Senior Issues Newsletter 2011 Inaugural Legislative Edition House and Senate Calendar The House and Senate met for the first and second legislatives days on Monday, January 10th, and Wednesday, January 12th. They are in Recess for the week of January 17th through 21st to allow the Joint Appropriations Committees to hold budget hearings. Thursday, January 20th, (Capitol, Room 341) Aging advocates will monitor these hearings. 8:55 a.m. Opening Remarks 9:00 a.m. Dept of Human Services - Clyde Reese, Commissioner 10:00 a.m. Dept of Community Health - David Cook, Commissioner 11:00 a.m. Dept of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities - Frank Shelp, Commissioner 12:00 p.m. Department of Labor - Mark Butler, Commissioner 1:30 p.m. FY 2011 Federal Block Grant Hearings (GCOA will present testimony) The House and Senate are scheduled to be in session for the 3rd legislative day on Monday, January 24. Senate and House Committee Assignments Both the Senate and the House have released committee assignments for 2011, and we have some new faces in key leadership roles. The full Committee lists are available at www.legis.ga.gov website if you cannot access them with the links given below. Senate Committee Assignments http://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/SenateCommitteesList.aspx Appropriations Jack Hill, Chair Greg Goggans, Vice Chair Tim Golden, Secretary Renee Unterman, Chair, Human Development Subcommittee Rules Don Balfour, Chair Bill Hamrick, Vice Chair Jeff Mullis, Secretary Mitch Seabaugh Bill Cowsert, Ex-Officio Health and Human Services Renee Unterman, Chair Buddy Carter, Vice Chair Greg Goggans, Secretary Special Judiciary Curt Thompson, Chair Ron Ramsey, Vice Chair Gail Davenport, Secretary Judiciary Bill Hamrick, Chair Bill Cowsert, Vice Chair John Crosby, Secretary Transportation Jeff Mullis, Chair Cecil Staton, Vice Chair Steve Gooch, Secretary House of Representatives Committee Assignments www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/house/downloads/2011CommitteeAssignments.pdf The Senior Issues Newsletter is a publication of the Georgia Council on Aging, the Senior Citizens Advocacy Project and the Georgia Gerontology Society. Volume 32, No. 1 January 14, 2011 Appropriations Judiciary England, Terry Chairman (new) Willard, Wendell Chairman Houston, Penny Vice-Chairman, Jacobs, Mike Vice-Chairman Human Resources Subcommittee Allison, Stephen Secretary Parrish, Butch Vice-Chairman, Health Subcommittee (new) H Judiciary - Non-Civil Health and Human Services Cooper, Sharon Chairman Rynders, Ed Vice-Chairman Holt, Doug Secretary Golick, Rich Chairman Hatfield, Mark Vice-Chairman Byrd, Charlice Secretary HH Human Relations and Aging Purcell, Ann Chairman (new) Rules Meadows, John Chairman (new) Golick, Rich Vice-Chairman Maddox, Gene Vice-Chairman Mills, James Secretary Benton, Tommy Secretary Transportation Roberts, Jay Chairman Sheldon, Donna Vice-Chairman Epps, Bubber Secretary Governor's Budget Recommendations Released Governor Nathan Deal presented his recommendations for the budgets of FY 2011 Amended and FY 2012. His FY 2011 revenue estimate projects an increase in revenues of 4 % ($610 million). According to Georgia Budget and Policy Institute Director Allan Essig, "It seems highly likely that the fiscal year will end in a surplus of several hundred million dollars, which the governor has stated will be used to begin rebuilding the Revenue Shortfall Reserve." The budget continues most Department funding at the reduced 4% level which Governor Perdue required in August, 2009. The Governor's FY 2012 revenue estimate is a more modest 3.75 percent. Again, he plans to direct any surplus to the Revenue Shortfall Reserve. While the budget includes a substantial number of position terminations, he indicated that the positions are, for the most part, vacant at this time. Other analysts have indicated that the funding was still in use by most Departments to meet operational costs; so these reductions may be seen and felt in loss of services. Below are excerpts from the DCH and DHS budget document which detail funding losses. Department of Community Health FY 2011 Amended and FY 2012 Program Budgets Healthcare Facility Regulation :Eliminate funds for Adult Day Care licensure. (90,921) Department of Human Services FY 2011 Amended Budget Division State General Funds Changes Gov's Recommendation Elder Abuse Investigations and Prevention $11,749,971 $31,947 $11,781,918 Recommended Change: $31,947 1. Reflect an adjustment in the Workers' Compensation premium. ($1,886) 2. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. 11,288 3. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from the Dept Administration program to Elder Abuse program. 22,545 Elder Community Living Services $55,777,581 $410,856 $56,188,437 Recommended Change: $410,856 1. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. $2,644 2. Replace loss of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) from the ARRA Act of 2009. 2,186,602 3. Eliminate the contract with the Center for the Visually Impaired. (177,859) 4. Reduce funds for Alzheimer's Respite Services ($225,000) and Non-Medicaid Home Community Based Respite Services ($1,376,718). (1,601,718) 5. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from Dept Administration to Elder Community Living Services. 1,187 Elder Support Services $665,555 $1,200 $666,755 Recommended Change: $1,200 1. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. $607 2. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from Departmental Administration to Elder Support Services. 593 Council on Aging $186,578 ($9,190) Recommended Change: ($9,190) 1. Reduce funds for regular operating expenses. ($3,700) 2. Reduce funds for travel and contractual services. (5,490) $177,388 Department of Human Services FY 2012 Budget Division State General Funds Changes Gov's Recommendation Elder Abuse Investigations and Prevention $11,749,971 $132,894 $11,882,865 Recommended Change: $132,894 1. Reflect an adjustment in the Workers' Compensation premium. ($1,886) 2. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. 2,790 3. Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Employees' Retirement System. 109,445 4. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from Dept Administration to Elder Abuse. 22,545 Elder Community Living Services $55,777,581 $9,638,762 $65,416,343 Recommended Change: Total Change $9,638,762 1. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. $653 2. Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Employees' Retirement System. 5,380 3. Replace loss of the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) from the ARRA of 2009. 11,411,119 4. Eliminate the contract with the Center for the Visually Impaired. (177,859) 5. Reduce funds for Alzheimer's Respite Services ($225,000) and Non-Medicaid Home Community Based Respite Services ($1,376,718). (1,601,718) 6. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from Dept Administration to Elder Community Living Services. 1,187 Elder Support Services $665,555 $1,101 $666,656 Recommended Change: Total Change $1,101 1. Reflect an adjustment in telecommunications expenses. $150 2. Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Employees' Retirement System. 358 3. Redistribute funds for unemployment insurance from Dept Administration to Elder Support Services. 593 Other Change: Reflect the loss of federal funds due to the expiration of the ARRA of 2009. Total Funds: ($1,045,000) Council on Aging $186,578 ($4,187) $182,391 Recommended Change: $4,187 1. Increase funds to reflect an adjustment in the employer share of the Employees' Retirement System. $1,549 2. Reduce funds for Georgia for a Lifetime (Project 2020). (5,736) Make your voice heard! Join other aging advocates in upcoming events at the Capitol in support of funding for services for older adults. January 27th, 11:00 am, South Side of the Capitol Be There for Seniors Rally February 22nd -24th, 9:00 am-2:00 pm, South Rotunda of the Capitol Senior Week at the Capitol Continue to speak to your legislators through calls, visits, letters, and email. Encourage them to support restoring the following in the FY2011 Amended and FY 2012 budgets: $1,376,718 (almost 135,000 respite hours) for non-Medicaid HCBS respite services. $225,000 for Alzheimer's Services (20,500 hours of day care services) Continued the Nursing Home Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds support: $611,520 for Adult Protective Services (APS) and $1,000,000 for Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) programs. Information about specific legislation: Georgia Council on Aging (404) 657-5343. Bills and information about the General Assembly: www.state.ga.us/services/leg. Copies of bills: House Clerk's office (404) 656-5015.