at the DEPOT: January 18th
February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol Mental Health Day at the Capitol: February 9th Advocacy Day at the Capitol for Unlock the Waiting Lists: February 15th
Disability Day at the Capitol: February 24th!

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