House and Senate News: House Leadership — Speaker of the House: David Ralston, 7th; Speaker Pro Tempore: Jan Jones, 46th. Majority Leader: Larry O’Neal, 146th; Minority Leader: Stacey Abrams, 84th. 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, 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 2013 Session tackles the 2013 supplemental budget, referred to here as FY 2013A, (ending June 30, 2013) and the 2014 FY budget (beginning July 1, 2013). Earlier this week, the conference committee released their 2013A budget reconciling the differences in the budget approved by the House and the budget approved by the Senate; the conference committee’s report was then approved by House and Senate. This issue reviews that 2013A budget. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; FY 2013A The conference committee made one change to the DBHDD budget proposed by the governor – they voted to negatively adjust Adult Forensic Services by $237,500 to reflect actual employee start dates. No other changes were made to the 2013A budget for DBHDD, including the Department of Justice settlement funds. Settlement Funds for Developmental Disabilities—FY 2013A FY13 current FY13 Amended Family Supports for 1,350 Families: $4,648,400 $4,648,400 NOW/COMP Waivers (250 new): $19,846,352 $19,846,352 Crisis Respite Homes (9) & Mobile Crisis Teams (6): $11,917,681 $11,917,681 Education of Judges and Law Enforcement: $250,000 $250,000 Waiver Audits: $200,000 $200,000 DD Total spending: $36,862,433 $36,862,433 Department of Community Health; FY 2013A In the Medicaid Aged, Blind and Disabled program (ABD), the conference committee worked out several differences between the House budget and the Senate budget. The proposed $3.5 million reduction in state funds to be achieved by better enforcing the level of care required to qualify for long-term care and home and community-based services did not change. Funds will be reduced to reflect an unimplemented pharmacy reimbursement policy. . State funds: ($1,200,000) Total funds: ($3,499,563) Funds will be transferred from Low-Income Medicaid to ABD to reflect updated Medicaid projections. . State funds: $85,443,030 Total funds: $249,177,690 The conference committee also approved an increase from 2 percent to 10 percent in budgetary flexibility between Low- Income Medicaid and Medicaid ABD programs. The conference committee did not fund the new “Surplus to the Revenue Shortfall Reserve” program that had been included in the Senate budget. The conference committee also did not take a $6,500,000 reduction for unrealized prior year reserves that had been included in the Senate budget. Department of Human Services; FY 2013A In the Elder Community Living Services program, the $2.6 million reduction based on the capping of the CCSP waiver in October 2012 did not change. In the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency budget, the conference committee added $5 million to the Governor's recommended funds for the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute. Department of Education; FY 2013A In the Non-Quality Basic Education Formula Grants, the proposed cuts to Sparsity grants were eliminated. Funds for Residential Treatment Centers were reduced by 1%, a smaller cut than the 3% reduction proposed in the governor’s budget. In the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program, the conference committee approved increases for enrollment growth, Special Needs scholarships, and charter schools, a state and total fund increase of $167,087,739. That fund increase preserves $3,033,447 in Special Needs scholarships identified in the governor’s budget proposal to meet projected need. CALENDAR Mon., March 11–Thurs., March 14: Legislative days 31-34 Mon., March 11: House appropriations subcommittee meetings — Education (7:30 a.m.), Higher Education (7:45 a.m.), Health (8:30 a.m.), and Human Resources (8:45 a.m.); House Appropriations (1 p.m.) — all will meet in CAP 341. Weds., March 25: Legislative day 35 Legislation — HOUSE: HB 18: The "Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act"; to provide requirements for textbook publishers relating to electronic materials; to provide license requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers. Sponsor: Waites, K., 60. Status: Ed; House Second Readers. HB 67: To expand the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund provisions to authorize additional penalty assessments for additional violations. Sponsor: Culver, 145. Status: Judy; House Second Readers. HB 70: To provide for the waiver of one of the special needs scholarship requirements under certain conditions. Sponsors: Golick, 40; Coleman, 97; Setzler, 35; Lindsey, 54; Dudgeon, 25; Kaiser, 59. Status: Ed; House Passed & Adopted; Senate Read & Referred. HB 74: To require health plans to provide coverage for hearing aids for certain individuals. Sponsors: Edward Lindsey, 54; Doug Holt, 112; Mike Glanton, 75; Tom Dickson, 6; Tommy Benton, 31; Pat Gardner, 57. Status: Insurance; House Second Readers. 