NCGA Legislative Update: Continuing Resolution 2.0

Laura Leslie at WUNC is reporting that there will be a second continuing resolution as budget negotiations appear to be nearing an end.

NCGA Legislative Update: Budget Negotiation Update

On Friday, Senate and House appropriations chairs and leaders met to agree upon a final budget spending figure. The Senate and House have agreed to a $18.9 billion dollar budget.  They have not yet worked out all the details regarding a revenue package that will raise $990 million in new money.

Here is a quick recap of what the two chambers original budget totals were:

Senate passed a budget that spent:
FY 09-10 $20,048,773,017  ($20.1 billion)
FY 10-11- $21,284,428,623

Senate included a tax package of $500 million in their budget.

House passed a budget that spent:
FY 09-10: $18,583,763,145  ($18.6 billion)
FY 10-11: $19,402,877,454

House included in their budget a tax package that raised $780 million. 

The new House and Senate agreed upon budget is set at $18.9 billion  which would increase the House budget by $300 million.

Three departments are targeted to receive restoration funding and the funding items will be at the discretion of the subcommittee conference chairs.  The three departments are Education, Justice and Public Safety and Health and Human Services.

Advocates will be working during the week to see that the Department of Health and Human Services receives a large enough portion of the restoration funding to ensure that critical services are not devastated by the current budget crisis.  To restore the worst of the cuts DHHS would require an additional appropriation of $150 million dollars.  This is the numbers leaders in the House and Senate will be hearing from health care advocates across the state.

NCGA Legislative Update: Senate Bill 208: People First is Now A Law!

The Arc of North Carolina extends its congratulations to the North Carolina Self Advocates Association on the signing of SB208: People First into law.

Today Governor Bev Perdue signed SB208: People First. The legislation will now be known as Session Law 2009-264.

Background What the Bill Does:

This bill directs the Legislative Services Office to incorporate into its drafting training of legislative drafters the preference to avoid language that implies that a person as a whole is disabled, equates a person with his or her condition, or is regarded as derogatory or demeaning.

To avoid any unintended consequences of altering existing legislation or creating legislation that would be in conflict with existing legislation; this bill will direct the General Statues Commission to recommend to the 2010 reconvened session of the General Assembly and to the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly any statutory changes and drafting policies needed to make the General Statutes and administrative rules refer to a person with a disability as a person first.

Legislation similar to this bill have been passed in New York, Nevada, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Several additional states have removed the term “mental retardation” from their Department and Division names.

Friday Wrap Up: Committee Meetings, Bill Updates and Other Information

After a long 4th of July break and a week where both sides met briefly to discuss the budget, it is clear that budget negotiations have reached a stand still.

The House and Senate appropriation chairs spent the majority of the week working on their proposals to the other chamber. There were no joint meetings between the Senate and House Appropriation chairs this week.

There are two main issues that have caused this stand still in the budget process. The first is the significant differences on how to raise revenue and the second is once the revenue package is agreed upon how will the additional revenue be allocated to Education, Health and Human Services and Justice and Public Safety.

The Finance Conference Committee chairs are also in a stand still regarding how to raise the revenue with the House and Senate firmly entrenched in their legislative proposals.
The Senate has a package that will raise around 1.2 billion dollars the first year by radically changing how taxes are collected. The Senate package would expand sales tax collections to services while over time lowering the rate. The House uses a more traditional approach including sales tax increase and an increase in income tax for the highest tax brackets.

In addition to the debate between the appropriation chairs and the finance chairs, this week Governor Perdue set forth her tax plan. Governor Perdue presented a menu of tax options that include a temporary one-cent sales tax increase and a two-year surcharge on individual income taxpayers making at least $500,000.

It was unclear as the week ended if the Governor’s call to go above the $1 billion dollar revenue figure had any impact on lawmakers. What is clear is that there is growing concern in the House that there may not be the needed 61 votes to get a revenue package passed that goes over the $1 billion dollar mark.

This weekend Senate and House Appropriation chairs will be remaining in Raleigh to continue the budget process. In the meantime, both the House and the Senate are preparing a second continuing resolution as the current continuing resolution is slated to expire on July 15, 2009.

NCGA: Budget Update

There seems to be little movement in budget negotiations between the House and Senate appropriation chairs.  There also is hardly any noticeable movement with the House and Senate finance chairs.  Basically we are experiencing a stalling budget negotiation.

Report on 2008 Disability Voting

The American Association of People with Disabilities released the following report on the 2008 election. The report indicates that due to the passage of the Help America Vote Act there was an increase in voting by people with disabilities.

Read the report here.

NCGA: Senate Bill 208 People First On the Way to the Governor

Yesterday the Senate voted to concur with the House on SB 208:People First. The vote was 49 Yes and 0 No votes.  The bill will now go to Governor Perdue for her signature. Congratulations to all of the self-advocates who have worked so hard to make this happen!

Legislative Victories: SB 526 School Violence Prevention Act

Last evening Governor Bev Perdue signed SB 526: School Violence Prevention Act into law. This was an amazing victory for disability rights advocates across the state! Congratulations!

NCGA: Senate Bill 208 People First Update

Senate Bill 208: People First will be on the Senate calendar today for a concurrence vote! This is the last stop for this advocate driven legislation. Next stop the Governor's desk. Congratulations to the many self-advocates in North Carolina who made this happen!

NCGA: Senate Bill 208 People First Bill Passes the House

Today the House passed Senate Bill 208: People First. The vote was 114 Yes to 2 No  votes. The two dissenting votes were cast by Representative Cleveland and Representative Brown.

This bill will now move back to the Senate for concurrence.

The Arc of NC: Legislative Victories!

Legislative Victory!

During this difficult budget crisis, we thought we would share some recent legislative victories that will positively affect people with developmental disabilities.
None of these victories would have been possible without the dedication of advocates across the state. We congratulate you are your work and your quick responses to our action alerts!

Here are the victories:
House Bill 672/Session Law 2009-191: Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SA

On Friday, June 26th, Governor Bev Perdue signed House Bill 672 into law. This important legislation requires LMEs that use single stream funding on a bi-annual basis to report on the allocation of services dollars and receive public comment during a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting. The bill also provides protection to state dollars used to secure HUD funding for group homes and apartments. The last section of the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Service to analyze the effectives of single stream funding and report back to the General Assembly.

House Bill 673/Session Law 2009-186: Support for Developmental Disability Services

On Friday June 26, 2009 Governor Bev Perdue also signed into law House Bill 673: Support for Developmental Disability Services. This bill will re-establish the waiting list for people with developmental disabilities.

