Early this Morning

About an hour after sunrise, the House Appropriation Committee met to finalize their recommendations and vote on the budget for fiscal year 2012 at the Capitol. The biggest challenge facing legislators was the $1.7B shortfall in revenue this year. Our state budget is basically less that what it was in 2001, and our population has dramatically increased since then. Cuts that averaged about 7% per agency seemed to be the only solution for lawmakers to balance the budget. We understand the need for efficiencies and cuts but we need to advocate for a balance approach that includes new revenue as a practical solution.

Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities was spared any major cuts due mainly to the Department of Justice settlement. The Marcus Institute was originally cut a few weeks ago but restored this morning, and the House Subcommittee chaired by Representative Penny Houston also added 15 Medicaid waivers that are specifically for foster children with disabilities who are aging out of foster care.

Other good news within the Department of Community Health budget includes the restoration of dental, vision, and podiatry to individuals who use Medicaid and 33 slots for the Independent Care Waiver Program for people who have physical disabilities.

Senate Bill 391 and 22

Today, I testified in support of Senate Bill 391 for AADD to the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 391 would give youth who have developmental disabilities, have been charged with committing a crime,and are deemed incompetent to stand trial, an alternative and secure community based placement instead of a forensic setting.

The state is closing most of the forensic units for youth, and the Department of Behavioral Health is wanting to change to more community based type facilities to serve this small group of youth. The bill saves taxpayer dollars by keeping these kids out of more costly placements and provides treatment in the least restrictive environment.

The bill passed out of the Senate Judicial Committee today and will next go to the Senate Rules Committee.

Also, Senate Bill 22 made it out of the Senate Rules Committee and will go to the Senate Floor for a vote tomorrow. AADD supports SB 22 and believes that getting the state agencies together that provide transportation to people who are aging and people with disabilities would only serve to help create a more efficient system.

More tomorrow, as the Nurse Practice Act goes in front of a House Subcommittee. - Rita

You are invited to Unlock Legislative Day at the Capitol

WHEN: February 16, 2010

TIME: 10am-12pm

WHERE: Georgia State Capitol, Room 122


You are invited to Unlock Legislative Day at the Capitol
This is your chance to make an appointment with your legislator and help strengthen the message of Unlock for the 2010 session. Your experiences and personal stories need to be heard.

We will brief you on the Unlock message before your appointment and be there to answer your questions and offer support.

The Current Situation:
Georgia’s revenue has been in decline for the last 10 months – a 14.2% average decrease

To date, $3.2 billion dollars have been cut from state agencies

Why you need to attend:
Over 6300 individuals are on the waiting list for the NOW / COMP waiver. Nearly 4,000 are on the SHORT TERM list.

187 individuals are on the waiting list for the ICWP waiver.

Over 800 people with developmental disabilities remain in state hospitals; more individuals with developmental disabilities and / or physical disabilities are in nursing facilities.

RSVP
This event requires an RSVP by February 1 to Linda@aadd.org.

For questions, please call Linda Anderson at 404-881-9777 x 217. We have a limited amount of scholarships for travel, personal supports and childcare that are available.

Please let us know your needs when you RSVP.

Conference Call
We will host a conference call on February 12 at 11:30am to answer your questions and to review the agenda for the morning of the 16th. Conference codes will be given out when you RSVP.

Sponsors
Sponsored by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and organized by All About Developmental Disabilities in support of the Unlock the Waiting List Campaign.

See you on the 16th!

Rita Young
Director of Public Policy, AADD
Grassroots Coordinator, Unlock the Waiting Lists!

Notes From The Senate

Georgia State Senator Jack Hill of the Fourth District took these notes last week at the Capitol in Atlanta.


BY STATE SENATOR JACK HILL
4th District
January 22, 2010

Budget Briefings
Governor Sonny Perdue released his amended FY10 and FY11 budget recommendations to the General Assembly on Friday, January 15, 2010. During Senate and House Appropriations Committee hearings last week, lawmakers heard presentations from state agencies regarding their individual budgetary concerns and the impact that can be expected in FY10 and FY11.

In July, Governor Perdue announced a $900M reduction in the revenue estimate for the FY 2010 Budget due to the sharp drop in revenues the last 6 months of FY09. The 2010 Amended budget presented by Governor Perdue raises that reduction to $1.44B.

