Moving forward, vol. 17, no. 6 (2012 February 10)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Feb 10, 2012 Volume 17--Issue 6

AMENDED BUDGET: The Fiscal year 2012 budget passed the House Friday February 3rd. Senate sub-committees worked on it this week, next steps are full Senate Appropriations approval and then to the Senate Floor for the vote. In the meantime, the House has begun subcommittee meetings on the FY 2013 budget. Unlock testified yesterday to House Health committee on the need for more ICWP waivers, and we support replacing TANF supplemental money cut by the federal government that is a huge loss to the Babies Can't Wait program in Public Health. An alert will be going out today.

Notable in the FY 2012 amended budget for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is language regarding the Waiting Lists, detailed below.

PLEASE START CALLING YOUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT GETTING MORE WAIVERS IN THE FY 2013 BUDGET. SEE THE MONDAY MORNING ALERT "KEYS TO THE CAMPAIGN!"

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

Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to the Medicaid Incentive prog. (electronic medical records) $925,554

ABD: Remove provider rate cuts of .5%(physicians) $1,539,444

PeachCare: Remove provider rate cuts of .5%

$349,622

The House restored the 2% cuts to the Mercer and Morehouse Schools of Medicine.

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.

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:
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.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2012A Please see the Unlock website for the services requested in ADDITION to the Governor's budget proposals.

Adult Developmental Disabilities

($11,200,000)

Use encumbered funds for crisis services expenses. [funds from

vacated waivers and unused contracts dollars front-loaded the

crisis services

Marcus Autism Center

$250,000

Under Department Administration: "The Department will evaluate criteria for establishing a viable waiting list and report to the General Assembly by June 30th, 2012 with recommendations for maintaining such lists."

Department of Education FY 2012A

Non QBE formula: reduce funding for Residential Treatment

Centers ($76,628); Sparcity Grants ($53,700); and Georgia

Special Needs Scholarships ($207,020)

($337,348)

[House restored funding for residential treatment centers.]

Transfer funds for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship to the

QBE

($10,144,033)

Reduce funds for the school lunch program.

($775,965)

Reduce funds for pupil transportation.

($2,606,214)

QBE: Provide a grant to the State Special Charter Schools. $7,618,717

Provide funds for a midterm adjustment for enrollment growth $85,913,816

Provide funds for Charter Systems

$2,860,633

Reduce funds for Educational Technology Centers and RESA's

Core Services

($60,487)

Reduce funds for student testing.

($271,470)

Quality Basic Education Equalization one time adjustment

$7,000,000

CALENDAR

The Legisture has set the calendar up to Day 31, which will be Monday March 12.

Department of Community Health; FY 2012A

Wednesday, February 15th to Friday, February 17th (Day 21)

NOTE: With assistance from the House Budget Office staff, we have confirmed that the funding to annualize the 33 ICWP waivers appropriated by the legislature in the 2012 budget IS in the base funding in the DCH budget, so these waivers are secure.

Transfer funds from the Low Income Medicaid program to the

Administration program for the managed care review

contract

$1,250,000

Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to

Administration for mandated implementation of expanded

diagnosis and procedures codes

$1,142,675

Tuesday, February 21th to Friday, February 24th

(Day 25)

Monday, February 27th to Wednesday, February 29th (Day 28)

Monday, March 5th

(Day 29)

Tuesday, March 6th Adjourned

Wednesday, March 7th Crossover Day

DAY 30

Monday, March 12th

(Day 31)

Today (Thursday) is Day 18

Transfer funds from Low Income Medicaid program to Administration for the Health Information Exchange project
$637,850

www.unlockthewaitinglists.com www.gcdd.org

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
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 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 of the State of Georgia. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, 46; Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, Recommitted.
HB 388: To provide for comprehensive revision of the revenue structure of the State of Georgia. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, 46; Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, Recommitted.

Dempsey, 13; Houston 170. Status: App; House Second 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: Ins; House Second Readers.
HB 831: To transfer the Division of Rehabilitation Services, including but not limited to the disability adjudication section and the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, from DOL to DHS. Sponsors: McCall,30; Collins, 27; Hatchett, 143rd; Carter, 175. Status: HR&Ag; House Committee Favorably Reported.
HR 1176: To create the House Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Oversight Committee. Sponsors: Kidd, 141; Harden, 147; Houston, 170; Dempsey, 13. Status: H&HS; House Second Readers.
HR 1335: To authorize the creation of state charter schools; to authorize the State Board of Education to overturn a decision by a local board of education regarding the approval or denial of a local charter school. Sponsors: Holcomb, 82; Frazier,123; Ashe,56; Hugley, 133; Parent,81. Status: Ed; House First Readers.
HR 1350: To create special transportation districts for taxation purposes for the funding of regional transportation projects. Sponsors: Setzler, 35; Golick, 34; Ramsey, 72. Status: House Hopper.