This bill included many of the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine Study on Developmental Disabilities. The bill will re-establish a standardized waiting list for people with developmental disabilities who are seeking services.
The waiting list will collect data for people with developmental disabilities who may qualify for the following targeted services

a. Waiting for residential services.
b. Potentially eligible for CAP-MRDD.
c. In need of other State-funded services and supports for people with developmental disabilities.

The creation of this statewide waiting list does not create an entitlement to services for people on the waiting list.

This legislation also adjusts the reauthorization of person center plans for people with developmental disabilities to quarterly, semi-annually, or annually depending on the services that they are currently receiving. In addition the bill permits the Division of MH/DD/SA to begin the process of combining existing service definition to provide more flexibility with the new Tier 1 CAP/MR-DD waiver.

Action Alert: People First Bill Scheduled for House Vote! Call Your Representative Monday!!

Action Alert: Take Action Today.

Call Your North Carolina General Assembly Representative Today! Tell them to vote YES for the Senate Bill 208: People First.

Update:
On Thursday, June 25, 2009 Senate Bill 208: People First passed the House Health Committee. The full House will vote on this bill Monday, June 29, 2009. 

We need you to call your Representative Monday, June 29th!! Tell Them To Vote Yes for Senate Bill 208: People First!

Background What the Bill Does:

This bill directs the Legislative Services Office to incorporate into its drafting training of legislative drafters the preference to avoid language that implies that a person as a whole is disabled, equates a person with his or her condition, or is regarded as derogatory or demeaning.

To avoid any unintended consequences of altering existing legislation or creating legislation that would be in conflict with existing legislation; this bill will direct the General Statues Commission to recommend to the 2010 reconvened session of the General Assembly and to the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly any statutory changes and drafting policies needed to make the General Statutes and administrative rules refer to a person with a disability as a person first.

Legislation similar to this bill have been passed in New York, Nevada, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Several additional states have removed the term “mental retardation” from their Department and Division names.

Call Your Representative! Tell Them:

Vote Yes for the People First Bill
Senate Bill 208 People First-Bill Sponsor Senator Katie Dorsett

Tell Your Representative:

* This legislation was brought to the General Assembly by the Association of Self Advocates North Carolina, a non profit organization supports the concepts of self-advocacy together with self-determination of its members to help people with developmental disabilities take responsibility for their lives, and bring about change towards full inclusion in society.

* Words have power and inaccurate descriptors such as “handicapped” or “mentally retarded” can perpetuate negative stereotypes and create societal and attitudinal barriers.  

* People First Language puts the person before the disability. People First Language describes what a person has, not who a person is. 

* Using People First Language is the first step toward breaking down the negative stereotypes and social barriers that exist in our nation. This bill is an important first step toward recognizing in our state legislation the inherent worth and contributions of our states 1.8 million North Carolinians with disabilities.

* That this legislation will become the model bill for states trying to address changes in drafting legislation using People First language.

Find Your Representative:

Dispatch from Jones St: Thursday Budget Update

HHS Appropriation conferees are meeting right now with the full appropriation chairs. They are presenting their full budget. This meeting is closed to the public, however it may mean that they are almost ready to roll out the HHS conference report.

Once we hear what will happen next we will report it here.

Dispatch from Jones St: People First Update

Tomorrow the House Health Committee will hear SB 208: People First bill.  This is the last committee meeting for this bill before it heads to the House floor.  We will update with more information and an Action Alert after the meeting.

House Health-Room 544- 12 noon.

Dispatch from Jones St: HHS Budget Update

The House and Senate conferrees met today in an open meeting to inform the public of where they are in budget negotiations.  Many of the items in dispute are starting to be sort out but as of now there is nothing concrete to report.  What we can report as not in flux is that the Senate passed a Continuing Resolution today that would keep state government running past June 30th at 85% of its current budget level.

SB 311, the Continuing Resolution bill is not on the House calendar for tomorrow.  We will keep you updated as information becomes available.

Dispatch from Jones St: Victory!!! School Violence Prevention Act Goes to Governor

Today the House passed Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act with a vote of 58 Yes and 57 No.

The passage of this bill was hard fought! Included in the controversial enumerations were children with disabilities, children with developmental disabilities, and children with sensory disabilities.  Advocates across the state joined in the fight to protect our children and your voices were heard!  

Today this strong bullying legislation passed the House and will be presented to the Governor for her signature. 

This victory would not have been possible without the help of parents, students with disabilities, young leaders with disabilities and the larger coalition that supported and worked tirelessly to make this happen!

Congratulations to you all!

Dispatch from Jones St: HHS Appropriation Conferees Call Meeting

The HHS Appropriation Conference committee will meet today 15 minutes after session in room 425 of the Legislative Office Building. This meeting will be open to the public.

Dispatch from Jones St: Bullying Bill Update

Last evening the School Violence Prevention Act passed the House on second reading with a vote of 59 Yes and 57 Nayes.

Today the bill will be up for third reading. We still need your help! Continue to call your Representative and tell them how important this bill is for the disability community.

TAKE ACTION: CALL YOUR NC HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!!!

Today is the day the School Violence Prevention bill is scheduled for a House floor vote!!! We need you to Take Action NOW!!!

Action Alert: School Violence Prevention Act-Senate Bill 526

June 22, 2009

Today the School Violence Prevention Act will be on the House floor for a vote.

Now is the time to contact your General Assembly House Representative and tell them that you support this bill as it is written.

The bill establishes clear definitions of bullying and harassment and requires each public school district to adopt policies and procedures for dealing with incidents when they occur. The bill includes an enumerated list of categories/characteristics that, real or perceived, have been statistically shown to make students, teachers and staff more likely targets of school violence, including verbal, social and emotional bullying as well as physical harassment, threats, beatings, etc. Public support for the bill continues to be strong; polls are showing 69% of those surveyed support the bill as filed. In both polls, majorities in every category supported the bill, including self-identified Republicans, conservatives and those who live in rural areas and small towns across the state.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders:


“Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation.”



TAKE ACTION: Your General Assembly House Representative needs to hear from you TODAY!
ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

EMAIL or CALL your Representative NOW.

TELL THEM:

Vote YES for the bill! Vote NO for all amendments!!!

Call/Email your own General Assembly House Representative and tell them to vote for the bill and against any amendments that would strip it of the protections it extends to those most vulnerable students, and share with them the reason you support the bill; personal stories are incredibly powerful. Remember, constituent calls are the most effective way of influencing a lawmaker's stance on an issue, so please call and, if the House Representative is not available, leave a message with your name and contact number, and be sure to tell their assistant that you are a constituent and support Senate Bill 526/House Bill 548.

TELL THEM:

* SB 526 enumerates protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.

* To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.

* Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities.

* This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment.

* Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

EMAIL LETTER:

Subject: Vote for SB 526

Dear [write in your Representative name here],

I understand that SB 526, the School Violence Prevention Act, is up for a vote today.

