Moving forward, vol. 19, no. 2 (2014 January 17)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Jan 17, 2014 Volume 19--Issue 2

Welcome to the 2014 Legislative Session! The second year of the General Assembly began Monday, January 13. The Governor delivered the State of the State Address January 15 at 11 a.m. before a Joint Session. In the State of the State, Governor Deal emphasized education, workforce development, and lean government. He also reiterated his intention not to expand Medicaid in Georgia. For the full text of his speech, please go to http://www.gpb.org/news/2014/01/15/governor-nathan-deals-2014-state-of-the-statespeech.

We are still analyzing the budget, so stay tuned for more news. This issue presents the figures released in the budget. You can view the budget yourself at http://opb.georgia.gov

Get involved: (1) If you are not already a member of the GCDD advocacy network, we invite you to join and
receive information as we work together to create a better place for Georgians with disabilities. Go to www.gcdd.org and click on Join our Advocacy Network and follow the instructions. (2) Register for the February 20th Disability Day at: http://bit.ly/1eT5C5s (3) Join our weekly legislative update calls on Monday morning at 9:15 AM. Dial 1-888-355-1249 and enter passcode 232357 at the prompt.

House and Senate News:

The Governor's budget proposal continued

House Leadership -- Speaker of the House: David Ralston, 7th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Jan Jones, 47th. Majority Leader: Larry O'Neal, 146th; Minority Leader: Stacey Abrams, 89th. Senate Leadership--Presiding: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle; President Pro Tempore: David Shafer, 48th. Majority Leader: Ronnie Chance, 16th; Minority Leader: Steve Henson, 41st.

Annualize the cost of 250 FY 2014 NOW and COMP waiver slots

for the developmentally disabled to meet the requirements of

the DOJ Settlement Agreement

$6,906,153

Increase funds for developmental disabilities consumers in community settings to comply with the requirements of the DOJ Settlement Agreement (excludes waivers). $1,872,000

Contact information for the Governor--The Honorable Nathan Deal, Mailing address: 206 Washington Street, Suite 203, State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334; 404-656-1776, http://gov.georgia.gov
To identify your legislators, go to www.gcdd.org, click on Join our Advocacy Network, and follow the instructions. Once you are logged into Capitol Impact, click on "Officials" and then "GA District Lookup". Enter your address and Capitol Impact will identify your legislators.

Utilize enhanced federal participation rate for 175 additional NOW and COMP for the developmentally disabled to meet the requirements of the DOJ Settlement Agreement.
Department of Community Health; FY 2015 Utilize enhanced federal participation rate for 25 additional Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) slots.

Budget Information:
The 2014 Session tackles the 2014 supplemental budget, referred to here as FY 2014A, (ending June 30, 2014) and the 2015 FY budget (beginning July 1, 2014).
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities The Department is in the fourth 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 Governor's budget instructions to state agencies for FY 2015 did not call for any cuts.
Increase funds for 75 additional slots for the New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Waiver (COMP) for the developmentally disabled to meet the requirements of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement. $1,620,512

Utilize enhanced federal participation rate to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for Alternative Living Services and Personal Support Services by 5% in both elderly waiver programs (CCSP and SOURCE).

Department of Human Services; FY 2015 Utilize enhanced federal participation rate for 100 additional Community Care Services Program (CCSP) slots.

Utilize enhanced federal participation rate to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for Alternative Living Services and Personal Support Services by 5% in both elderly waiver programs (CCSP and SOURCE)

Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency: Vocational

Rehabilitation Program. Transfer funds from the Roosevelt Warm

Springs Medical Hospital Program to vocational rehabilitation

services.

$3,508,931

SAVE THE DATE!
16th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol Rally on the Capitol Steps!
Thursday, February 20, 2014 9 AM 2 PM
We All Have A Story... What's Yours?

