Moving Forward Brought to you by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation March 2, 2012 Volume 17--Issue 9 2013 BUDGET: The subcommittees on Appropriations in the House will vote all their budgets out on Monday, March 5th, followed by a Full Appropriations vote on the entire budget. Plans are to have the budget on the floor of the House on Day 30! If you wrote your legislator, THANK YOU! We hope to have good news to share next week. The FY 2012A budget is still being negotiated to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions. Notable House Action today, the Revised Juvenile Justice Code, HB 641, which has been a 3 year project, passed the House unanimously today! Accessible Taxi Legislation, SB 373, will be on the Senate Floor Monday. Please send an e-mail to your Senator to support the passage of SB 373 this weekend! SEE THE MONDAY MORNING ALERT "KEYS TO THE CAMPAIGN!" House and Senate News: Department of Community Health; FY 2013 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: 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). Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2013 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. 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. Provide funding for developmental disabilities consumers community settings to comply with the DOJ settlement agreement: $4,216,000 The 33 ICWP waivers from the FY 2012 budget are annualized in the base DCH budget. There is no funding proposed to fund the remainder of the ICWP waiting list. Please see the Unlock website for these figures. Department of Human Services; FY 2013 The Governor is proposing to move Vocational Rehabilitation services, currently housed in Department of Labor, to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, to be attached to DHS. HB 1146, the authorizing legislation, passed the House on Tuesday. 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), Pupil Transportation ($127,704,479), and School Nurses ($30,071,158) 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 Includes: Department of Human Services--Aging FY 2013 Family Support: 9 crisis respite homes, 6 mobile crisis teams: $1,466,000 $2,300,000 The amount for Family Support is based on actual average costs from the first full year of services. 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 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%. Benefit Incentive Payment Program (BIPP) The BIPP will provide an extra 2% increase of the federal match rate for Medicaid HCBS services. DCH needs to apply for the higher match. Three components are required within 6 months of being accepted in the program: No Wrong Door entry system to services, a conflict-free case management system, and a standardized assesment instrument for all programs. An estimated $19,086,355 in the DCH budget reflects the anticipated extra funding, which must be used for HCBS. NEW COMP waivers are paid for out of Money Follows Person. CALENDAR: Wednesday is Day 30, Crossover Day! The BIPP can finance annualizations and community waivers. Day 31 will be Monday March 12. 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 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 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 Second Readers. HB 476: To establish the Georgia Health Exchange Authority. Sponsors: Smith, 131; Meadows, 5. Status: Ins; House Withdrawn, Recommitted. Williams, 113; Dollar, 45. Status: Ins; House Committee Favorably Reported. HR 1162: To clarify authority of 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: Ed; Senate Tabled. HR 1176: To create the House Department of BHDD 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 State Board of Education to overturn a decision by a local board of education regarding the approval or denial of a local charter school. HB 641: To substantially revise, supersede, and modernize provisions Sponsors: Holcomb, 82; Frazier,123; Ashe,56; Hugley, 133; Parent, 81. relating to juvenile proceedings. Sponsors: Willard, 49; Lindsey, 54; Status: Ed; House Second Readers. Abrams, 84; Collins, 27; Oliver, 83. Status: House Passed/Adopted. HR 1350: To create special transportation districts for taxation purposes HB 669: Relating to the organization of the executive branch, so as to for the funding of regional transportation projects. Sponsors: Setzler, require the reporting of federal funds received by certain state agencies. 35; Golick, 34; Ramsey, 72. Status: Trans; House Second Readers. Sponsor: Clark, 98. Status: B&FAO; House Committee Favorably Reported. Legislation: SENATE HB 713: Relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to delay SB 292: To enact the "Social Responsibility and Accountability Act;" to implementation of some career and college readiness initiatives until the provide that the DHS shall create an established drug test to be 2013-2014 school year; to require career education in grades k-12; to administered to each applicant for TANF or Medicaid benefits. change the mandated assessment for postsecondary readiness to the end Sponsors: Albers, 56; Rogers, 21; Gooch, 51; Shafer, 48; Carter, 1; of 11th grade. Sponsors: Nix, 69; Coleman, 97; Davis, 109; Kaiser, 59; Ligon, 3. Status: H&HS; Senate Read Second Time. Carter, 175; Casas, 103. Status: ED&Y; Senate Read Second Time. House Companion HB 668. Sponsors: Spencer, 180; Willard, 49; HB 741: To amend an Act providing appropriations for the State Fiscal Braddock, 19; Houston, 170. House Companion HB 698 &699. Year beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012. Sponsors: Sponsors: Stephens, 164; McKillip, 115. Ralston, 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: Senate SB 312: Relating to public assistance, so as to require applicants for food Passed/Adopted. stamps and TANF to engage in personal growth activities; to provide for HB 742: To make and provide appropriations for State Fiscal year applicability. Sponsors: Lignon, 3; Albers, 56; Carter, 1; Williams, 19. beginning July 1, 2012, and ending June 30, 2013. Sponsors: Ralston, Status: H&HS; Committee Favorably Reported. 