I've seen the impact bullying has on young people. This bill will make a real difference in making our kids safer.

I urge you to vote for SB 526.

Those who oppose this bill are making a lot of claims about it. The fact is, this is about making all children safer--nothing more, nothing less.

Don't know who represents you/need contact info? Click here: http://ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

This week will be a busy one at the North Carolina General Assembly.  First we will continue to see the  budget negotiated by numerous conferree committees.  We will also see the House vote on the Bullying Bill and the House Health committee vote on the People First bill.

Here is your run down on this weeks meetings:

Tuesday, June 23
11:00 a.m. House Committee On Education, 643 LOB
HB 687 (Stam) TAX CREDITS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

12:00 noon House Committee On Health, 544 LOB
HB 823 (Glazier) LIMIT TOXIC FLAME RETARDANTS CONTAINING PBDES
SB 208 (Dorsett) PEOPLE FIRST


Wednesday, June 24
11:00 a.m. Senate Committee On Health Care, 544 LOB
HB 243 (Insko) MENTAL HEALTH/LAW ENFORCEMENT CUSTODY
HB 456 (Earle) TECH. & ORG. CHANGES/CERTAIN DHHS FACILITIES
HB 535 (Insko) HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE/LYMPHEDEMA
HB 1187 (Alexander, M.) DHHS TECHNICAL CHANGES/HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL
HB 1189 (Alexander, M.) DHHS/TRACKING OUTPATIENT COMMITMENTS.-AB

Dispatch from Jones St: Budget Update HHS

The HHS Appropriation Conferees are continuing their work on the budget.  As of  Friday, June 19, 2009 there were a few agreements between the House and Senate conferees but not a lot of consensus on issues such as SCHIP, provider rates or case management.

The Senate and House conferees adjourned for the weekend with no final plan for the HHS appropriation budget.  We are hearing that today there may be a meeting of this committee.  We will have more details when they become available.

Dispatch from Jones St: The Budget Still Under Negotiations

Leaders from the House and Senate continued to work into the evening last night on the Health and Human Services budget.  Many of the line items in the Medicaid budget were still under discussion by the time they broke at 10:45pm.

At the same time, the conferees for the Finance/Revenue package are still debating what the final numbers will be. If you have been following along at home, and we know you have been, the Senate never presented a finance package when they presented their budget.  Don't let that fool you, there was a package.

The House did present their package and it raised $784 million in new taxes. This restored some of the cuts but did not restore all the needed services for people being served by the division of MH/DD/SAS.

The Governor did request that lawmakers look to raise a total revenue package of $1.5 billion.

This is a very fluid process and we will keep you updated as changes develop. The HHS conferees will begin again today at 9:30am in room 415 of the Legislative Office Building.

Dispatch from Jones St: HB 672 Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SAS Update

Today House Bill 672: Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SAS passed the Senate Health Committee today with a favorable report and will be heading to the Senate floor.

Here is what HB 672 does:

-This bill has the support of advocates, providers, the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and LMEs.

-The first section of this bill requires LMEs that use single stream funding to on a bi-annual basis to receive to report on the allocation of service dollars and receive public comment during a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting.

-The second section focuses on HUD group homes and apartments. The General Assembly appropriates state funding to group homes to be used in conjunction with federal HUD funding. After the biennial this funding can be moved. However, in some cases the removal of our state funding to these group homes and apartments can jeopardized our agreement with the federal matching money and the HUD contracts.

This section of the bill will require LMEs to seek approval for the reduction in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services prior to adjusting any funding associated with HUD group homes or apartments.

-The final section of this bill will direct the Department of Health and Human Services to analyze the effectiveness of single stream funding in LMEs that have been working with single stream for a year or more. These findings will be reported to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services as well as the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee in the House and Senate.

We appreciate all the hard work of advocates who have emailed and called their legislators in support of this legislation!

Dispatch from Jones St: People First Update

What an amazing day today has been for disability rights advocates! This morning the School Violence Prevention Act made it out of its final committee and is headed for the House floor and this afternoon SB208 People First bill made it out of the House State Government committee and may also be headed for the House floor!!!

Congratulations to everyone who has worked so very hard on these bills.  We need you to make your voices heard over the next day by calling your Representatives and asking them to support both of these bills.

Dispatch from Jones St: HB673 Is on the Way to Governor Perdue

Congratulations advocates! Today HB 673: Support for Developmental Disability Services passed it concurrence vote 112 Yes to 0 Nayes and is on its way to Governor Bev Perdue!

Here is what the bill will do for people with developmental disabilities:

-HB 673 includes many of the recommendations from the Institute of Medicine Study on Developmental Disabilities. The Institute of Medicine Study on Developmental Disabilities was legislated by the General Assembly during the 2008 short session.

-This bill will re-establish a standardized waiting list for people with developmental disabilities who are seeking services. This wait list will provide the necessary data collection to be used by the state and members of the General Assembly to effectively serve people with developmental disabilities.

The waiting list will collect data for people with developmental disabilities who may qualify for the following targeted services
a. Waiting for residential services.
b. Potentially eligible for CAP-MRDD.
c. In need of other State-funded services and supports for people with developmental disabilities.

-This bill directs the Secretary of DHHS to develop and adopt rules governing a statewide data system that will be used to for statewide planning.

-The creation of the statewide waiting list data system does not create an entitlement to services for people on the waiting list.

-This legislation also adjusts the reauthorizing person center plans for people with developmental disabilities to quarterly, semi-annually, or annually depending on the services that they are currently receiving.

-The combining of existing services definitions permits for more flexibility with the new Tier 1 CAP/MR-DD waiver in addressing the needs of people with developmental disabilities.

The Arc of North Carolina extends our thanks to all of our bill sponsors, especially Representative Beverly Earle who was the bills champion.  

Dispatch from Jones St: School Violence Prevention Act Passes House Judiciary Committee

The School Violence Prevention Act passed the House Judiciary 1 Committee today with a vote of 9 in favor to 5 opposed.  This important legislation will now move to the House floor for a full vote.

Take Action Now..call your House Representative and tell them to vote YES for this bill and NO for all amendments. Please see action alert for more information.

TAKE ACTION: CALL YOUR NC HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!!!

Action Alert: School Violence Prevention Act-Senate Bill 526

June 16, 2009

Today the School Violence Prevention Act will be heard House Judiciary 1Committee.

Now is the time to contact your General Assembly House Representative and tell them that you support this bill as it is written.

