Public Policy for the People: 16 January, 2018

 

public policy for the people enews

Volume 4, Issue 2 2018 Legislative Session January 16, 2018

Call to Action: Call your State Rep. Ask them to support the Governor's rec. for 125 new NOW/COMP waivers, and then ask for an additional 475 waivers for a total of 600 new NOW/COMP waiver slots.

Keep Up-To-Date

  • Catch our weekly phone call, every Monday during session at 9:30 am. Dial in at 1-888-355-1249, Code: 232357
  • Join our Advocacy Network
  • Read upcoming Public Policy for the People newsletters: 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26

Looking Ahead

2018 GCDD Advocacy Days

Jan 23: DD Waivers
Jan 31: Employment
Feb 14: Medicaid
Feb 22: Inclusive Post-Secondary Education
Feb 15: UNLOCK! Coalition
Mar 15: Medicaid

Click here to register online!


Be in the Know: Rumblings Under the Gold Dome

While the first day of the Georgia General Assembly got off to a rough start on account of anticipated freezing rain and downtown Atlanta traffic jams, things quickly got back on track with Governor Deal's State of the State Address last Thursday. Soon after he finished speaking, Governor Deal released his budget recommendations for Amended Fiscal Year 2018 & Fiscal Year 2019.

As you can see below, Georgians with disabilities did fairly well. There is a large effort underway in Georgia to provide services to youth with autism. However, with almost 9,000 Georgians on the waiting list for NOW & COMP Waivers, we know that there is still much work to be done! Due in large part to our advocacy work last session, DBHDD has created a multi-year plan to address the waiting list for NOW & COMP Waivers. We are still waiting on the final details of the plan to inform our advocacy work and will share more in the next issue.

Click here for a refresher on GCDD's Legislative Priorities.

Budget Highlights: Amended Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities:

  • $1,250,000 in additional funds for crisis services for children under 21 with autism
  • $1,153,042 in additional funds to develop capacity for behavioral health services for children under 21 with autism
  • Utilize $128,292 in existing funds for telehealth services and three positions for behavioral health services for children under age 21 with autism

Department of Community Health:

  • $1,043,766 in additional funds for electronic visit verification system for home and community based services
  • $1,118,589 in additional funds to develop capacity for behavioral health services for children under 21 with autism
  • Utilize $12,675 in existing funds for one program coordinator position for children under 21 with autism

Department of Public Health:

  • Utilize $159,105 in existing funds for telehealth infrastructure and one program support coordinator position to provide behavioral health services to children under 21 with autism
Budget Highlights: Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities:

  • $3,138,073 in additional funds for 125 NOW/COMP waiver slots
  • $6,054,113 in additional funds to annualize the 250 NOW/COMP waiver slots added last year per the DOJ settlement extension
  • $5,922,917 in additional funds for crisis services for children under age 21 with autism
  • Utilize $266,119 in existing funds for telehealth services and three positions for behavioral health services for children under age 21 with autism

Department of Community Health:

  • $894,519 in additional funds for an electronic visit verification system for home and community based services
  • $847,962 in additional funds to develop capacity for behavioral health services for children under 21 with autism
  • Utilize $962,022 in existing funding to support increased background checks for owners and employees of long term care facilities
  • $50,700 in existing funds for one program coordinator position for children under 21 with autism

Department of Public Health:

  • $100,000 in additional funds to provide screening and therapy for children under 21 with autism
  • Utilize $50,700 in existing funds for one program support coordinator position for children under 21 with autism

Department of Education:

  • $3,992,201 reduction in funding for GNETS due to declining enrollment/training/experience
  • $1,006,233 in additional funds for Preschool Disabilities Services to reflect enrollment growth/training/experience
  • $501,254 in additional funds for State Schools for training and experience

What are my next advocacy steps?


Learn the Lingo


Fiscal Year:
Different from a calendar year, the fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. It is how the state organizes its finances.

Appropriations Committee: The group of legislators in charge of drafting the budget. The House and the Senate each have their own Appropriations Committee.

How does a bill become a law?


Around Town with UNLOCK!

Greetings fellow advocates and welcome to our first UNLOCK! article in Policy for the People! As we gear up for the 2018 legislative session, we want to stress the important first step in the advocacy process, knowing your state legislators. We each have 2 state legislators based on where we live, one in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. They work for their constituents, meaning the people who live in the area where the legislator was elected. In order to help their communities, the legislators want and need to hear from those who live in those communities. That's you! Take a minute to click on the link provided below, insert your current home address in the space provided, and hit the search button to the right. Now that you know who your state legislators are, stay tuned for upcoming Unlock articles in Policy for the People for information and tips on how you can continue to advocate for what is important to you!


Who are my state legislators?

Other Days of Note:

Jan 24: Autism Advocacy Day with Spectrum
Jan 25: Insights Policy Conference with Georgia Budget & Policy Institute
Jan 31: Champions for Children with Independent Living Georgia
Feb 7 & 8: Senior Week with CO-AGE
Feb 8: Independent Living Day with the Statewide Independent Living Council
Feb 15: ICM Day with the Interfaith Children's Movement
Feb 26: Justice Day with the Georgia Justice Project

Tags: GCDD, Advocacy, public policy