Moving forward, vol. 17, no. 12 (2012 March 23)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
March 23, 2012 Volume 17--Issue 12

Three days left until Sine Die! The Senate passed the budget during the floor session on Wednesday, with Senator Hill, Chairman of Appropriations reviewing the changes from the House version and describing the pro-development aspects of the budget. The Senate retained the budget items that the House added, with small changes. House and Senate will now resolve the differences in conference committee. See below for details.

The legislation to transfer Vocational Rehabilitation from Labor to DHS, HB 1146, passed the Senate on Tuesday. The Accessible Taxi Cab Bill, SB 373, passed in the House Transportation committee this week. It will be eligible for House Rules committee on Monday. Calendar: Proposed to be in session Monday and Tuesday. Thursday will be Sine Die!

House and Senate News:

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 expect any changes. Majority Leader: Larry O'Neal, 146th; Minority Leader: Stacey Abrams, 84th.

Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: Tommie Williams, 19th; Majority Leader: Chip Rogers, 21st; Majority Whip: Cecil Staton, 18th; Minority Leader: Steve Henson, 41st. Minority Whip: Vincent Fort, 39th.

Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Nathan Deal, 203 State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334; 404-656-1776, 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.

Budget Information:

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental

Disabilities; FY 2013

Provide funding for developmental disabilities consumers

community settings to comply with the DOJ settlement

agreement:

$4,216,000

Includes:

Family Support:

$1,466,000

This figure reflects the average actual costs of family support delivered in the past fiscal year.

9 crisis respite homes, 6 mobile crisis teams: $2,300,000

Provide for additional 150 COMP waivers and annualize the

cost of 100 NOW and COMP waivers from FY 2012

(community waivers)

$5,290,181

Use the Balancing Incentive Payment Program for additional

100 NOW / COMP waivers in the community:

YES

Use the Balancing Incentive Payment Program to annualize

the cost of 150 FY 2012 COMP waivers

YES

Use the Balancing Incentive Payment Program to annualize

the cost of NOW and COMP waivers for youth aging out of

DFCS

YES

Increase funds for the Emory Autism Center

Senate: $100,000

House: $75,000

Increase funds for the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism.

State General Funds

$75,000

Department of Community Health; FY 2013

Provide funds for 50 Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP)

waiver slots

state

$801,101

federal

$2,362,499

Department of Public Health; FY 2013

Increase funds to maintain screening and home visit services

for low birth weight newborns, newborns at risk of develop-

mental delays, and cases of abuse and neglect in the Children

1st program due to the loss of the federal (TANF) Supplemen-

tal grant

$2,200,000

Department of Human Services; FY 2013

The Governor is proposing to move Vocational Rehabilitation services to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to be attached to DHS. HB 1146, the authorizing legislation, passed the House. The following Divisions will be part of the new agency.

Business Enterprise Program

state funds total funds

$267,655 $2,233,740

Disability Adjudication Unit

total funds

$55,598,820

Georgia Industries for the Blind total funds

$11,828,888

Roosevelt Warm Springs Inst.

state funds total funds

$5,484,053 $31,366,429

Vocational Rehabilitation

state funds total funds

$12,851,140 $79,324,509

Department of Education; FY 2013

The biggest changes in the Department of Education budget

were to wrap a few more items into the Quality Basic Education

Formula which comprise the state portion of each student's

funding.

Provide an increase based on 0.36% enrollment growth and for

training and experience

$114,456,895

Provide differentiated pay for newly certified math and science

teachers.

$3,020,931

Provide a grant to the State Special Charter Schools $8,647,953

Transfer funds for Nutrition ($15,788,068) [House and Senate

said NO], Pupil Transportation ($127,704,479) [Senate, NO],

and School Nurses ($30,071,158) [Senate, NO] into the Quality

Basic Education Program

$173,563,705

Transfer funds for Georgia Special Needs Scholarships to the

Quality Basic Education Program

$10,144,033

Increase funds for the American Association of Adapted Sports

Programs

$40,000

Increase funds for training and experience in State Schools $190,757

Department of Human Services--Aging FY 2013

The BIPP will provide an extra 2% increase of the federal match rate for Medicaid HCBS services. An estimated $19,086,355 in the DCH budget reflects the anticipated extra funding, which must be used for HCBS.