The bill establishes clear definitions of bullying and harassment and requires each public school district to adopt policies and procedures for dealing with incidents when they occur. The bill includes an enumerated list of categories/characteristics that, real or perceived, have been statistically shown to make students, teachers and staff more likely targets of school violence, including verbal, social and emotional bullying as well as physical harassment, threats, beatings, etc. Public support for the bill continues to be strong; polls are showing 69% of those surveyed support the bill as filed. In both polls, majorities in every category supported the bill, including self-identified Republicans, conservatives and those who live in rural areas and small towns across the state.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders:

“Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation.”



TAKE ACTION: Your General Assembly House Representative needs to hear from you TODAY!
ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

EMAIL or CALL your Representative NOW.

TELL THEM:

Vote YES for the bill! Vote NO for all amendments!!!

Call/Email your own General Assembly House Representative and tell them to vote for the bill and against any amendments that would strip it of the protections it extends to those most vulnerable students, and share with them the reason you support the bill; personal stories are incredibly powerful. Remember, constituent calls are the most effective way of influencing a lawmaker's stance on an issue, so please call and, if the House Representative is not available, leave a message with your name and contact number, and be sure to tell their assistant that you are a constituent and support Senate Bill 526/House Bill 548.

TELL THEM:

* SB 526 enumerates protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.

* To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.

* Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities.

* This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment.

* Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

Don't know who represents you/need contact info? Click here: http://ncleg.net/GIS/RandR07/Representation.html

Dispatch from Jones St: Busy Policy Week at the General Assembly

This week many of the bills that The Arc of North Carolina have been actively supporting will be either in committees or on the floor of the House. Here is a brief run down of what is happening:

Tuesday, June 16th:

Bullying Bill:

House J1 will hear the School Violence Prevention Act. This bill is in its final committee hearing. If it passes J1 it will go to the House floor for a full vote. You can help make this happen by making a phone call or email today. An Action Alert will be posted soon on this blog.

People First:

Also on Tuesday, June 16th the People First Bill will be in House State Government at 2pm. This bill passed the Senate (48 Yes and 0 Nayes) and had strong bi-partisan support.

Support Services for Developmental Disability Services-Wait List Bill:

Again today we will see the House vote on concurrence with the Senate on HB673. This is the last stop for this bill. This legislation will re-establish a wait list for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We expect the Governor to sign this legislation.

State Accountability Bill:

On Wednesday, June 17th this bill will be in the Senate Health Committee. This will be the last committee hearing on this bill before heading to the Senate floor.

Lots happening and we will keep you updated during the week on the progress of these important bills.

NCGA News Update: WRAL Reports on the Budget

Here is a good link to the budget situation. Thanks to WRAL.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Budget Update Finance Committee

The House Finance Committee has recessed for House Caucus. We are expecting the House Finance Committee to start up again around 7pm this evening and we are expecting several amendments and possible changes to the revenue package that passed last night.

We will update as we are able.

Also...we are hearing that the House Appropriation bill will be on the floor this evening for its first reading.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Budget Update This Evening

Last night at 11:00 the House Appropriations committee passed it\'s version of the budget with out new revenue. Earlier in the evening the Finance Committee passed a revenue package with slightly less than 800 million dollars in tax increases.

Today the Appropriations subcommittee restored some of the worst cuts in MHDDSA and Medicaid but know it doesn’t go far enough. Your calls are still important for the House process. Please keep them coming. The legislative process still has a long way to go including a conference with the Senate so although this is not the outcome we want we are making progress. Our voice is the only thing that will change this. Look for updates on the budget and actions needed. If you have questions please feel free to call the office 800-662-8706 and ask to speak with Dave, Ellen or Linda. Keep up the good work.


Wednesday June 10, 2009 4:00pm

Some good news. But a long way to go. Here is what was voted on in the House today.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
LME System Management Funds 4M Restored
CAP MR DD State Supplement 8M Restored
MHDDSA State Funded Services full 50M Restored
Provider Rate Cuts was 5.5 percent cut now 3.3 percent cut
Voc Rehab Case Services fully Restored
Voc Rehab Funds for Independent Living fully Restored
PT and OT and Speech and Medicaid Funding fully Restored
Orthotics and Prosthetics Coverage fully Restored
Adult Optical fully Restored
Dental and Medicaid Coverage fully Restored
Dental Policy Adjustments !

fully Restored
In Home Personal Care was cut 49M now 34M cut

EDUCATION FUNDING
Restored for Fiscal Year 09, 2010 355,000,000
Restored for Fiscal Year 10, 2011 416,000,000

At Risk Student Services Fully Restored
Low Wealth Supplemental Funding Fully Restored
Instructional Support Fully Restored
K to 3 Class Size Restored to 08 09 school yr level

The Finance Committee will continue to work on the Revenue package, so keep on Making Calls.

Dispatch from Jones St: House HHS Appropriation Subcommittee Meeting Today

We are currently sitting in room 643 of the LOB waiting for the House HHS Appropriation Subcommittee to get started with its work on the new target numbers. These targets are based on if the revenue package gets rolled into the budget.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Budget Progress Update

The House budget made some more forward progress today by getting a favorable report from House Pensions and we are waiting to hear when the House Finance committee will meet. The members need to roll the finance bill into the appropriations bill.  Normally, the House would then move the budget to floor but we are seeing a slight delay in the political process right now.

Just a quick civics lesson: this budget is a long way from finished. The House and Senate will have very different bills and there will need to be a conference committee seated to negotiate those difference. We are in for a long fight and your voices will be needed every step of the way.

You are being heard so keep up the great work!

Here is what we need you to continue to do: We need you to keep up your phone calls and emails and we need you to keep telling your stories.

We will being posting more information as we go through the day so keep checking in.

How Do These Budget Cuts Affect Real Lives

The House proposed budget cuts will devastate our community health system. Here is a video that gives personal testimony about how these cuts will harm people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Real Lives/Real Cuts

Dispatch from Jones St:House Appropriation Committee Has Recessed

House Appropriation Committee has recessed until after session. There are sixty four amendments that will be heard today. However, just a quick reminder there is still no revenue package.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Appropriation and House Finance Back to Work

House Appropriation and House Finance are back to work. 

Appropriations is still working through the budget and special provisions for each subcommittee and Finance is still debating a revenue package.

Dispatch from Jones St:House Budget Update-HHS Budget is Up Now

The co-chairs of the House HHS Subcommittee are presenting their budget right now.

Dispatch from Jones St:House Finance Committee Update

Quick report on the House Finance Committee process-the revenue bill is HB1588. It is not on line yet but should be at some point today.  This revenue bill would raise $940 million in new revenue.

If this happens here is the information on how the new revenue would be cover some budget cuts in Education and HHS.