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 March 8, 2013 Volume 18—Issue 9 DAY 30, Crossover Day! Thursday, March 7th was the second-longest day of the legislative session, as both House and Senate strove to get bills passed out of their respective chambers. While the focus now shifts to those bills that did cross over, remember it is possible for a bill that did not make it to be attached to another piece of legislation that did cross over this year. Bills that did not make the Crossover Day cut will be alive for next year's session. One bright spot among the bills that did cross over this year: HB 78, adding protections for adults with disabilities and elderly adults who are at risk of abuse or exploitation. Earlier this week, the joint conference committee released its 2013A budget. Next week starts with House Appropriations Subcommittee meetings at which we should learn the recommendations for FY 2014. This week, we review the joint conference committee's 2013A budget. Remember, Moving Forward only reports the budget figures — for more information on Unlock the Waiting Lists!, go towww.unlockthewaitinglists.com. HB 78: Relating to the protection of disabled adults and elder persons, and reporting abuse or exploitation of residents in long-term care facilities; to change provisions relating to cruelty to a person 65 years of age or older. Sponsors: Wendell, 51; Jones, 47; Lindsey, 54; Abrams, 89; Cooper, 43; Houston, 170. Status: Judy; House Postponed. HB 119: To provide for enhanced sentencing of defendants guilty of crimes that target a victim due to the victim's race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Sponsors: Marin, 96; Waites, 60; Brooks, 55; Bell, 58. Status: JudyNC; House Second Readers. HB 166: The "Parent Protection Act"; to provide for leave for employees to attend school conferences and medical appointments; to provide that retaliatory actions are unlawful. Sponsors: Bruce, 61; Anderson, 92; Abrams, 89; Hugley, 136; Mitchell, 88; Holcomb, 81. Status: I&L; House Second Readers. HB 198: To provide for licensing of health insurance navigators under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sponsors: Smith, R., 134; Meadows, 5; Maxwell, 17; Shaw, 176; Abrams, 89; Gardner, 57. Status: I&L; House Passed & Adopted; Senate Read Second Time. HB 207: To authorize issuance of a special turkey-hunting permit and provide for an extended turkey season for young and mobility impaired hunters. Sponsors: Shaw, 176; Roberts, 155; Tankersley, 160; Williams, 168; Nimmer, 178; Black, 174. Status: NR&E; House Passed & Adopted; Senate Read & Referred. HB 242: To enact comprehensive juvenile justice reforms recommended by the Governor's Special Council on Justice Reform in Georgia. Sponsors: Willard, 51; Coomer, 14; Hatchett, 150; Nimmer, 178; Oliver, 82; Neal, 2. Status: Judy; House Passed & Adopted; Senate Read & Referred. HB 290: To allow employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members. Sponsors: Dempsey, 13; Benton, 31; Clark, 101; Brockway, 102; Kaiser, 59; Powell, 171. Status: HR&A; House Committee Favorably Reported. HB 299: Relating to tax returns, so as to provide for contributions to Special Olympics Georgia Incorporated. Sponsors: Watson, 172; Shaw, 176; Carter, 175; England, 116; Sharper, 177; Black, 174. Status: W&M; House Second Readers. HB 303: To provide that a person who has been denied a license to carry a weapon or has had such license revoked because of mental incompetency may reapply after five years. Sponsors: Gardner, 57; Jones, 62; Abrams, 89; Williams, 168; Fludd, 64; Holcomb, 81. Status: PS&HS; House Second Readers. HB 309 (Partner bill to SB 191): “Ava's Law,” to provide for certain insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders. Sponsors: Harbin, 122; Dempsey, 13; Ramsey, 72; Randall, 142; Neal, 2; Battles, 15. Status: Insurance; House Second Readers. HB 398: Relating to unfair or deceptive practices in consumer transactions unlawful, so as to authorize licensed personal care homes and community living arrangements to use certain terms. Sponsors: Mawell, 17; Channell, 120; Stephens, 164; Clark, 101; Martin, 49; Kaiser, 59. Status: HR&A; House Committee Favorably Reported. HB 461: To provide for a single administrator for dental services for Medicaid recipients and PeachCare for Kids participants; to require the Department of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such single administrator. Sponsors: Rogers, 29; Channell, 120; Parrish, 158; Cooper, 43. Status: H&HS; House Committee Favorably Reported. HB 546: To require the Department of Public Health to establish a pilot program to assess the need for and effectiveness of using protocol technicians in areas of this state which do not have access to a hospital; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for the design of the program. Sponsors: Beverly, 143; Watson, 166. Status: House Hopper. HR 24: To authorize the General Assembly to provide for additional penalties or fees for offenses involving illegal parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, operating a motorcycle