Moving forward, vol. 19, no. 6 (2014 February 14)

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

The Developmental Disabilities Advocates' Guide to Legislation
Feb 14, 2014 Volume 19--Issue 6

Once again, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to more winter weather. The General Assembly adjourned for the week on Tuesday early but not before they set the legislative calendar for the remainder of the session (see details below).

The House Appropriations Committee passed the FY2015 budget out of committee on February 11. We anticipate it will go to the full House for a vote early next week. In this issue, the changes to the Governor's recommended budget that House Appropriations made are highlighted. On February 7, the Senate passed the Amended FY2014 budget.

Mark your calendar- Disability Day is almost here! On Thursday, February 20, please join GCDD for a day of connection and advocacy at the state Capitol building. The theme this year is "We All Have a Story...What's Yours?" and also will feature an Olmstead 15th anniversary celebration. Scheduled speakers include Governor Nathan Deal and Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, CEO & President of RespectAbilityUSA.
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) Attend Disability Day at the Capitol on February 20th (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:

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.

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

Changes Passed by House Appropriations (continued)
17.8 Medicaid; Low-Income Medicaid 17.8.14 Provide funds for the extension of the Planning for Healthy Babies (P4HB) waiver, including prenatal care for Medicaid eligible members at risk of delivering low birth weight babies. $3,600,000 State Funds
Section 23: Department of Education
There were no changes to the DOE FY 2015 budget by the House Appropriations to impact people with disabilities.

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.
Budget Information:

Section 27: Department of Human Services
27.12. Elder Support Services 27.12.3 Provide additional funds for Meals on Wheels and senior center nutrition programs. $750,000 State Funds

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).
The House Appropriations Committee passed the FY2015 budget out of committee. Below are the highlights the FY 2015 disability-related budget items that differ from the Governor's recommended budget. To see the full details of how the budget breaks down for each program, please see the full budget documents available at: http://www.house.ga.gov/budget/en-US/budgetdocuments.aspx
HB 477: Changes passed by House Appropriations that impact individuals with Disabilities.
Section 15: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Legislative Calendar
Mon. Feb. 17 Fri. Feb. 21 = Legislative days 22-26 Sat. Feb. 22 Sun. Feb. 23. . . . . . . .in adjournment Mon. Feb. 24 Wed. Feb. 26 = Legislative days 27 29 Thurs. Feb. 27 Sun. March 2 . . . . . . . . . . in adjournment Mon. March 3 Fri. March 7 = Legislative days 30 34 Sat. March 8 Sun. March 9 . . . . . . . . . . . in adjournment Mon. March 10 Thurs. March 13 = Legislative days 35 38 Fri. March 14 Mon. March 17 . . . . . in adjournment Tues. March 18 = Legislative day 39 Wed. March 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in adjournment Thurs. March 20 = Legislative day 40
Take Action--Advocacy Questions and Answers

15.2. Adult Developmental Disabilities Services 15.2.9 Provide a 1/2% increase for developmental disabilities provider $874,000 State Funds
15.13. Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities 15.13.1 Provide funds to Unlock the Waiting List for 64 additional supported employment slots for people with developmental disabilities. $250,000 State Funds
Section 17: Department of Community Health
17.5. Healthcare Facility Regulation 17.5.3 Provide funds to initiate the Adult Day Center facility licensure program (O.C.G.A. 49-6-80, et. al.) $321,000 State Funds
17.5 Medicaid: Aged, Blind and Disabled 17.7.1 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). (G:Yes) (H:Utilize enhanced federal participation rate and increase funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for Alternative Living Services and Personal Support Services, and Case Managers by 5% in both elderly waiver programs (CCSP and SOURCE).) $566,000 State Funds

How can I meet with my legislator at the Capitol on Disability Day (or any day when the General Assembly is in session)? Call your legislator's office (see "House and Senate News" box of this issue to find out how to identify your legislator and get their contact information) and let them know that you are a constituent and would like to request an appointment. However, if you are unable to get an appointment, there is still hope. When the House and/or Senate are in session (you will know this by all the bustle on the 3rd floor), then you can send a note into the House and Senate chambers asking your legislator to come out for a visit at the ropes. To do this, go to the 3rd floor of the Capitol and ask someone near the ropes where they keep the forms. Look for those persons with the blue official badges and ask them how to call your legislator off the floor. If you live in their district they should be happy to come out and talk to you, even though they are very busy.
DISABILITY DAY IS ALMOST HERE!
16th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol Rally on the Capitol Steps!
Thursday, February 20, 2014 9 AM 2 PM
www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com
Please stay tuned to the latest news by signing up for Capitol Impact and Moving Forward. Go to www.gcdd.org and click on Join Our Advocacy Network!