The Division of Aging did NOT lose the 2% cuts to Alzheimer's Respite, ($225,000), HCBS Respite ($405,556), and the Center for the Visually Impaired ($177,859). The Council on Aging was cut 2%.
CALENDAR: Proposed to be in session Monday (Day 38) and Tuesday (Day 39). Thursday will be Sine Die.

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: HOUSE

HR 1722: Creating the House Study Committee on Alternative Living Services Reimbursement Rates. Sponsor: Stephens, 164. Status:

HB 432: To allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members. Sponsors: Dempsey, 13; Manning, 32; Smith, 129; McKillip, 115; Sims, 119; Kaiser, 59. Status: IR; House Committee Favorably Reported.

HR&A; House Committee Favorably Reported. HR 1725: Recognizing the need to raise awareness of Down syndrome. Sponsors: Nimmer, 178; Houston, 170; Powell, 171; Collins, 27. Status: House Read and Adopted.

HB 641: To substantially revise, supersede, and modernize
provisions relating to juvenile proceedings. Sponsors: Willard, 49; Legislation: SENATE

Lindsey, 54; Abrams, 84; Collins, 27; Oliver, 83. Status: Judy;

SB 292: To enact the "Social Responsibility and Accountability Act;"

Senate Read & Referred.

to provide that the DHS shall create an established drug test to be

HB 713: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to delay administered to each applicant for TANF benefits. Sponsors: Albers,

implementation of some career and college readiness initiatives until 56; Rogers, 21; Gooch, 51; Shafer, 48; Carter, 1; Ligon, 3. Status:

the 2013-2014 school year; to require career education in grades

Judy: House Committee Favorably reported.

k-12; to change the mandated assessment for postsecondary

SB 312: Relating to public assistance, so as to require applicants for

readiness to the end of 11th grade. Sponsors: Nix, 69; Coleman, food stamps to engage in personal growth activities; to provide for

97; Davis, 109; Kaiser, 59; Carter, 175; Casas, 103. Status: ED&Y; applicability. Sponsors: Lignon, 3; Albers, 56; Carter, 1; Williams,

Senate Passed/Adopted.

19. Status: Judy; House Committee Favorably reported.

HB 741: To amend an Act providing appropriations for the State

SB 373: Relating to certificates of public necessity and convenience

Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012.

and medallions for vehicles for hire, so as to provide for authority to

Sponsors: Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108.

operate vehicles for hire equipped to transport passengers in

Status: House Date Signed by Governor.

wheelchairs throughout the state. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Jackson,

HB 742: To make and provide appropriations for State Fiscal year

24; Unterman, 45; Hill, 32; Stoner, 6. Status: Trans; House

beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. Sponsors:

Committee Favorably Reported.

Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: App,

SB 410: Relating to an accountability assessment for K-12 education,

Senate Passed / Adopted

so as to provide for annual indicators of the quality of learning by

HB 745: To require the Department of Public Health to study

students, financial efficiency, and school climate for individual schools

whether pulse oximetry screening should be a standard test for newborns for detection of congenital heart defects. Sponsors: Welch, 110; Ramsey, 72; Cooper, 41; Manning, 32; Watson, 163.

and for school systems. Sponsors: Williams ,19; Mullis, 53; Rogers, 21; Jeffares, 17; Heath, 31. Status: Ed; House Committee Favorably Reported.

Status: H&HS, Senate Read and Referred.

SB 438: Relating to the state employees' health insurance plan, so

HB 861: Relating to law enforcement officers, so as to require law enforcement agencies to report drug related arrests to the Department of Human Services; relating to general provisions for public assistance, so as to require drug testing for applicants and

as to provide that no health insurance plan for employees of the state shall offer coverage for abortion services; to repeal conflicting laws, and for other purposes. Sponsors: Crane, 28; Rogers, 21; Shafer, 48; Williams, 19; Lignon, Jr., 3; McKoon, 29. Status: Ins; House

recipients of state administered TANF benefits. Sponsors: Harden, Second Readers.