2010 AMENDED BUDGET PROPOSALS
The FY10 Amended revenue estimate is 7.3% below FY09 actual revenues and 8.5% below the original FY10 General budget revenue estimate of $16.99B. The FY10 Amended revenue estimate represents a 23% decline from the original FY09 General budget ($20.1B) proposed by Governor Perdue just 2 short years ago. Governor Perdue is now projecting a $1.44B shortfall for FY10.

To combat this shortfall, Governor Perdue has proposed an additional 3 furlough days for state employees and teachers, bringing the total to 6 for this fiscal year. This measure alone would save the state nearly $245M. For additional funds, the Governor has chosen to liquidate $140M from the Other Post Employment Benefit reserve fund designated for the health benefits of future retirees. The budget also proposes to shift the State Health Benefit Plan to a cash basis using $67M in funds set aside for bills that are funded from “Incurred but Not Reported” (IBNR).

Education
Governor Perdue has allocated an additional $92.8M to the QBE formula to fund K-12 enrollment growth of 0.67%. Although this is an increase, the Governor’s recommended budget reduced the QBE formula by $188M for the 6 furlough days. This paired with a $281M across the board reduction brings the total QBE base funding to a -5.6% reduction, although partially offset by federal stimulus funds to local systems.

The Governor has called for a $9.7M reduction in Georgia’s school nutrition program and a $4M reduction to its Special Needs Scholarship Fund. Pupil transportation would also be cut by $24.7M and the Equalization formula would decrease by 4% or $17.5M.

To meet increased growth in enrollments, the FY10 HOPE program includes an increase of $146,963 for the HOPE GED, $49.3M for the HOPE Grant, $2.1M for private school HOPE Scholarships, and $26.9M for public school HOPE Scholarships.

Higher Education
The Amended budget recommends a net cut of 7.76% to the Regents funding formula, a net cut of 7.48% to the Technical Colleges funding formula, and the elimination of the Guaranteed Educational Loans Program. $33.7M in Lottery funds would supplant State General Funds to finance the HERO Scholarship, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP), North GA Military Scholarship Grants, North GA ROTC Grants, and Tuition Equalization Grants.

Medicaid, Peachcare, and Public Health
Governor Perdue has designated $20.3M in additional funds to the Department of Behavioral Health for state hospital improvements and $8.6M in state matching funds for private hospitals to assist in indigent and uncompensated care.

The Governor has also called for an 11% reduction in Low Income Medicaid, a 3% reduction to the Medicaid Aged Blind and Disabled fund, and a 9% reduction to Georgia’s Public Health Grant in Aid, generating the state nearly $90M in savings.

Corrections
The FY10 Amended budget recommends the closure of Scott State Prison (closed August 2009), Bostick State Prison (May 2010), and the Bill Ireland Juvenile Facility (January 2010) for a total savings of nearly $20M.

Next week’s column will include a summary of Governor Perdue’s FY2011 General budget proposals.

JOBS PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYERS
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has received nearly $200M in federal stimulus funds to be put towards a temporary, subsidized employment program for 5,000 adults. All families with dependent children and incomes of less than 300% of the federal poverty level (approximately $60,000 for a family of four) are eligible to participate.

Employers who choose to participate in this program will receive an 80% subsidy for employing adult workers for up to six months at minimum wage or above. The subsidy expires September 30, 2010.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements please send all inquiries to:
Employers: TANF-Employers@dhr.state.ga.us
Job Seekers: TANF-Jobseekers@dhr.state.ga.us


I may be reached at
234 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-5038 (phone)
(404) 657-7094 (fax)
E-mail at Jack.Hill@senate.ga.gov
Or Call Toll-Free at
1-800-367-3334 Day or Night
Reidsville office: (912) 557-3811



Angela Touhy
Senate Appropriations
234 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-656-5038

Legislative Calendar for Georgia State Legislators During First Week

A look at the first week of the session

By Aaron Gould Sheinin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, January 10, 2010

Here's a look at what's happening as the 2010 session of the General Assembly starts this week:

Monday
At 10 a.m., House and Senate will convene.

In the House, elections are expected to be held for speaker and speaker pro tem.

In the Senate, dozens of bills are already on the calendar and could be debated.

