Moving forward, vol. 17, no. 8 (2012 February 24)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Feb 24, 2012 Volume 17--Issue 8

AMENDED BUDGET: The Fiscal year 2012 budget passed Senate Appropriations on Tuesday, February 21. Senate Appropriations differed from the House on several funding items, so after Senate approval, the budget goes to conference committee to work out the differences. One notable add by the Senate is to replace some of the TANF funds lost from the Children's First Program, $1.2 million. The House continues to hold subcommittee meetings on the FY 2013 budget. Members of the Unlock Coalition are meeting regularly with House members on the 2013 budget, but we cannot make our case without the voices of advocates and families needing services. Legislators want to hear from their constituents! START CALLING OR WRITING YOUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT GETTING MORE WAIVERS IN THE FY 2013 BUDGET, particularly about the need for support for youth and aging caregivers. Two Bills of NOTE: HB 1146, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency and Board, and SB 474, Transit Governance, both read first time yesterday.

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 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

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

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

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

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 24

Watch every Monday morning for the "Keys to the Campaign" E-Mail. We have made it easy for you to send an e-mail to the legislators on the committees
that decide funding. We need e-mails to go to all these members this week!

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 DHS 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 387: To provide for comprehensive revision of the revenue structure of the State of GA. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, 46; Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, Recommitted.

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 Second 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: Trans; House Second Readers.
Legislation: SENATE

HB 388: To provide for comprehensive revision of the revenue structure SB 292: To enact the "Social Responsibility and Accountability Act"; to

of the State of Ga. Sponsors: Channell, 116; O'Neal, 146; Jones, 46; provide that the DHS shall create an established drug test to be

Peake, 137. Status: Spec. Joint Comm; House Withdrawn, Recommitted. administered to each applicant for TANF or Medicaid benefits.

HB 432: To allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate Sponsors: Albers, 56; Rogers, 21; Gooch, 51; Shafer, 48; Carter, 1;

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 provisions relating to when interim control of children is permitted.

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

Sponsors: Willard, 49; Lindsey, 54; Oliver, 83; Jacobs, 80; Weldon, 3; institutions of higher education to participate in establishing college and

Dobbs, 53. Status: Judy; House Second Readers.

career academies. Sponsors: Grant, 25; Millar, 40; Henson, 41; Jones,

HB 476: To establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority.

10; Carter, 42; Balfour, 9. Status: H.Ed; Senate Read & Referred.

Sponsors: Smith, 131; Meadows, 5. Status: Ins; House Withdrawn,

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

Recommitted.

stamps and TANF to engage in personal growth activities; to provide for

HB 662: Relating to educational programs, so as to enact the "Blind

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

Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act. Sponsors: Manning, Status: H&HS; Senate Read & Referred.

32; Reece, 11. Status: Ed; House Second Readers.

SB 330: Relating to individual health insurance coverage, policy shall

HB 669: Relating to the organization of the executive branch, so as to require the reporting of federal funds received by certain state agencies. Sponsor: Clark, 98. Status: BFA; House Withdrawn, Recommitted.

provide coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer and provide coverage for autism. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Henson, 41; Stoner, 6; Orrock, 36. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred.

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

SB 373: Relating to certificates of public necessity and convenience and

implementation of some career and college readiness initiatives until the medallions for vehicles for hire, so as to provide for authority to operate

2013-2014 school year; to require career education in grades k-12; to

vehicles for hire equipped to transport passengers in wheelchairs

change the mandated assessment for postsecondary readiness to the end throughout the state. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Jackson, 24; Unterman, 45;

of 11th grade. Sponsors: Nix, 69; Coleman, 97; Davis, 109; Kaiser, 59; Hill, 32; Stoner, 6. Status: Trans; Senate Read & Referred.

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

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

HB 741: 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

as to provide for annual indicators of the quality of learning by students, financial efficiency, and schoolclimate for individual schools and for school systems. Sponsors: Williams ,19; Mullis, 53; Rogers, 21;

Read Second Time.

Jeffares, 17; Heath, 31. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read and Referred.

HB 742: To make and provide appropriations for State Fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. Sponsors: Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: App, House Second

SB 418: Establish the Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace Authority. Sponsors: Orrock,36; Henson,41; Tate, 38; Fort, 39; Davis,22. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred.

Readers.

SB 439: To authorize qualified nonprofit preschool programs which serve

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,

disabled children to participate in student scholarship programs. Sponsors: Miller, 49; Jackson, 24; Wilkinson, 50; Gooch, 51; James, 35. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read and Referred.

72; Cooper, 41; Manning, 32; Watson, 163. Status: H&HS, House

SB 443: To provide that a defendant must be found to be mentally

Committee Favorably Reported.

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

HB 787: To provide that any changes by the DBHDD to allocation rates or formulas for providers must have legislative ratification; that provider

mentally retarded. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Orrock, 36; Jones, 10; Davenport, 44; Butler, 55. Status: Judy; Senate Read and Referred.

contracts include certain requirements. Sponsors: Setzler, 35;

SB 455: Relating to unfair or deceptive practices in consumer

Dempsey, 13; Houston 170. Status: App; House Second Readers.

transactions unlawful, so as to authorize licensed personal care homes

HB 801: Relating to insurance, to establish the GA Health Insurance Marketplace Authority. Sponsors: Gardner, 57; Beverly, 139; Dobbs, 53; Smyre, 132 Buckner, 130. Status: Ins; House Second Readers.

and community living arrangements to use certain terms. Sponsors: Goggans, 7; Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Golden, 8; Orrock, 36. Status: HHS; Senate Read and Referred.

HB 966: To allow DHS to examine income tax records held by the Dept SB 474: So as to amend provisions relating to the Georgia Regional

of Revenue; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective

Transportation Authority; to reconstitute the board of directors; to

date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Sponsor:

provide for the governance of transit; to establish a Transit Governance

Knight, 126. Status: JudyNC; House Second Readers.

Council and provide for membership; to provide for jurisdiction; to

HB 1110: To revise provisions relating to penalties relative to the owning or operating of unlicensed personal care homes; to authorize the DCH to provide for additional criminal offenses for background checks for owners and employees of personal care homes. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Benton, 31; Yates,73; Howard, 121; Lindsey, 54. Status: HHS; House First

provide for a deadline to establish goals and missions for transit operators; to provide for required terms of any contractual agreement between the authority and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority; to provide for the transfer of public transit services operations through contractual agreement by December 31, 2014.

Readers.

Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Miller, 49; Chance, 16; Jackson, 24. Status:

HB 1146: To create the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board; and other matters. Sponsors: McCall, 30; Carter, 175; Hatchett, 143; Collins, 27. Status: HR&A; House First Readers.
HR 1162: To clarify the authority of the state to establish state-wide education policy; to restate the authority of the General Assembly to establish special schools. Sponsors: Jones, 46; Coleman, 97; Lindsey, 54; Kaiser, 59; Morgan, 39; Hatchett, 143. Status: Senate read and referred
HR 1176: To create the House Department of BHDD Oversight

Senate Red and Referred. 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 Second Time. SR 819: Creating the Senate Alternative Sustainable Transportation Study Committee. Sponsors: Davis, 22; Thompson, 33; Mullis, 53; Staton, 18; Stone, 23. Status: Trans; Senate Read and Referred.
SR 979: Creating Senate Aging Study Committee. Sponsor: Unterman, 45. Status: Senate Hopper.

Dates to Remember: February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol

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