without protective headgear, operating a boat or other watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and reckless driving; authorized to allocate such additional penalties or fees to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund. Sponsor: Kidd, 145. Status: Judy; House Second Readers. HR 107: A resolution creating the Joint Study Committee on Medicaid Reform. Sponsors: Sheldon, 104; Rynders, 152; Channell, 120; Parrish, 158; Cooper, 43; O’Neal, 146. Status: Appropriations; House Committee Favorably Reported. HR 527: A resolution commending the Governor of Georgia for refusing to implement a state health care exchange and requesting continued action for the protection of Georgians from the unconstitutional federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sponsors: Caldwell, 20; Turner, 21; Dutton, 157; Cooke, 18; Lindsey, 54; Hightower, 68. Status: Judy; House Second Readers. Legislation — SENATE: SB 14: To create a Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force. Sponsor: Unterman, R. 45. Status: HR&A; Senate Passed & Adopted; House Second Readers. SB 23: The "Stacey Nicole English Act," to aid in the location of missing persons who may be incapacitated due to serious medical conditions. Sponsor: Davenport, 44; Fort, 39; Jones, 10; Donzella, 35; Tate, 38; Butler, 55. Status: PS; Senate Read Second Time. SB 24 (Companion bill to HB51): To enact the "Hospital Medicaid Financing Program Act"; to authorize the Department of Community Health to assess a provider payment on hospitals. Sponsors: Bethel, 54; Jeffares, 17; Jackson, 24. Status: RI&U; House & Senate Passed & Adopted; Signed by Governor. SB 47: To provide that each individual accident and sickness health insurance policy sold shall provide coverage for treatment of dependent children with cancer and provide coverage for autism. Sponsors: Fort, 39; Henson, 41; Tate, 38; Sims, 12; Lucas, 26; Donzella, 35. Status: I&L; Senate Read & Referred. SB 50: Relating to absentee voting, so as to change the time periods for advance voting. Sponsors: Henson, 41; Ramsey, 43; Tate, 38; Butler, 55; Lucas, 26; Fort, 39. Status: Ethics; Senate Read & Referred. SB 62: To establish the Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Programs Overview Committee. Sponsors: Hill, 32; Shafer, 48; Unterman, 45; Miller, 49; Gooch, 51; Hill, 6. Status: H&HS; Senate Read Second Time. SB 115: To provide that performance data of students in certain placements are included in the resident school system data. Sponsors: Tippins, 37; Wilkinson, 50; Jeffares, 17; Williams, 19; Harper, 7; Millar, 40. Status: Ed; Senate Passed & Adopted; House Second Readers. SB 163: To require the Department of Community Health to study and identify options for Medicaid reform; to provide for a report on findings and recommendations. Sponsors: Ligon, 3; Albers, 56; Millar, 40; Loudermilk, 14; McKoon, 29; Crane, 28. Status: H&HS; Senate Passed & Adopted. SB 202: Formalizing procedures regarding arbitration agreements when a patient enters a long-term care facility. Sponsors: Unterman, 45; Mullis, 53; Chance, 16. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred. SB 220: To provide for a pilot program for the use of smart cards for Medicaid program recipients. Sponsor: Hill, 32. Status: H&HS; Senate Read & Referred. SB 236: To require insurers issuing accident and sickness policies in this state to indicate on their premium statement to consumers the amount of the premium increase, if any, attributable to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sponsors: Jones, 25; Murphy, 27; Harper, 7; Tippins, 37; Ginn, 47. Status: I&L; Senate Read Second Time. SR 12 (Partner resolution to HR 280): A resolution urging the Governor to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Sponsors: Henson, 41; Fort, 39; Tate, 38; Harbison, 15; Lucas, 26; James, 35. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred. SR20: A resolution requesting that all physicians include autism spectrum disorders screening in all well-child visits no later than 18 months of age. Sponsors: Donzella, 35; Davenport, 44; Orrock, 36; Henson, 41. Status: H&HS; Senate Read and Referred. SR 228 (Partner resolution to HR 389): A resolution requesting the repeal of the $100 billion federal sales tax on health insurance imposed by the Affordable Care Act. Sponsors: Shafer, 48; McKoon, 29; Hill, 32; Albers, 56; Loudermilk, 14; Ligon, 3. Status: Rules; Senate Read Second Time. SR 345: A resolution creating the Senate Select Alternative Funding for Medicaid and Other Health Care Federal Funding Committee. Sponsors: McKoon, 29; Unterman, 45; Shafer, 48; Gooch, 51; Dugan, 30. Status: Rules; Senate Read and Referred. SR 413: A resolution urging adult citizens of Georgia to strongly consider preparing an advance directive for health care that appoints their health care agent and states their treatment preferences. Sponsors: Orrock, 36; Unterman, 45; Hufstetler, 52; Ligon, 3. Status: H&HS; Senate Read & Adopted; House Second Readers. 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