Tuesday
Georgia Chamber of Commerce's annual Eggs & Issues event, 7:30 a.m. at Georgia World Congress Center. Gov. Sonny Perdue, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and the new House speaker are expected to participate.

House and Senate will both meet. House Ways and Means and Education committees will meet.

Wednesday
Perdue will deliver State of the State address, 11 a.m. in House chambers.

Perdue is also expected to release his budget proposal, although he has until the end of the week to do so.

House and Senate will both meet.

Thursday
House and Senate will both meet.

House Ways and Means, Education and Transportation committees meet, as well as a Judiciary subcommittee.

Friday
TBD

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/a-look-at-the-271773.html
© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ralston Elected, Declares A New Day in the House

Newly elected House Speaker David Ralston on Monday swore to restore Georgians' confidence in their elected officials and said "renewal is born from adversity."

By Aaron Gould Sheinin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 12, 2010

Newly elected speaker David Ralston (right), a Republican from north Georgia, and Rep. Calvin Smyre, the Democratic nominee for the post, exchange greetings during Ralston's official escort into the chamber.

Indeed, the first day of the 2010 legislative session was dominated -- in the House, at least -- by vows of renewal and new beginnings and promises of cooperation and bipartisanship.

"We are at a point that is both unprecedented and unexpected," Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) said in what amounted to an inaugural address following the House's 116-58 vote in favor of Ralston over the Democratic nominee, House Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus).

"We face great challenges. There will, no doubt, be obstacles thrown in our path. But I truly believe this chamber is filled with good leaders."

Ralston said he learned as a legislative page when he was in the fifth grade that "public service was both noble and honorable. I watched great leaders here that day do great work for the people that sent them there. I still believe public service is noble and honorable."

That sense of nobility and honor at the Capitol sustained a mighty blow last month when former House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) announced his plans to resign after his ex-wife told the world via a series of devastating television interviews that Richardson cheated on her with a lobbyist for a local utility company while championing legislation to benefit his paramour's employer.

Susan Richardson's decision to reveal her ex-husband's infidelities, as well as his need for attention and sympathy, did not cost only Richardson. It opened the floodgates on a month of rumor mongering and depictions of the Gold Dome as frat house rather than people's house. Lobbyists, especially female ones, have complained that the scandal has put them all under a banner of corruption. Indeed, veteran lobbyists said Monday that there were far fewer female lobbyists at the Capitol than normal.

The ripple effects of the Richardson scandal led the House and the state to Monday, through a convoluted order of succession that saw Rep. Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) gavel the chamber to order at 10 a.m. in a stint as speaker of the House that lasted about 12 days. Burkhalter was speaker pro tem when Richardson resigned Jan. 1 and thus assumed the speakership. But Burkhalter said he would not seek the job permanently, and Ralston beat out two other Republicans to win the job.

Burkhalter has plans beyond the Gold Dome. He said he's opening a London-based realty firm, but hasn't decided whether he will need to give up his seat, which he's held since 1993. After ending his first legislative day in charge, Ralston defended his chamber and his colleagues.

"This is not a frat house," he said. "These are good people, and I am intent that the people of Georgia know that I'm not going to let the actions of a few ruin the reputations of many." The House, he said, needs to change "substantively" and "symbolically."

Meanwhile, in the Senate, the first day was without drama. Senators met for about 40 minutes, taking little official action.

Following an opening prayer, senators lined up to shake Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s hand. Donzella James (D-Atlanta), the new and former senator from the 35th District, was introduced, after winning a special election for the seat formerly held by newly elected Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Reed was in the House gallery for much of the morning. Ralston, in his speech following the vote, said his promise of a new beginning extends to relations with the city of Atlanta.

"Atlanta has a great new leader, and I look forward to working with Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta to move all of Georgia forward," Ralston said.

Smyre, the veteran Democrat, said in a speech before the vote that he knew the outcome in advance. But his candidacy, he said, was about something far more important.

"I don't expect to win today by popular vote, but the mere fact that I am a candidate is a victory for democracy and the minority party," Smyre said.

"Spoils go to the winner," Smyre said. "But whether you win or lose, politics ought to be about an open and participatory policy. I don't suffer from the illusion of inclusion, but I do expect the decency of participating in this House."

