Moving Forward Brought to you by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation Jan 27, 2012 Volume 17--Issue 4 AMENDED BUDGET HEARINGS: This week, the various appropriations committees began holding hearings on the FY 2012 Amended Budget. This budget funds the state for the remainder of this fiscal year, to June 30th, 2012. This issue of Moving Forward covers this budget information. Next week, we will re-post the "big" budget information, the FY 2013. There is important activity happening outside the legislature as well. DCH held public comment on the rate study on Thursday, January 26th. DCH also released the Medicaid Redesign Study from Navigant. That is available on the DCH website. Check GCDD's website in the coming weeks for more information. The calendar has been set until the middle of March. See below. You can view the budget yourself at http://opb.georgia.gov. House and Senate News: Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to Administra- House Leadership -- Speaker of the House: David Ralston, tion for mandated implementation of expanded diagnosis and pro- 7th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Jan Jones, 46th. The Speaker cedures codes $1,142,675 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. Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to Administration for the Health Information Exchange project $637,850 Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: Tommie Williams, 19th; Majority Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to the Medi- Leader: Chip Rogers, 21st; Majority Whip: Cecil Staton, 18th; caid Incentive prog. (electronic medical records) $925,554 Minority Leader: Steve Henson, 41st. Minority Whip: Vincent Fort, 39th. ABD: Remove provider rate cuts of .5% (physicians) $1,539,444 Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable PeachCare: Remove provider rate cuts of .5% $349,622 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. Department of Human Services; FY 2012A The Governor is proposing to move all services under Vocational Rehabilitation, currently housed within the Department of Labor, to the Department of Human Services. These changes are reflected in the FY 2013 budget. Department of Education FY 2012A Budget Information: The 2012 Session tackles the 2012 supplemental budget, referred to here as FY 2012A, (ending June 30, 2012) and the 2013 FY budget (beginning July 1, 2012). This issue of Moving Forward reviews the 2012 Amended budget which is being worked on in committee this week and next. Non QBE formula: reduce funding for Residential Treatment Cen- ters ($76,628); Sparcity Grants ($53,700); and Georgia Special Needs Scholarships ($207,020) ($337,348) Transfer funds for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship to the QBE ($10,144,033) Reduce funds for the school lunch program. ($775,965) Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2012A The Department is in the second year of the Settlement Agreement with the Department of Justice which was signed on October 19, 2010. The agreement lays out five years of deliverables to better serve people with mental illness and developmental disabilities currently living in state institutions or at risk of institutionalization. This year, DBHDD took a 2% cut with all the other state agencies. The budget package for the settlement is listed following. UNLOCK the waiting list is requesting additional funding for populations considered "most in need." Please see the Unlock website for this budget package. Moving Forward only reports the figures as proposed in the budget. Adult Developmental Disabilities Use encumbered funds for crisis services expenses ($11,200,000) Reduce funds for pupil transportation. ($2,606,214) QBE: Provide a grant to the State Special Charter Schools. $8,647,953 Provide funds for a midterm adjustment for enrollment growth $87,924,513 Reduce funds for Educational Technology Centers and RESA's Core Services ($171,426) Reduce funds for student testing. ($271,470) CALENDAR The Legisture has set the calendar up to Day 31, which will be Monday March 12. They will be in session January 30 to February 3rd (Day 14) Monday, February 6th to Thursday Feb 9th (Day 18) Wednesday, February 15th to Friday, February 17th (Day 21) Monday, February 20th to Thursday, February 23rd (Day 25) Reduce funds for contractual services ($575,000) Monday, February 27th to Wednesday, February 29th (Day 28) Department of Community Health; FY 2012A Monday, March 5th (Day 29) NOTE: With assistance from the House Budget Office staff, Tuesday, March 6th Adjourned we have confirmed that the funding to annualize the 33 ICWP waivers appropriated by the legislature in the 2012 budget IS Wednesday, March 7th Crossover Day in the base funding in the DCH budget, so these waivers are Monday, March 12th secure. Transfer funds from the Low Income Medicaid program to the www.unlockthewaitinglists.com Administration program for the managed care review con- www.gcdd.org tract $1,250,000 DAY 30 (Day 31) 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 Carter, 175; Casas, 103. Status: Ed; House Passed/Adopted. HB 23: To require the Department of Human Services to establish regulations governing the use of psychotropic medications for foster children in state custody. Sponsor: M.Oliver, 83. Status: HHS; House Second Readers. HB 52: To add public and private schools, public and private colleges, and public and private universities to the places where disabled persons may be accompanied by a guide or service dog; to prohibit the requiring of extra deposits for persons with guide or service dogs. Sponsor: Bearden, 68. Status: H.Ed; Senate Recommitted. HB 132: Relating to insurance generally, so as to require certain insurance coverage for physician prescribed special dietary foods or formulas for specific chronic medical conditions. Sponsors: Watson, 163; Lindsey, 54; Benfield, 85. Status: Ins; House Second Readers. HB 229: Relating to administrative hearings and appeals under Medicaid generally, to provide that the decision of the administrative law judge shall be the final administrative decision of the commissioner. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Jacobs, 80; Channell, 116; Lindsey, 54; Oliver, 83. Status: Judy; Favorably Reported. HB 387: To provide for comprehensive revision of the revenue structure HB 719 and 720: Providing appropriations for the State Fiscal Year 2011 -2012. Sponsor: England, 108. Status: App; House Second Readers. HB 721 and 722: Provide appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. Sponsor: England, 108. Status: App; House Second Readers. HB 745: To require the Department of Public Health to study 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. Status: H&HS, House Second Readers. HB 787: Relating to governing and regulation of mental health, so as to provide that any changes by the DBHDD to allocation rates or formulas for providers must have legislative ratification; to provide that provider contracts include certain requirements. Sponsors: Setzler, 35; Dempsey, 13; Houston 170. Status: App; House First Readers. HB 801: Relating to insurance, so as to establish the Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace Authority. Sponsors: Gardner, 57; Beverly, 139; Dobbs, 53; Smyre, 132 Buckner, 130. Status: House Hopper. Legislation: SENATE of the State of Georgia. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, SB 198: Relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide 46; Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, definitions; to cover all disabilities in providing assistance in voting. Recommitted. Sponsors: Goggans, 7; Grant, 25; Unterman, 45. Status: Ethics; HB 388: To provide for comprehensive revision of the revenue structure Senate Read and Referred. of the State of Georgia. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, SB 245: Relating to definitions relative to governing and regulation of 46; Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, mental health, so as to revise the definition of "developmental Recommitted. disability." Sponsor: Goggans, 7. Status: HHS; House Second Readers. HB 432: Relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial SB 292: To enact the "Social Responsibility and Accountability Act"; to relations, so as to allow employees to use sick leave for the care of provide that the DHS shall create an established drug test to be immediate family members. Sponsors: Dempsey, 13; Manning, 32; administered to each applicant for TANF or Medicaid benefits. Smith, 129; McKillip, 115; Sims, 119; Kaiser, 59. Status: IR; House Sponsors: Albers, 56; Rogers, 21; Gooch, 51; Shafer, 48; Carter, 1; Second Readers. Ligon, 3. House Companion HB 668. Sponsors: Spencer, 180; Willard, HB 471: Relating to arrest and detention of juveniles, so as to change 49; Braddock, 19; Houston, 170. House Companion HB 698 &699. provisions relating to when interim control of children is permitted. Sponsors: Stephens, 164; McKillip, 115. Sponsors: Willard, 49; Lindsey, 54; Oliver, 83; Jacobs, 80; Weldon, 3; SB 308: Relating to technical and adult education, to permit proprietary Dobbs, 53. Status: Judy; House Second Readers. institutions of higher education to participate in establishing college and HB 476: To establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority; to provide career academies. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Millar, 40; Henson, 41; Jones, for the Georgia Health Exchange and the Small Business Health Options 10; Carter, 42; Balfour, 9. Status: H.Ed; Senate Read & Referred. Program (SHOP) Exchange; to provide for automatic repeal under SB 312: Relating to public assistance, so as to require applicants for food certain conditions; to provide for a trust fund; to provide for an advisory stamps and TANF to engage in personal growth activities; to provide for committee; to provide for limited liability; to provide for rules and applicability. Sponsors: Lignon, 3; Albers, 56; Carter, 1; Williams, 19. regulations; to provide for accounts and audits. Sponsors: Smith, 131; Status: H&HS; Senate Read & Referred. Meadows, 5. Status: Ins; House Withdrawn, Recommitted. SB 330: Relating to individual health insurance coverage, policy shall HB 662: Relating to educational programs, so as to enact the "Blind provide coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer and Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act. Sponsors: Manning, provide coverage for autism. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Henson, 41; Stoner, 6; 32; Reece, 11. Status: Education; House Second Readers Orrock, 36. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred. HB 669: Relating to the organization of the executive branch generally, SR 646: To ensure the necessary conditions for expanded high-quality so as to require the reporting of federal funds received by certain state digital learning opportunities for the students of this state. Sponsor: agencies. Sponsor: Clark, 98. Status: House Prefiled. Rogers, 21. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read and Referred. HB 713: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to delay implementation of some career and college readiness initiatives until the 2013-2014 school year; to require career education in grades k-12; to change the mandated assessment for postsecondary readiness to the end www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com of 11th grade. Sponsors: Nix, 69; Coleman, 97; Davis, 109; Kaiser, 59; Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Capitol Impact Dates to Remember: February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol Mental Health Day at the Capitol: February 8th Disability Day at the Capitol: February 16th! 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