28; Ramsey, 72; Allison, 8; Dempsey, 13; McBrayer, 153; Dutton, SB 443: To provide that a defendant must be found to be mentally

166. Status: HHS; Senate Read and Referred.

retarded by a preponderance of the evidence to be found guilty but

HB 920: Relating to the contents and form of the budget report, so mentally retarded. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Orrock, 36; Jones, 10;

as to require certain items to be included in the tax expenditure

Davenport, 44; Butler, 55. Status: Judy; Senate Read and Referred.

review. Sponsors: Martin, 47; Abrams, 84; Lindsey, 54; Williamson, SB 455: Relating to unfair or deceptive practices in consumer

111. Status: B&FAO; House Committee Favorably Reported.

transactions unlawful, so as to authorize licensed personal care

HB 1110: To revise provisions relating to penalties relative to the

homes and community living arrangements to use certain terms.

owning or operating of unlicensed personal care homes; to authorize Sponsors: Goggans, 7; Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Golden, 8; Orrock, 36.

the DCH to provide for additional criminal offenses for background

Status: HHS; Senate Read and Referred.

checks for owners and employees. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Benton, SB 460: Relating generally to insurance, so as to provide a religious

31; Yates,73; Howard, 121; Lindsey, 54. Status: HHS; Senate Read exception for the requirement that every health benefit policy in this

and Referred.

state provide coverage for contraceptives. Sponsors: McKoon, 29;

HB 1146: To create the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Shafer, 48; Lignon, Jr., 3; Hill, 32. Status: Ins; House Second

Board; and other matters. Sponsors: McCall, 30; Carter, 175;

Readers.

Hatchett, 143; Collins, 27. Status: HHS; Senate Passed/Adopted. SB 469: Relating to labor organizations and labor relations, so as to

HB 1166: So as to provide for individual health insurance coverage to children through child-only health policies; to provide for legislative intent; to establish a mandatory, uniform open enrollment period; to provide for definitions; to provide for guaranteed issue coverage regardless of health status; to provide for special

provide that certain provisions prohibiting mass picketing shall apply to certain private residences; to provide for an action to enjoin unlawful mass picketing; to provide for punishment and penalties. Sponsors: Balfour, 9; Hamrick, 30; Cowsert, 46; Tolleson, 20. Status: IndR; House Second Readers.

enrollment periods for loss of coverage because of a qualifying event; SB 489: Relating to emergency medical services, to require the

Sponsors: Atwood, 179; Smith, 131; Meadows, 5; Maxwell, 17;

Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission to report annually to the

Williams, 113; Dollar, 45. Status: I & L; Senate Read Second Time. House and Senate Committees on Health and Human Services

HR 1162: To clarify authority of state to establish state-wide

documenting certain outcomes and verifying certain expenditures of

education policy; to restate the authority of the General Assembly to funds. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Unterman, 45; Albers,56; Rogers, 21;

establish special schools. Sponsors: Jones, 46; Coleman, 97;

Gooch, 51; Wilkinson, 50. Status: H&HS; House Committee

Lindsey, 54; Kaiser, 59; Morgan, 39; Hatchett, 143. Status: Ed&Y; Favorably Reported.

Senate Passed/Adopted.

SR 646: To ensure the necessary conditions for expanded

HR 1335: To authorize the creation of state charter schools; to authorize State Board of Education to overturn a decision by a local

high-quality digital learning opportunities for the students of this state. Sponsor: Rogers, 21. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Passed/Adopted.

board of education regarding the approval or denial of a local charter SR 979: Creating Senate Aging Study Committee. Sponsor:

school. Sponsors: Holcomb, 82; Frazier,123; Ashe,56; Hugley, 133; Unterman, 45. Status: HHS; Senate Read and Referred.

Parent, 81. Status: Ed; House Second Readers.

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