That participation is more likely under Ralston, for whom 11 Democrats voted over Smyre. The new speaker is expected this week to roll out changes to House rules that allow for more dissent and more debate both in committee and on the House floor. Ralston also said he will announce new committee chairs this week, and several top lawmakers are expected to be removed from committee chairmanships.

Ralston said he will meet with key advisers this week and announce changes by Wednesday.

Joining Ralston in the new House leadership Monday was Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton), who was elected speaker pro tem. Jones becomes the first woman to hold such a lofty title in the House. Jones defeated Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) for the No. 2 spot in the House.

"I pledge to serve the new speaker and you, doing what is good and right for all Georgia," Jones said.

So, Monday was about change and starting over. Richardson's name was barely mentioned. Tuesday begins the real work and the real test for the new leadership, the House and the Senate.

"Georgians need to know now more than ever that their state government belongs to the working families and people of this state and not to the special interests," Ralston said. "We must embrace change because business as usual in this House will no longer be tolerated."

Staff writers Ernie Suggs and Nancy Badertscher contributed to this article.

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/ralston-elected-declares-a-272576.html

© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Legislature to Focus on Ethics in 2010

By Cameron McWhirter
December 19, 2009

On the first day of the 2010 Legislative session, expect the state Capitol’s basket for incoming legislation to be piled high with new ethics reform bills. Some have already been filed.

Nothing spurs reform like scandal, and the Georgia House had just had a whopper - the career immolation of Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).

Now, the crowd under the Gold Dome has taken a sudden interest in tightening rules.

“It has suddenly become very fashionable to talk ethics,” said David Ralston, the Republican caucus’ choice for new speaker.

He said he is looking for “real change” and would like to see a reform package, not just one bill.
Ralston said he has been flooded with ideas in recent days and expects a package of reforms to come out of the session. He wants to see limits on spending by lobbyists on travel and gifts for legislators. To set a positive tone, he said, he would ban candy and flowers from being delivered to the speaker’s office and no lobbyists will be allowed into the speaker’s office without an appointment.

He said also wants the Legislature to look at rules and laws so “you behave the way your mama would want you to behave.”

Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs), who heads the House Ethics Committee, said he’s ready.

“The [House] Ethics Committee is prepared to act immediately on any and all legislation,” he said.

Some changes being considered include:

- Severe limits on how much lobbyists can spend on gifts, food and trips for legislators. Georgia is one of only 11 states that have no limits, but such expenses must be reported. Limit proposals have ranged from $100 per event to no more than a cup of coffee.
- Permanent funding and an expansion of powers for the State Ethics Commission. Currently the watchdog panel must seek funding annually from the very body it is supposed to watch. And its role is limited mostly to responding to complaints and collecting disclosures. It does no auditing. Rick Thompson, the former executive secretary of the Ethics Commission who now runs an ethics compliance consulting business, said Georgia needs an ethics czar with more authority and more money.
- Expanding the state’s Open Records Act to include the Legislature. Currently, the House and Senate are exempt from the act so all correspondence and other records involving legislators is kept private.
- Imposing a period that departing legislators would have to wait before they could start lobbying.

Ralston said there used to be great resistance to such ideas from the House leadership.
“That’s all changed,” he said.

Ethics advocates are as excited as they have been in years that they can pass tough new rules.

“There is an opportunity for real change,” said Rep. Wendell K. Willard (R-Sandy Springs), chair of the House judiciary committee, who is revising his own ethics legislation to submit when the Legislature returns on Jan. 11.

Willard submitted a bill last year that would limit to $100 the amount lobbyists could pay for legislators when taking them out to dinner or to an event. Willard said few legislators were interested in his bill.

“It was dead on arrival,” he admitted.

He planned to resubmit it this year anyway– but he wasn’t hopeful. Then the Richardson imbroglio hit, and “lo and behold, all these things started to unfold,” he said.

But it’s a long and circuitous road from a bill’s introduction to the governor’s desk. Any such legislation will have to pass through committee rooms and hallways peopled by lobbyists and legislators less than eager for more scrutiny and restriction. It’s like sending Little Red Riding Hood through the forest to Grandma’s house. More than likely, she’ll run into at least one wolf.

Richardson probably would have blocked ethics legislation if he was still speaker. He was generally hostile to new ethics rules, open records or expanding public meeting laws. Ironically, he now has become the chief reason why such legislation has a good chance of passage.

