In observance of Martin Luther King Remembrance Day, the General Assembly was in recess. Committee hearings continued on the FY14’ budget this week. In this issue, we will focus on the Governor's proposed budget for the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, DBHDD, and the proposed budget relating to the Department of Justice settlement agreement. Please see details below. If you'd like to follow the FY 2014 Amended Budget and the FY 2015 Budget through the General Assembly, the budget bills are filed as HB 743 through HB 748. 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: 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 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: 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 Below are the department’s budget summaries for FY 2015. To see details on how the budget breaks down for each program in DBHDD, please see the full budget documents available at http:// opb.georgia.gov. Department of Justice Settlement Funds for Developmental Disabilities; FY 2015 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. FY14 current FY15 recom. Family Supports for 2,350 Families: $6,520,400 $8,392,400 . $1,872,000 recommended increase NOW/COMP Waivers (1,150) $31,812,512 $40,339,177 (1,150 Waivers) . $8,526,665 recommended increase Crisis Respite Homes/Mobile Crisis Teams $11,917,681 $11,917,681 ( 12 Homes, 6 Teams) Education of Judges and Law Enforcement $250,000 $250,000 Audit of Waiver Services $200,000 $200,000 DD Total Spending $50,700,593 $61,099,258 . $10,398,665 recommended increase Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Budget Revenue Summary – FY15 FY2014 FY2015 current recom. State General Funds $945,720,771 $960,889,136 . $15,168,365 recommended increase Tobacco Settlement Funds $ 10,255,138 $ 10,255,138 TOTAL STATE FUNDS $955,975,909 $971,144,274 . $15,168,365 recommended increase Community Mental Health Services Block Grant $14,163,709 $14,163,709 Medical Assistance Program $25,507,365 $25,507,365 Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Block Grant $47,482,075 $47,482,075 Social Services Block Grant $35,981,142 $35,981,142 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant $11,568,720 $11,568,720 Federal Funds Not Itemized $ 8,616,517 $ 8,616,517 TOTAL FEDERAL FUNDS $143,319,528 $143,319,528 Other Funds $ 56,275,078 $49,945,009 . $6,330,069 recommended decrease TOTAL OTHER FUNDS $ 56,275,078 $49,945,009 . $6,330,069 recommended decrease Total Funds $1,155,570,515 $1,164,408,811 . $8,838,296 recommended increase 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 relation- ship 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 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. 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. Brought to you by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Moving Forward The Developmental Disabilities Advocates’ Guide to Legislation Jan 24, 2014 Volume 19—Issue 3 Moving Forward e-Updates available at http://www.gcdd.orgpublicpolicyindex.htm Dates to Remember: 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 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; 3/28/2013 - House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted 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 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 0700 Keisha Waites Public facilities; State Capitol and CLOB; persons with disabilities; provide increased accessibility; 1/15/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0707 Spencer, Jason 180th The Georgia Health Care Freedom and ACA Noncompliance Act; enact; 1/15/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0743 David Ralston Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014; 1/22/2014 - House - House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute HB 0744 David Ralston General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0745 David Ralston Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0746 David Ralston Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0747 David Ralston General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0748 David Ralston General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0754 Keisha Waites Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact; 1/17/2014 - House Second Readers HB 0760 Andrew Welch General Assembly; committees have ability to subpoena department and division heads to testify and produce documents for examination; provide; 1/21/2014 - 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 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 identify options for Medicaid reform; 3/28/2013 - House - House Withdrawn, Recommitted coverage for autism spectrum disorders; 2/22/2013 - Senate - Senate Read and Referred SB 0202 Unterman, Renee 45th Litigation code changes; 2/25/2013 - Senate - Senate Read and Referred 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 SB 0291 Renee Unterman Georgia Adult and Aging Services Agency; create; 1/16/2014 - Senate Read and Referred SB 0292 Renee Unterman Alzheimer's Disease Registry; establish within the Department of Public Health; 1/16/2014 - Senate Read and Referred SB 0298 Jack Murphy License Plates; submission of a doctor's prescription; application for a special parking decal for persons with disabilities in lieu of an affidavit; notary public not available; 1/21/2014 - Senate - Senate Read and Referred SR 0746 Renee Unterman State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias; express support; 1/16/2014 - Senate Read and Referred www.gcdd.org www.unlockthewaitinglists.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Capitol Impact Please stay tuned to the latest news by signing up for Capitol Impact and Moving Forward. 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