Education:

Restoration reserve would be directed as follows-$352 million (FY09-10) and $397.9 (FY10-11)

Funds would be directed to:

-Public School Teachers in the Classroom K-3

-Funds for At-Risk children and Low Wealth Supplemental Funding

-Community College Tuition Waivers

-Community College Equipment ($10 million dollars)

-University Personnel

-Instructional Support Personnel and School Building Administrators

Health and Human Services:

Restoration reserve would be directed as follows-$288 million (FY09-10) and $309.7 million (FY10-11)

Funds would be directed to:

-Medicaid and Services such as Physical and Occupational Therapy

-Various Provider Rates

-Mental Health Services to Communities

-Smart Start

-Personal Care Services

-Dental Services-Adult and Child Oral Health

If you are trying to locate HB1588 on the NC General Assembly Website you will find a bill with very different information in it. The revenue bill has not yet passed the Finance Committee and so the bill language has not yet been updated.

Dispatch from Jones St: Update House Full Appropriation Meets Now

The co-chairs of the Education Subcommittee for the House are continuing to review their committee report with the full appropriations committee.

Meanwhile..House Finance is still working on the revenue bill and apparently there are some objections to the increased tax beer and the highest income tax bracket. 

Dispatch from Jones St: House Full Appropriation Meets Now

The House full appropriation committee meets today in room 643 this morning at 8:30am.  The House will be running a series of amendments.

Yesterday the House Democratic Caucus met to discuss a revenue package that would include a 1/4 cent sales tax, adjustments to personal income tax, and sin taxes. The current package raises $940 million dollars in new revenue. This does not even begin to cover the state deficit but at least it is a start.

ACTION ALERT: TAKE ACTION TODAY!!!

Budget Cuts Proposed by House will Destroy North Carolina!

There is no way to overstate the dire nature of the proposed House budget cuts:
-People will die
-Tens of thousands of North Carolinians will lose their jobs
-Our education and human service system will be destroyed

On Thursday, June 4th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee forwarded “their recommendations” to the full Appropriations Committee. Their recommendations come with no vote or real support. Many House members now state publicly that a “revenue” (tax) package is needed to offset these cuts.

In Health and Human Services alone, the proposed cuts, when federal matching dollars are taken into account, will equal over three billion dollars!

These HHS cuts would most likely result in:
An actual reduction of services to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse of close to one billion dollars
Homelessness
Family and individual crisis
Jeopardizing the health and safety of tens of thousands of people
Job losses for 50-90 thousand North Carolinians

In education, the cuts will:
Increase class size
Eliminate thousands of teaching positions, and most support services
We believe these cuts will end all inclusion programs and enhanced services for students with disabilities.

These cuts will destabilize our social service network with unintended consequences too horrific to imagine!

Action Needed!
Because of the huge public outcry last week, House members are beginning to think twice about their actions, but without continued calls, they will proceed with these cuts.

The week, we need you, your friends, family and neighbors to:
CALL THE CHAIRS OF THE FULL HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.

House Appropriations Chairs:

Rep. Henry Michaux, Jr. 919.715.2528
Rep. Alma Adams 919.733.5902
Rep. Martha Alexander 919.733.5807
Rep. James Crawford, Jr. 919.733.5824
Rep. R. Phillip Haire 919.715.3005
Rep. Maggie Jeffus 919.733.5191
Rep. Joe Tolson 919.715.3024
Rep. Douglas Yongue 919.733.5821

Office of the Governor:

Gov. Bev Perdue 919.733.4240

The message is simple:
Stop these horrific cuts – raise taxes to avoid destroying North Carolina.

If you need talking points, a few things to mention:
Cutting Medicaid Personal Care by half forces people into institutions.
Cutting state funded developmental disability services eliminates crises and safety net services.
Eliminating PT/OT and ST for Medicaid is cruel and will result in wasted lives.
Freezing the CAP-MR/DD program destroys hope.
Not only do these cuts destroy our Human Service system, they also send the economy into a deeper recession because of job losses.

Act this week – your call will make a difference. Every single call makes a difference!

Check The Arc of North Carolina’s web page for additional talking points throughout the week. Go to www.arcnc.org

Come to Raleigh on June 17th to join others to lobby your legislators on these issues! More details will follow but for now hold that date.

Also be sure to go to The Arc of NC’s webpage and read the latest edition of The Arc Works! our electronic newsletter. 

Thank you for your advocacy! Please make the calls. Every single call makes a difference.

Dispatch from Jones St: House HHS Appropriation Committee Update

Right now the House HHS Appropriation Subcommittee is debating the budget. This debate is being lead by the Republican members. Representative Barnhart and Representative Dollar are currently questioning how specific cuts are being handled. 

Dispatch from Jones St: House HHS Appropriation Committee Update

The House HHS Appropriation Subcommittee will vote on their proposed budget immediately following the House session.

This budget will devastate community based health services. This budget will put real people at risk. It will cause significant and wide spread job loss in our state.  This budget will put families in crisis.

We need you to continue making the calls and emails. They are working! Your stories and your concerns are being heard!

ACTION ALERT: CALL THESE HOUSE MEMBERS TODAY!

Action Needed!
More Calls Needed!
June 3, 2009

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Today Americans for Prosperity will hold their annual "anti-tax" rally  at the General Assembly. We need to make sure that the members of the General Assembly continue to hear our message loud and clear!  We can not cut our way out of this deficit!!  

The programs that are being cut help keep our families stable and our children healthy! These important programs employee thousands of people who will loose their jobs if this devastating budget passes the House HHS Appropriation subcommittee!  

Tell the members of the HHS Appropriation Subcommittee to vote NO! 

Tell them to raise taxes!!! 

We need you to make more calls!!  Write more emails!!! Do it now!!!!

If you called yesterday, call again today!

Budget Update 6/2/09
Today in the HHS budget subcommittee meeting, the Chairs proposed an additional 250 million dollars in cuts to meet the fiscal targets. The cuts were in two primary areas adding an additional 1.5% cut in rates for Medicaid providers and a 10 million dollar cut in Personal Care in Group Homes and rest homes. They also eliminate Medicaid funding for PT, OT and Speech therapy. These cuts continue the trend of cutting services to NC citizens and driving our state further into recession. Despite these additional cuts, we do know your calls are having an impact. In today’s meeting, several legislators did state they could not vote for a budget with this degree of cuts.

We need you to continue the calls that you are making to the leadership! For them the message that a tax increase is preferable to these cuts is critical.

For those of you who have a legislator on the HHS appropriations Subcommittee, we need to have calls to these members asking them to vote against these proposals and support a tax increase to offset these cuts! The members of the committee are listed below. These folks need calls from their community!

On Thursday the committee is scheduled to vote. It would be great if we had the room full of families and people with disabilities. If the committee is to vote yes on this, they need to see the people they will affect. The committee is scheduled to meet after session which we think will be around mid-day. 

Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
Representative Verla Insko-Orange County
Phone: 919-733-7208
Verla.Insko@ncleg.net

Representative Beverly Earle-Mecklenburg County
Phone: 919-715-2530
Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net

Representative Bob England-Rutherford County
Phone: 919-733-5749
Bob.England@ncleg.net


Representative Jeff Barnhart-Cabarrus County
Phone: 919-715-2009
Jeff.Barnhart@ncleg.net

Representative William D. Brisson-Bladen and Cumberland County
Phone: 919-733-5772
William.Brisson@ncleg.net

Representative Justin Burr – Stanly County
Phone: 919-733-5908
Justin.Burr@ncleg.net

Representative Pearl Burris-Floyd –Gaston County
Phone: 919-715-2002
Pearl.Burris-Floyd@ncleg.net

Representative Nelson Dollar – Wake County
Phone: 919-715-0795
Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net

Representative Wil Neumann – Gaston County
Phone: 919-733-5868
Wil.Neumann@ncleg.net


Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield-Wilson County
Phone: 919-733-5898
Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net

Representative Randy Stewart
Phone: 919-733-5802
Randy.Stewart@ncleg.net

Dispatch from Jones St: Together NC Press Conference

Yesterday The Arc of North Carolina participated in the Together NC Press Conference.  This coalition of over 80 no-profit organizations is calling for the Governor, Senate and House to propose a realistic and balanced revenue package that will protect the needed services for the most vulnerable in our state.

Here are a few news articles from that press conference:

Charlotte Observer

Fitzsimon File

News and Observer

News 14-Time Warner Cable

ACTION ALERT: MORE CALLS NEEDED!!! TAKE ACTION NOW!

Action Needed!
More Calls Needed!
June 2, 2009

If you called yesterday, call again today!

Budget Update 6/2/09
Today in the HHS budget subcommittee meeting, the Chairs proposed an additional 250 million dollars in cuts to meet the fiscal targets. The cuts were in two primary areas adding an additional 1.5% cut in rates for Medicaid providers and a 10 million dollar cut in Personal Care in Group Homes and rest homes. They also eliminate Medicaid funding for PT, OT and Speech therapy. These cuts continue the trend of cutting services to NC citizens and driving our state further into recession. Despite these additional cuts, we do know your calls are having an impact. In today’s meeting, several legislators did state they could not vote for a budget with this degree of cuts.

We need you to continue the calls that you are making to the leadership! For them the message that a tax increase is preferable to these cuts is critical.

For those of you who have a legislator on the HHS appropriations Subcommittee, we need to have calls to these members asking them to vote against these proposals and support a tax increase to offset these cuts! The members of the committee are listed below. These folks need calls from their community!

On Thursday the committee is scheduled to vote. It would be great if we had the room full of families and people with disabilities. If the committee is to vote yes on this, they need to see the people they will affect. The committee is scheduled to meet after session which we think will be around mid-day. 

Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
Representative Verla Insko-Orange County
Phone: 919-733-7208
Verla.Insko@ncleg.net

Representative Beverly Earle-Mecklenburg County
Phone: 919-715-2530
Beverly.Earle@ncleg.net

Representative Bob England-Rutherford County
Phone: 919-733-5749
Bob.England@ncleg.net


Representative Jeff Barnhart-Cabarrus County
Phone: 919-715-2009
Jeff.Barnhart@ncleg.net

Representative William D. Brisson-Bladen and Cumberland County
Phone: 919-733-5772
William.Brisson@ncleg.net

Representative Justin Burr – Stanly County
Phone: 919-733-5908
Justin.Burr@ncleg.net

Representative Pearl Burris-Floyd –Gaston County
Phone: 919-715-2002
Pearl.Burris-Floyd@ncleg.net

Representative Nelson Dollar – Wake County
Phone: 919-715-0795
Nelson.Dollar@ncleg.net

Representative Wil Neumann – Gaston County
Phone: 919-733-5868
Wil.Neumann@ncleg.net


Representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield-Wilson County
Phone: 919-733-5898
Jean.Farmer-Butterfield@ncleg.net
Representative Randy Stewart
Phone: 919-733-5802
Randy.Stewart@ncleg.net

Dispatch from Jones St: Update on House HHS Budget

The House HHS Appropriation Committee just wrapped up its morning meeting. There are additional cuts that have been made to the already devastating budget of last week.

Included in the new budget is the elimination of OT/PT/ and Speech Therapy, a major cut in the Medicaid Orthotics and Prosthetics Coverage, an increase of 1.5% in the provider rate reduction bringing that number to 5.5%, an additional reduction in the cuts to the continuation budget, an additional reduction in personal care services in adult care homes and the list goes on and on!

All of these cuts were made to come up with an additional $265 million in cuts.

This budget will devastate the health delivery system of North Carolina. This budget will put people lives at risk and families will be sent into crisis. Jobs will be lost and we will see our state move from a recession into a depression.

As advocates we can not let this budget be passed out of this committee. We will be sending out a new action alert soon. We will be asking you to step up the pressure on these committee members and we need you to respond quickly!!!!

Action Alert: Make Calls Today!!!

Action Needed!
Make 3 phone calls today!
June 2, 2009

WE NEED TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!!! MAKE THESE CALLS TODAY!!!


DO NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO CALL; EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS TO MAKE THESE CALLS! ACT NOW!!

The House Budget Threatens Our Lives

The House's proposed budget will destroy the economic fabric of our state. (If you would like to read the proposed budget go to our action alert page at: http://72.167.22.100/action_alert/index.shtml . Click on the link for the House Budget Proposal)

Our service system will be set back 40 years. The House's proposed budget cuts to Health and Human Services and Medicaid will have a total impact of close to $3.5 billion.

The entire service system will be destroyed. Individuals and families will lose their services. It's not even a matter of trying to send people with developmental disabilities back to institutions - there won’t be institutions and there won't be community supports.

A few of the worst cuts are:
Reducing the budget for state-funded services by over $150,000,000
Cuts all Medicaid service rates by 4% causing salary reductions and layoffs
Cuts Medicaid Personal Care Services by over $50,000,000...reducing the services by over half. This is the only direct service other than case management that is a Medicaid entitlement for people with developmental disabilities
Eliminates continuation increases in Medicaid of over $500,000,000. This cut means serious reductions because any increases in CAP plans implemented during the last fiscal year will be eliminated
Cuts case management services by over $50,000,000 by "consolidation"
Eliminates the Medicaid service called Community Support which is the one Medicaid service that is designed to support people with mental illness in the community.

The House's budget will cause a depression in North Carolina. The massive reduction in jobs in health and human services and education, as well as in other areas, will result in a lower tax base, which in turn will necessitate further budget cuts and more losses in services. It’s a vicious, downward spiraling cycle.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! We must all unite to fight the House's proposed budget, and we have no time to waste. The House may vote on the budget as early as June 8.