When his personal problems exploded this fall, they exposed an unseemly world where powerful legislators carry on close relationships with lobbyists outside public scrutiny.

Richardson announced in November that he had attempted suicide because he was depressed over his failed marriage. He said he was recovering and planned to carry on as speaker. But then this month, Richardson’s ex-wife went on television and said he had an affair with the lobbyist for a company seeking passage of a particular bill. Richardson was a co-sponsor of the bill. Richardson’s ex-wife also accused him of threatening to use state agencies to harass her.

Richardson announced his resignation within days of the television broadcast.

Ralston said none of the legislation being considered now would deal directly with Richardson’s situation. If the allegations are true, what Richardson already violated ethics rules, he said.

“You can’t legislate good behavior,” Ralston said. “You can’t legislate common sense.”
Ralston said however, that the atmosphere at the Capitol in recent years led to a loosening of standards, and that atmosphere has to change.

“We definitely got off track, big time,” said Rep. Tommy Smith (R-Nicholls), who made a bid to be the next speaker but then dropped out before the vote.

Smith, who has been in the House for more than 30 years, said the Legislature needs to be more transparent in how it conducts business. He said the Legislature needs to consider including itself in the Open Records Act and other changes.

The Democratic minority in the House has already dusted of some of their bills and filed them for the new session. Their proposals include:
- No gifts for legislators of more than $25.
- Lower contribution limits for campaigns.
- Granting authority for the state ethics commission to investigate conflict of interests allegations.
-Adding an abuse-of-power clause to state ethics rules.

As the minority party, the Democrats are unlikely to drive any ethics reform this session. And Republicans are quick to point out that many of these ethics changes could have been made years ago when the Democrats controlled both houses and the governor’s office.

Gov. Sonny Perdue, who has pushed ethics reform in past years, may submit new legislation this year or he may let the Legislature produce its own, said spokesman Bert Brantley.

University of Georgia professor Charles Bullock, an expert on Georgia and Southern politics, said ethics legislation is a good thing to pass in this tight budget year because for the most part, “it doesn’t cost you anything.”

He said historically scandal has always been followed by reform. ?“It takes a scandal to get legislators to embrace this,” he said. “If there isn’t a scandal, they figure nobody’s looking.”
Thompson, the former Ethics Commission chief, said the overall goal should be absolute transparency, so voters can see how the people’s business is being conducted.
“No cloud, no fog,” he said.

While ethics changes are being bandied about, some urged caution. Stefan Passantino, an attorney at McKenna, Long & Aldridge who specializes in representing clients on ethics issues, said he thinks more transparency would be good, but he worries about too many rules burdening well-meaning legislators and lobbyists while not really stopping people from acting inappropriately.

“The wrong new rules won’t stop bad behaviors. It’s more likely to be a pitfall for those already trying to follow the rules.”

What actually happens in the coming months to change the legislator-lobbyist relationship from a last call slow dance to a ballroom waltz is anybody’s guess. But some kind of change is likely.
Ralston, who ran in 2008 against Richardson for speaker and lost his committee chairmanship as a result, said the scandal has shocked many voters, who want substantive reform.

“Georgians don’t want us to do this in a hasty way,” he said. “But they do want us to do it.”

Staff writer Aaron Gould Shienin contributed to this report.

AP Mobile. © 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

REPOSTED WITH CORRECTED LINKS: New Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

July 1, 2009 the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health was established through the reorganization of the former Department of Human Resources. We recently received an organizational chart and a guide to services for the new Department and attended the first Board Meeting of BHDD last Friday, August 28th. Commissioner Frank Shelp presented the budget proposal for fiscal year 2011. Take a quick look at the PowerPoint Presentation from the meeting.

New Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

July 1, 2009 the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health was established through the reorganization of the former Department of Human Resources. We recently received an organizational chart and a guide to services for the new Department and attended the first Board Meeting of BHDD last Friday, August 28th. Commissioner Frank Shelp presented the budget proposal for fiscal year 2011. Take a quick look at the PowerPoint Presentation from the meeting.