7; Jones, 46; O'Neal, 146; England, 108. Status: App, House Second SB 330: Relating to individual health insurance coverage, policy shall Readers. provide coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer and HB 745: To require the Department of Public Health to study whether pulse oximetry screening should be a standard test for newborns for provide coverage for autism. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Henson, 41; Stoner, 6; Orrock, 36. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred. detection of congenital heart defects. Sponsors: Welch, 110; Ramsey, SB 373: Relating to certificates of public necessity and convenience and 72; Cooper, 41; Manning, 32; Watson, 163. Status: H&HS, House medallions for vehicles for hire, so as to provide for authority to operate Committee Favorably Reported. vehicles for hire equipped to transport passengers in wheelchairs HB 787: To provide that any changes by the DBHDD to allocation rates throughout the state. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Jackson, 24; Unterman, 45; or formulas for providers must have legislative ratification; that provider Hill, 32; Stoner, 6. Status: Trans; Senate Calendar for 4-5. contracts include certain requirements. Sponsors: Setzler, 35; SB 410: Relating to an accountability assessment for K-12 education, so Dempsey, 13; Houston 170. Status: App; House Second Readers. as to provide for annual indicators of the quality of learning by students, HB 801: Relating to insurance, to establish the GA Health Insurance Marketplace Authority. Sponsors: Gardner, 57; Beverly, 139; Dobbs, financial efficiency, and school climate for individual schools and for school systems. Sponsors: Williams ,19; Mullis, 53; Rogers, 21; 53; Smyre, 132 Buckner, 130. Status: Ins; House Second Readers. Jeffares, 17; Heath, 31. Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read Second Time. HB 920: Relating to the contents and form of the budget report, so as to SB 418: Establish the Georgia Health Insurance Marketplace Authority. require certain items to be included in the tax expenditure review. Sponsors: Martin, 47; Abrams, 84; Lindsey, 54; Williamson, 111. Sponsors: Orrock,36; Henson,41; Tate, 38; Fort, 39; Davis,22. Status: I&L; Senate Read and Referred. Status: B&FAO; House Committee Favorably Reported. SB 439: To authorize qualified nonprofit preschool programs which serve HB 1110: To revise provisions relating to penalties relative to the owning disabled children to participate in student scholarship programs. or operating of unlicensed personal care homes; to authorize the DCH to Sponsors: Miller, 49; Jackson, 24; Wilkinson, 50; Gooch, 51; James, 35. provide for additional criminal offenses for background checks for owners Status: Ed&Y; Senate Read and Referred. and employees. Sponsors: Cooper, 41; Benton, 31; Yates,73; Howard, SB 443: To provide that a defendant must be found to be mentally 121; Lindsey, 54. Status: HHS; House Committee Favorably Reported. retarded by a preponderance of the evidence to be found guilty but HB 1146: To create the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services mentally retarded. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Orrock, 36; Jones, 10; Board; and other matters. Sponsors: McCall, 30; Carter, 175; Hatchett, Davenport, 44; Butler, 55. Status: Judy; Senate Read and Referred. 143; Collins, 27. Status: HumR; Senate Read and Referred. SB 455: Relating to unfair or deceptive practices in consumer HB 1161: To provide for minimum training requirements for personal transactions unlawful, so as to authorize licensed personal care homes care home employees. Sponsors: Mayo, 91; Mosby, 90. Status: HHS; and community living arrangements to use certain terms. Sponsors: House Second Readers. Goggans, 7; Hill, 4; Williams, 19; Golden, 8; Orrock, 36. Status: HHS; HB 1199: To amend provisions relating to the GA Regional Senate Read and Referred. Transportation Authority. Sponsors: Sheldon, 105; Carter, 175; Lindsey, SB 474: Relating to the GA Regional Transportation Authority; to provide 54; Jacobs, 80; Mitchell, 88. Status: Trans; House First Readers/ for governance of transit; to establish a Transit Governance Council; to HB 1200: To provide for creation of metropolitan transit authorities and provide for transfer of public transit services operations through regional transit authorities. Sponsors: Gardner, 57; Ashe, 56; Taylor, contractual agreement by Dec 31, 2014. Sponsors: Mullis, 53; Miller, 55; Mosby, 90; Oliver, 83. Status: Trans; House First Readers. 49; Chance, 16; Jackson, 24. Status: Trans, Senate Read and Referred. HB 1166: Relating to insurance, 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 enrollment periods for loss of coverage because of a qualifying event; to provide for a list of qualifying events; to provide effective dates for coverage purchased during an open enrollment period or after a qualifying event; to provide notice and marketing requirements; to SB 501: To establish the GA Charter Schools Advisory Commission. Sponsors: Thompson, 5; Rogers, 21; Williams, 19; Davis, 22; Sims, 12. Status: Ed&Y, Senate Read & 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 Passed/Adopted. SR 819: Creating the Senate Alternative Sustainable Transportation Study Committee. Sponsors: Davis, 22; Thompson, 33; Mullis, 53; Staton, 18; Stone, 23. Status: Trans; Committee Favorably Reported. provide for rules and regulations; to provide for an automatic repealer. Sponsors: Atwood, 179; Smith, 131; Meadows, 5; Maxwell, 17; SR 979: Creating Senate Aging Study Committee. Sponsor: Unterman, 45. Status: HHS; Senate Read and Referred. www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Capitol Impact 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.