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
HB 0067 Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th; Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund; penalty assessments for additional violations; authorize; 1/28/2013; House - House Second Readers
HB 0166 Bruce, Roger 61st; Parent Protection Act; enact; 2/1/2013; House - House Second Readers
HB 0290 Dempsey, Katie 13th; Family Care Act - to allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members; 2/3/2014; House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
HB 0309 Harbin, Ben 122nd; Ava's Law; enact; 2/13/2013; House - House Second Readers
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 0766 Lumsden, Eddie; Work Based Learning Act; enact; 2/10/2014; Senate Senate Read and Referred
HB 0772 Morris, Greg; Public assistance; drug testing for applicants for food stamps; require; 1/22/2014 ; House Second Readers
HB 0853 Stover, David. Mental health facilities; certificate of need; revise exemption; 1/31/2014; House Second Readers
HB 0868 Fludd, Virgil; Community Health, Board of; contract with at least two vendors to provide health insurance benefits for retiring and retired state employees; require; 1/31/2014; House Second Readers
HB 0870 Tanner, Kevin; Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund; imposition of additional fine for reckless driving; provide; 2/3/2014; House Second Readers
HB 0910 Kelley, Trey; Community Health, Department of; authorize medical-legal partnerships; provisions; 2/6/2014 ; House Second Readers
HB 0913 Kelley, Trey; Community Health, Board of; persons having certain conflicts of interest from serving on board; prohibit; 2/6/2014; House Second Readers

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
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

HB 0990 Jones, Jan. To prohibit the expansion of Medicaid eligibility through increase in income threshold without prior legislative approval; 2/11/2014 House Hopper
HR 1039 Waites, Keisha 60the State Capitol and CLOB; accessibility by the blind and visually impaired; 11/25/2013 House - House Prefiled
HR 1087 Andrew Welch; General Assembly; dedication of revenues derived from fees or other assessments to public purpose for which such fees were imposed; provide CA; 1/23/2014; House Second Readers
Senate Bills
SB 0141 Beach, Brandon 21st; 'Patient Injury Act'; create an alternative medical malpractice litigation; 2/11/2013; Senate - Senate Read and Referred
SB 0163 Ligon, Jr., William 3rd; Community Health Dept.; required to study and

HB 0700 Waites, Keisha; Public facilities; State Capitol and CLOB; persons with disabilities; provide increased accessibility; 1/15/2014; House Second Readers

identify options for Medicaid reform; 3/28/2013; House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted

HB 0707 Spencer, Jason 180th; The Georgia Health Care Freedom and ACA Noncompliance Act; enact; 1/15/2014; House Second Readers

SB 0186 Ligon, Jr., William 3rd; Mental Health; provide for authorization of ambulance personnel to transport certain mentally ill patients; 2/21/2013; Senate Senate Read and Referred

HB 0743 Ralston, David; Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 -

SB 0191 Albers, John 56th; "Ava's Law"; provide definitions; certain insurance coverage

June 30, 2014; 2/7/2014; Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

for autism spectrum disorders; 2/22/2013; Senate - Senate Read and Referred

HB 0744 Ralston, David; General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June

30, 2015; 1/17/2014; House Second Readers

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

Read and Referred

HB 0745 Ralston, David; Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 -

June 30, 2014; 1/17/2014; 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

HB 0746 Ralston, David; Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - list; 2/5/2014; House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

June 30, 2014; 1/17/2014; House Second Readers

SB 0220 Hill, Judson 32nd; Public Assistance; provide for a pilot program; smart cards

HB 0747 Ralston, David; General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June for Medicaid program recipients; 2/27/2013; Senate - Senate Read and Referred

30, 2015; 1/17/2014; House Second Readers

SB 0291 Unterman, Renee; Georgia Adult and Aging Services Agency; create;

HB 0748 Ralston, David; General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 2/5/2014 ; House Second Readers

30, 2015; 1/17/2014; House Second Readers

SB 0292 Unterman, Renee; Alzheimer's Disease Registry; establish within the

HB 0754 Waites, Keisha; Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act;

Department of Public Health; 2/5/2014; House Second Readers

enact; 1/17/2014; House Second Readers

SB 0298 Murphy, Jack; License Plates; submission of a doctor's prescription;

HB 0760 Welch, Andrew; General Assembly; committees have ability to subpoena department and division heads to testify and produce documents for examination; provide; 1/21/2014; House Second Readers

application for a special parking decal for persons with disabilities in lieu of an affidavit; notary public not available; 2/3/2014; House Second Readers
SB 0329 Wilkinson, John; "Work Based Learning Act"; 2/10/2014; Senate - Senate

Passed/Adopted

Dates to Remember:
February is Self-Advocates Month at the Capitol Mental Health Day at the Capitol: February 19
Disability Day at the Capitol: February 20 Be There 4 Seniors Rally at the Capitol: February 26

SB 0349 Bethel, Charlie; Behavioral Health and Developmental, Dept. of; changes to the powers and duties; 2/4/2014; Senate Read and Referred
SR 0746 Unterman, Renee; State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias; express support; 1/27/2014; Senate Read Second Time

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