From: The Georgia Statewide Coalition on Blindness

News Alert
Legislative Caucus On Wednesday, August 19, 2009
GA State Capitol Room 307, Time: 11:00 am - 2 pm

The Georgia Statewide Coalition on Blindness is hosting a legislative caucus on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. The reasons are to give the state legislators a chance to hear from 1) Commissioner Kirby from South Carolina, 2) a gentleman who served on the Commission in New Mexico and now resides in Georgia and 3) Georgians who now live in Georgia, but have lived in states where there was a commission. They will share the differences in services from states that have a commission to their experiences in Georgia. We need all of you to call and invite your legislators from the House and Senate to attend this very important meeting. The time is 11:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Ga. State Capitol room 307.

If you do not see your legislators listed at the very bottom of this page, click here, then enter your address or you may click here for the full list of legislators, then search by name for complete contact information. You are welcomed to attend. If you know you and/or your legislator can attend, please email alice.ritchhart@comcast.net for a refreshment count.

Again please contact your legislators and request their presence for August 19th.

Thank you,
Alice Ritchhart, Chair
McArthur Jarrett, Co Chair

The Governor's Budget Address

Governor Perdue delivered his State of the State Address yesterday. Included in this address was his budget proposals for amended budget for Fiscal Year 2009 and his full budget for Fiscal Year 2010.

His speech can be found at on his website. Some highlights include:

The Governor thanked the legislature for working with his administration to help replenish the Rainy Day Fund, which now stands at $1.2 billion. In these budgets, Governor Perdue recommended using the maximum amount available for appropriation from the reserves, appropriating $187 million for the education midyear adjustment, $50 million in 2009 and $408 million in 2010. In 2009, a number of one-time strategies unavailable in 2010 will be implemented to balance the budget. Therefore, Governor Perdue recommended the largest portion of available reserve funds be committed to the 2010 budget.

Governor Perdue also outlined a proposal to restructure the Department of Human Resources. Currently, $3.8 billion is spent within DHR every year. The plan calls for the creation of a new Department of Behavioral Health which will include all mental health and addictive disease programs. The bill also establishes a Department of Health, a combination of the public health and oversight programs in DHR and the current functions of DHR. Remaining social services, such as Developmental Disabilities, Aging, DFCS and Child Support, will come together under a reconstituted Department of Human Services.

Governor Perdue will also introduce legislation to ask those who receive Medicaid payments to help fund the system. This proposal takes advantage of the fact that every dollar used toward Medicaid purposes draws down almost two additional dollars from the federal government. The budget will reflect, and an accompanying bill will propose, a 1.6 percent fee on hospitals and health insurance plans to, not only fill the hole in Medicaid, but also to do what the healthcare community has asked of Governor Perdue’s administration. This proposal will significantly raise Medicaid rates, particularly for hospitals; and in conjunction with the SuperSpeeder legislation, provide $60 million for trauma to sustain and expand the state’s trauma hospitals, EMS and trauma physician infrastructure.

Video of the Governor's Speech can be found here.

To see an update on the budget, go to http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/

Governor Perdue Cuts Revenue Estimates

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net revenue collections for the month of February 2008 (FY08) totaled $965,846,000 compared to $961,225,000 for February 2007 (FY07), an increase of only 0.5 percent. The percentage increase year-to-date for FY08 compared to FY07 is 1.9 percent.

Governor Perdue met with the leadership of both the House and Senate to discuss the revenue figures and his revised budget recommendations this morning.

For FY08, Governor Perdue is reducing the revenue estimate by $65 million from his original proposal. The original AFY08 recommendation was $332.6 million. In order to achieve a balanced budget, Governor Perdue identified an equivalent amount of spending to eliminate from his AFY08 recommendation. The reductions recommended include $40 million originally allocated for one-time equipment and technology infrastructure upgrades and $25 million in funding for school buses.

“All of these programs are worthy of funding and provide good value to the citizens, but we have to make difficult decisions on how to spend our limited resources,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I have proposed reducing funding across state agencies, even reducing programs that I have championed, because everyone and every program must share our collective burden.”

The Governor has made recomendations to cut the proposed 150 ICWP slots and the MRWP services in the FY09 budget.

The impact of the Governor's cut in revenue projections is yet to be fully understood. It will depend even more so on your advocacy for Unlocking Georgia's waiting lists for supports for people with disabilities is as important as ever.

For FY09, Governor Perdue reduced the revenue estimate by $245 million. The original FY09 recommendation was $21.425 billion. The equivalent reduction in spending recommended by Governor Perdue would be derived from programs across state agencies.