No one can afford to sit back and watch this budget debacle play out. The lives of people with disabilities, their families and the entire state of North Carolina depend on everyone getting involved. Don't think someone else will make the calls. YOU must make the calls!

The Arc of NC has a strategic advocacy plan. Today, tomorrow and Wednesday the leadership of the House must hear from you. We will send out an e-alert when it is time for the next steps, but today, you need to make three calls:

Speaker Hackney 919-733-3451
Majority Leader Holliman 919-715-0873
Minority Leader Stam 919-733-2962

Tell them:
The proposed cuts in HHS and education will destroy our state, risking the lives of people with disabilities, our children’s future, cost thousands of jobs and drive our state into a depression! Raise taxes in order to avoid this disaster! We hold the House accountable!

These representatives must receive thousands of phone calls in the next two days.

NCGA Legislative Update: Parent & Student Involvement Act Passes Senate and Heads to the Governor

We are excited to announce that our coalition work with the ACLU-NC, the NC Justice Center and the Covenant with North Carolina's Children has yielded a win for children in North Carolina!

House Bill 218: Parent & Student Involvement Act passed the Senate yesterday with a vote of 48 Yes to 0 Nayes.

We are expecting the Governor to sign this important legislation in the coming week.

This legislation begins the process of looking at our states policies for long term suspension. The bill will require written notification including a description of the incident leading to the recommendation for expulsion or suspension for more than ten days. The specific provisions of the student conduct policy or rule alleged to have been violated and the specific process to request a hearing to contest the expulsion or suspension for more than ten days including the number of days within which to request a hearing

We congratulate our partners and we appreciate the dedication and support of our bill sponsors especially Representative Bryant and Senator Queen.

Dispatch from Jones St: Bullying Bill in the News

Yesterday, the Bullying Bill (School Violence Prevention Act) passed the House Education Committee and is now headed to Judiciary I.

The committee members heard testimony yesterday from Mrs. Allison Davis, a parent with three children on the Autism spectrum and a parent advocate with the Autism Society North Carolina. We invite you to see listen and comment on an interview she participated in last evening with WTVD.

We will be posting more information on how you can help this bill move through House Judiciary 1 soon.

Julia's Musings: House Budget Jeopardizes Services and Families

Today the House Appropriations Subcommittee on HHS released its proposed budget.

This budget proposal will significantly impact community-based services for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Here are just some of the proposed cuts:

CAP/MR-DD Reduction in State Supplemental Funds: FY 09-10 $16 million dollars/FY 10-11 $16 million dollars.
-This cut will reduce service funding for supplemental state-funded services provided to people currently receiving CAP/MR-DD waivers.

State Funded Services: FY 09-10 $50 million dollars/FY 10-11 $50 million dollars.
-This cut will reduce funds for state-funded services provided by Local Management Entities.

Freeze CAP Slots: FY 09-10 $14 million dollars and FY 10-11 $15 million dollars.
Although this is not a cut of funding for CAP slots it does mean that there will be no critically needed slots opening in the next two fiscal years.

At the end of the budget presentation today Representative Brisson requested an accurate accounting of how many people are being served by each of the programs that are being cut or eliminated and how these changes are going to directly impact the lives of the people currently being served. 

This is an excellent question and one that we in the community can answer.  Without these critical services our state will see real families in real crisis.  These cuts mean the elimination of jobs, which in turn means the elimination of tax revenue and an increase in the unemployment numbers in our state.

It is time leaders in the House begin an honest discussion of how to raise revenue to avoid these deep and drastic cuts to needed programs.  It is time we put people’s lives ahead of concerns over raising revenue.

 

 

 

 

Dispatch from Jones St: House Education Committee Passes the School Violence Prevention Act

The School Violence Prevention Act cleared another hurdle today by receiving  favorable report from the House Education Committee.

This bill will now be re-referred to the House Judiciary 1 Committee.

This bill standardizes the definition of bullying behavior and includes enumerated categories of students who are most likely to be bullied based on national data.

The Arc of North Carolina has been in support of this bill and has been working on the passage of this bill for the past two sessions.  

Dispatch from Jones St: House Budget Appropriations Subcommittee HHS

Today at 8:30am the House Appropriation Subcommittee on HHS will release its budget proposal.

You can listen on line by going to the NC Legislative Website.

Or...you can join us in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building.

We will have more details when they become available.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Budget Rumors

The House Appropriation Subcommittee on HHS canceled both its Tuesday and Wednesday morning budget meetings.

We are hearing that there have been meetings with "big chairs" both days and into the evening hours as the House prepares to release another section of its budget.

We are waiting for an announcement soon regarding a House Appropriation HHS subcommittee meeting for tomorrow morning.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

Budget Update: This week we are anxiously waiting to see what the new budget targets are for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.  We expect to get a notice soon. What we have heard around the building is that the additional reduction will be around $500 million.

Crossover Update: We are through crossover and now we need to start the work of getting out policy agenda completed.  We had a great crossover and we will be posting a report later this week.

Calendar So Far for the Week:

Monday, May 18, 2009
7:00 PM Session Convenes (House)
House Chamber
7:00 PM Session Convenes (Senate)
Senate Chamber

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
8:30 AM AND 2:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS/General Government (House)
1425LB

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
10:00 AM EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Senate)
Students Under 16 May Attend Comm. College (H65)
Assignment of Multiples to Charter Schools (H316)
Cleveland Comm. Coll. Capital Project (H573)
643LOB

The Arc of NC Announces: ABC World News Nightline Arc/UCP Paul Marchand Discusses Texas Case

The Arc and UCP's Paul Marchand will appear on ABC World News and Nightline tomorrow evening. He was interviewed regarding the abuse of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in state institutions, in particular the Texas case where employees of the Corpus Christi state school orchestrated and filmed fights between residents. Six employees face criminal charges over the mistreatment, which involved at least 16 state school residents. Check programming on your local ABC affiliate web for airing time. See ABC World News Webiste.

Dispatch from Jones St: HB 672 Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SAS

Today the House passed HB 672: Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SA. 

Here is a brief summary of the legislation:
This legislation will require Local Management Entitiess that use single stream funding to on a bi-annual basis to receive to report on the allocation of service dollars and receive public comment during a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting.

This legislation also protects our states HUD group homes and apartments. The General Assembly appropriates state funding to group homes to be used in conjunction with federal HUD funding. After the biennial this funding can be moved. However, in some cases the removal of our state funding to these group homes and apartments can jeopardized our agreement with the federal matching money and the HUD contracts.

This legislation will require LMEs to seek approval for the reduction in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services prior to adjusting any funding associated with HUD group homes or apartments.

This bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to analyze the effectiveness of single stream funding in LMEs that have been working with single stream for a year or more. These findings will be reported to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services as well as the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee in the House and Senate.