HB 432: Relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial relations, so as to allow employees to use sick leave for the care of

Legislation: SENATE

immediate family members. Sponsors: Dempsey, 13; Manning, 32; Smith, 129; McKillip, 115; Sims, 119; Kaiser, 59. Status: IR; House Second Readers.
HB 471: Relating to arrest and detention of juveniles, so as to change

SB 198: Relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide definitions; to cover all disabilities in providing assistance in voting. Sponsors: Goggans, 7; Grant, 25; Unterman, 45. Status: Ethics; Senate Read and Referred.

provisions relating to when interim control of children is permitted. Sponsors: Willard, 49; Lindsey, 54; Oliver, 83; Jacobs, 80; Weldon, 3; Dobbs, 53. Status: Judy; House Second Readers.

SB 245: Relating to definitions relative to governing and regulation of mental health, so as to revise the definition of "developmental disability." Sponsor: Goggans, 7. Status: HHS; House Second Readers.

HB 476: To establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority; to provide for the Georgia Health Exchange and the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange; to provide for automatic repeal under certain conditions; to provide for a trust fund; to provide for an advisory committee; to provide for limited liability; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for accounts and audits. Sponsors: Smith, 131; Meadows, 5. Status: Ins; House Withdrawn, Recommitted.
HB 662: Relating to educational programs, so as to enact the "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act. Sponsors: Manning, 32; Reece, 11. Status: Ed; House Second Readers.

SB 292: To enact the "Social Responsibility and Accountability Act"; to provide that the DHS shall create an established drug test to be administered to each applicant for TANF or Medicaid benefits. Sponsors: Albers, 56; Rogers, 21; Gooch, 51; Shafer, 48; Carter, 1; Ligon, 3. House Companion HB 668. Sponsors: Spencer, 180; Willard, 49; Braddock, 19; Houston, 170. House Companion HB 698 &699. Sponsors: Stephens, 164; McKillip, 115.
SB 308: Relating to technical and adult education, to permit proprietary institutions of higher education to participate in establishing college and career academies. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Millar, 40; Henson, 41; Jones,

HB 669: Relating to the organization of the executive branch generally, 10; Carter, 42; Balfour, 9. Status: H.Ed; Senate Read & Referred.

so as to require the reporting of federal funds received by certain state agencies. Sponsor: Clark, 98. Status: GA; House Second Readers.

SB 312: Relating to public assistance, so as to require applicants for food stamps and TANF to engage in personal growth activities; to provide for

HB 713: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to delay

applicability. Sponsors: Lignon, 3; Albers, 56; Carter, 1; Williams, 19.

implementation of some career and college readiness initiatives until the Status: H&HS; Senate Read & Referred.

2013-2014 school year; to require career education in grades k-12; to SB 330: Relating to individual health insurance coverage, policy shall

change the mandated assessment for postsecondary readiness to the end provide coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer and

of 11th grade. Sponsors: Nix, 69; Coleman, 97; Davis, 109; Kaiser, 59; provide coverage for autism. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Henson, 41; Stoner, 6;

Carter, 175; Casas, 103. Status: ED&Y; Senate Read & Referred.

Orrock, 36. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred.

HB 741: A bill to amend an Act providing appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012. Sponsors: Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: App, Senate Read and Referred.

SB 373: Relating to certificates of public necessity and convenience and medallions for vehicles for hire, so as to provide for authority to operate vehicles for hire equipped to transport passengers in wheelchairs throughout the state. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Jackson, 24; Unterman, 45;

HB 742: A bill to make and provide appropriations for the State Fiscal

Hill, 32; Stoner, 6. Status: Trans; Senate Read & Referred.

year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. Sponsors: Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: App, House Second Readers.

SR 646: To ensure the necessary conditions for expanded high-quality digital learning opportunities for the students of this state. Sponsor: Rogers, 21. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read and Referred.

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

SR 819: Creating the Senate Alternative Sustainable Transportation Study Committee. Sponsors: Davis, 22; Thompson, 33; Mullis, 53; Staton, 18; Stone, 23. Status: Senate Hopper.

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

www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com

for providers must have legislative ratification; to provide that provider

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Capitol Impact

contracts include certain requirements. Sponsors: Setzler, 35;

Dates to Remember: February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol
Disability Day at the Capitol: February 16th!
Register for Disability Day at http://bit.ly/gL3elb or dial 404-656-6593

Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm
2 Peachtree Street, NW Suite 26-246 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 http://www.gcdd.org
888-ASK-GCDD TDD 404-657-2133 FAX 404-657-2132
Return service requested ( ) Please check here and return to your mail carrier
if you no longer wish to receive Moving Forward.