Other spending reductions Governor Perdue recommended are:

• Eliminating $16.9 million for funding the Governor’s Health Insurance Partnership.


• Reducing $47.2 million in Major Repairs and Renovations (MRR) for the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult Education. These projects would instead be funded through a bond package.


• Reducing the proposed raise for state employees, teachers and faculty at the Board of Regents and the Department of Technical and Adult Education from 2.5 percent to 2 percent. This would save $46.1 million.


• Reducing $44.1 million in additional funds into the Other Post Employee Benefits (OPEB) fund.


• Reducing $5.5 million in the Governor’s Very Important Parent (VIP) Recruiter Program from the original $14 million proposal.

In addition to the recommended reductions, Governor Perdue has asked agency heads to maximize savings by avoiding unnecessary travel, restricting hiring for non-critical positions and any other reductions identified by agencies. The Governor is also encouraging each agency head to enact strict approval processes for new expenditures, and has asked the Office of Planning & Budget to closely monitor budgets. These limitations on discretionary spending are intended to mitigate the potential impact of reductions in revenue collections for Fiscal Year 2008.

House Schedule

The following is the House schedule passed last week in HR1556

Friday, March 7, through Monday, March 10 in adjournment

Tuesday, March 11 in session for legislative Day 30
Wednesday, March 12 in session for legislative Day 31
Thursday, March 13 in session for legislative Day 32

Friday, March 14 through Monday, March 17 in adjournment

Tuesday, March 18 in session for legislative Day 33
Wednesday, March 19 in session for legislative Day 34
Thursday, March 20 in session for legislative Day 35

Friday, March 21 through Monday, March 24 in adjournment

Tuesday, March 25 in session for legislative Day 36
Wednesday, March 26 in session for legislative Day 37
Thursday, March 27 in session for legislative Day 38

Human Development Subcommittee Meeting - December 17, 2007

TO:MEMBERS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
Senate Appropriations Committee
Senator Don Thomas, Vice Chair
Senator Nancy Schaefer
Senator Greg Goggans
Senator Valencia Seay
Senator Johnny Grant
Senator Cecil Staton
Senator Steve Henson
Senator Horacena Tate
Senator Eric Johnson

FROM: Senator Renee Unterman, Chair

DATE: Monday, December 17, 2007

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

PLACE:341 Capitol

AGENDA:

Review of FY08 Amended and FY09 General Budgets for the Department of Human Resources

cc:
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
Trey Childress, OPB
Senator Jack Hill, House Budget Office
Senator Tommie Williams
Jill Fike, Senate Research
Senator Tim Golden
Merri Brantley, Senate Information
Bob Ewing, Secretary of the Senate

Unlock information: Senate Appropriations Community Health Subcommittee Meeting Notice

MEETING NOTICE:
Review of DCH FY09 Budget Requests

TO: MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

Senate Appropriations Committee
Senator Cecil Staton
Senator Tim Golden
Senator Bill Heath
Senator Eric Johnson
Senator Tommie Williams
Senator Renee Unterman
Senator Valencia Seay
Senator Don Thomas
Senator Regina Thomas

FROM: Senator Greg Goggans, Chairman
DATE: Tuesday, December 18, 2007
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: 341 Capitol

AGENDA:

Review of DCH FY09 Budget Requests

CMO Update – rate negotiations, etc.

DSH Update – funding formula changes

cc:
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle
Trey Childress, OPB
Senator Jack Hill, House Budget Office
Bob Ewing, Secretary of the Senate
Carolyn Bourdeaux, SBEO
Jill Fike, Senate Research
Merri Brantley, Senate Information
Tommy Hills, Governor’s Office

COMMITTEE MEETINGS - AUGUST 28 & 29, 2007

MEMORANDUM

TO: HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEES
FROM: SENATOR GREG GOGGANS
REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY CHANNELL

SUBJECT: COMMITTEE MEETINGS - AUGUST 28 & 29, 2007
PURPOSE: CMO UPDATE

The House and Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittees will hold meetings on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29, 2007 in Room 341 of the State Capitol. Details for the meetings are as follows:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
ROOM 341 CAP
AGENDA:
● Update from DCH
● Public Hearing

Sign-up sheet located in 245 State Capitol or call Tammy at 404-463-2247)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
ROOM 341 CAP
AGENDA:
● Update from CMO’s