Take Action--Advocacy Questions and Answers
How can I take action on legislation? (1) Go to www.gcdd.org and click on Join our Advocacy Network. (2) Form a relationship with your representatives and senators by calling, emailing, faxing, and scheduling meetings to tell them about how their decisions on the budget and laws affect the quality of life for you and your family. (3) Visit GCDD's website for additional resources like fact sheets to utilize in your advocacy efforts: http://www.gcdd.org/public-policy.html. (4) Visit www.unlockthewaitinglists.com for even more great advocacy resources. How can I contact my state representative or senator? Every member has an email address. However, the most effective way to communicate is by letter or phone. Legislators prefer to hear from their own constituents and may not pay attention to mass emails or form letters from people outside their districts. Information about legislators is also available at www.legis.state.ga.us. How did my legislators vote? Voting Records are online by bill number, not by legislator. This may take up to five days following the actual vote. Go to www.legis.state.ga.us then click on House or Senate, then click on House votes or Senate votes for a complete roll call on how each person voted on a certain bill. Printed copies may be obtained from the Clerk of the House (404) 656-5015 or the Secretary of the Senate (404) 656-5040. A complete record of votes on every bill is available for a fee. When is the General Assembly in session? The General Assembly convened on January 13, 2014. Annual sessions run for 40 Legislative days. Sessions normally end in late March, depending upon the number of recess days but we anticipate a shorter session this year due to it being election year. Therefore, the session could end as early as by mid-March.
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.

House Bills 2014
HB 0018 Waites, Keisha 60th ;Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact; 2/26/2013 - House - House Second Readers

HR 1039 Waites, Keisha 60th ; State Capitol and CLOB; accessibility by the blind and visually impaired; 11/25/2013 - House - House Prefiled
Senate Bills 2014

HB 0067 Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th; Brain and Spinal Injury Trust

SB 0141 Beach, Brandon 21st ; 'Patient Injury Act'; create an alternative

Fund; penalty assessments for additional violations; authorize ;1/28/2013 medical malpractice litigation; 2/11/2013 - Senate - Senate Read and

- House - House Second Readers

Referred

HB 0166 Bruce, Roger 61st ; Parent Protection Act; enact ; 2/1/2013 House - House Second Readers

SB 0163 Ligon, Jr., William 3rd ; Community Health Dept.; required to study and identify options for Medicaid reform; 3/28/2013 - House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted

HB 0290 Dempsey, Katie 13th; Family Care Act - to allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members; 3/28/2013 House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted

SB 0191 Albers, John 56th ; "Ava's Law"; provide definitions; certain insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders; 2/22/2013 - Senate Senate Read and Referred

HB 0309 Harbin, Ben 122nd; Ava's Law; enact ;2/13/2013 - House - House

Second Readers

SB 0202 Unterman, Renee 45th ; Litigation code changes ; 2/25/2013 -

Senate - Senate Read and Referred

HB 0398 Maxwell, Howard 17th ;Consumer transactions; licensed personal care homes and community living arrangements to use certain terms; authorize; 3/28/2013 - House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted
HB 0546 Beverly, James 143rd; Public Health, Department of; pilot program to assess need for and effectiveness of using protocol technicians in areas which do not have access to a hospital; establish; 3/11/2013 - House - House Second Readers

SB 0207 Albers, John 56th; Probation of First Offenders; person disqualified from employment when discharged as felony offender; add private home care providers to list ; 3/28/2013 - House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted
SB 0220 Hill, Judson 32nd ; Public Assistance; provide for a pilot program; smart cards for Medicaid program recipients; 2/27/2013 - Senate - Senate Read and Referred

HB 0606 Knight, David 130th ; Private home care providers; revise definition to exclude contractual arrangements with independent contractors; 3/20/2013 - House - House Second Readers
HB 0608 Houston, Penny 170th ; Community Health, Department of; criminal background check requirements for applicants for employment by certain licensed facilities; expand; 3/21/2013 - House - House Second Readers
HB 0695 Carson, John 46th ; Public assistance; provide reimbursement for Medicaid providers; provisions ; 1/14/2014 - House Second Readers

Glossary:
Appropriation --a specific amount of money that is intended for use by a specific state program DCH--Department of Community Health DD--Developmental Disabilities DHS--Department of Human Services DBHDD--Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities FY--Fiscal Year FY--Fiscal Year HB--House Bill HR--House Resolution SB--Senate Bill SR--Senate Resolution

HB 0700 Keisha Waites ; Public facilities; State Capitol and CLOB; persons; 1/15/2014 - House - House Second Readers
HB 0707 Spencer, Jason 180th; The Georgia Health Care Freedom and ACA Noncompliance Act; enact; 1/15/2014 - House - House Second Readers

www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com
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Dates to Remember:
Martin Luther King Remembrance: January 20 Blindness Coalition Legislative Day at the Capitol: January 22
Be There 4 Seniors Rally at the Capitol: January 30 February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol
Alzheimer's Awareness Day at the Capitol: February 13 Mental Health Day at the Capitol: February 19 Disability Day at the Capitol: February 20

Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm
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