This legislation will now go to the Senate.

Action Alert: HB 672 Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SA

NC ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED. TAKE ACTION NOW.
TODAY the NC House Votes on House Bill 672-Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SA

We need you to TAKE ACTION. Call your Representative today.
House Bill 672: Accountability for State Funding passed the House Mental Health Reform Committee and House Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee. Today this bill will be voted on by the House this evening. We need you to call your Representative and ask to vote YES for this legislation.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:
EMAIL or CALL your Representative NOW.

TELL THEM:
Vote YES for the bill!

* HB 672 directs LMEs who are receiving single stream funding to hold a bi-annual public hearing during their board meeting to discuss with consumers how funding is being used. This important legislation gives advocates the ability to dialogue with their LMEs regarding funding needs.

* HB 672 directs the Department of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to analyze the effectiveness of single stream funding.

* HB 672 has the support of advocates, providers, the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Local Management Entities.

Find Your Representative:

Read the Bill:
House Bill 672: Accountability for State Funding MH/DD/SA
Primary Sponsors: Representative Earle, Representative Brisson, Representative Hurley and Representative Hughes.
Co-Sponsors: Representative M. Alexander, Representative Bell, Representative Bordsen, Representative Carney, Representative Coates, Representative Faison, Representative Farmer-Butterfield, Representative Goforth, Representative Harrison, Representative Howard, Representative Justus, Representative Lucas, Representative Luebke, Representative Mackey, Representative Parmon, Representative Pierce, Representative Randleman, Representative Wainwright and Representative Wray.
An act relating to Local Management Entities use of state funds for Mental Health, Developmental Disability, and Substance Abuse Services.


If you have any questions please contact Julia Leggett, Policy Coordinator The Arc of North Carolina. jleggett@arcnc.org

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

This week at the General Assembly, lobbyists and legislators will be scrambling to get all of their legislation through crossover.

Crossover is the agreed upon date set by the legislature that is set out as a time line. Bills that do not have appropriations must pass at least one chamber prior to the crossover deadline to remain active for the long session.  

Thursday, May 14th is crossover this year.

In other news, the House is continuing its work on their proposed budget. The news last week indicated that the House must cut an additional $1.5 billion from the Senate's budget.  We are anticipating that the House will roll out its budget right after crossover.

Bills of Interest This Week

Tuesday May 12, 209

10:00 AM MENTAL HEALTH REFORM (House) 424 LOB
Recommended Approp. MH/DD/SAS Oversight Comm. (H457)
Recommendations of MH/DD/SA Oversight Comm. (H458)
Mental Health Services for Children/Kids' Care. (H600)
Guardianship/Incompetency. (H1086)
Improve LME Accountability.-AB (H1188)
Residential Treatment Facil./TBI. (H1309)

12:00 PM HEALTH (House) 544 LOB
Certified Professional Midwives Licensure. (H333)
Establish Gestational Surrogacy Agreements. (H510)
Cancer Patient Assistance. (H1020)
Sheriff/Inspect Prescription & Drug Records. (H1119)
DHHS/Update current inspection practices.-AB (H1186)
DHHS/Tracking Outpatient Commitments.-AB (H1189)
DHHS/Tech. Assistance for Menu Labeling. (H1273)
Childhood Obesity/Common Metric Measures. (H1274)
Prohibit Self-Service Displays for Tobacco. (H1487)

Friday Wrap Up: Committee Meetings, Bill Updates and Other Information

House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee:
On Tuesday, May 5, 2009 the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee met for the last time before the House releases its budget proposal.
The primary reason for the committee meeting was for members to discuss programs that they individually feel are important to continue funding or to consider programs that may receive cuts.
Schools that are supervised by DHHS were highlighted during this meeting. These schools include; the North Carolina School for the Deaf, the North Carolina Eastern School for the Deaf, Governor Morehead School for the Blind and two schools that serve students with mental illness, Wright and Whittaker.
Representative Farmer Butterfield expressed concerns regarding the consolidation of the deaf schools. The deaf schools are operated in the far west and eastern part of the state. These are residential facilities that transport children home on the weekends. The deaf schools currently serve a total of 205 students. Secretary Cansler stated that if we consolidate the two schools for the deaf with the school for the blind into one school over time the state would see a savings.
Representative Dollar expressed concerns with the proposed closing of the Wright and Whitaker schools centers on the lack of a clear plan for where these children would be served in the community and how the transfer of care for these students would be handled. Representative Insko requested staff to research what other programs in our state could readily provide services for this community and which programs provide residential services equal to the ones provided by Wright and Whitaker.
Representative England expressed concerns regarding long term care and rest home reimbursement rates. Secretary Cansler stated that the department has looked closely at the reimbursement rate and indicated that the study has found a substantial underfunding of that industry. The Department is looking at waivers and other options to assist this industry.
Representative Brisson expressed concerns over the health care personal services authorization. Secretary Cansler expressed that there are some people who need personal care who are not receiving them and those who are receiving them who do not qualify. The Department is looking at the Carolina Center for Medical Excellence in developing plans to ensure that those who need the services qualify and receive them.
The final concerns expressed by members of the committee revolved around the proposed move and long-term merger of More at Four with Smart Start.
Base Budget Appropriations House and Senate:
The House and Senate held a Joint Appropriation Budget meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 to present an updated revenue outlook to the members of the Appropriation committee.
Representative Michaux opened the meeting by stating that we will be hearing bad news and good news. He stated that North Carolina is in dire straits. Representative Michaux stressed that we are facing serious and difficult decisions as we move forward with the budget.
The bad news is that we are facing an additional 1 billion dollar deficit for the current fiscal year. This puts the current deficit for FY2008-2009 at $3.2 billion dollars. The April 15th tax revenue collections were 40% lower than expected. During the previous two recessions the reduced tax revenue collections were between 20-21%.
Fiscal research staff stated that the certified budget for July 2008 was $20.8 billion dollars. In January 2009 the estimated forecast was $18.6 billion dollars. This was the figure used by both the Governor and the Senate in creating their proposed budget plans. The current forecast for May 2009 is $17.5 billion dollars. This is the new base budget goal that must be used as the House creates its budget proposal. This figure is $1.3 billion dollars less that the previous base budget targets. Fiscal research staff stated that for fiscal year 2010-2011 the General Assembly must find an additional $2 billion dollars.
Fiscal research staff stated that their will be a recovery in the fourth quarter of 2009 but it will be fiscal year 2013-2014 before we see another $20 billion dollar budget target.
Representative Michaux closed the meeting by stating that “we had heard the bad news and that the good news is that there might not be more bad news”.

House Health Committee:
On Tuesday, May 5,2009 the House Health committee met to hear two bills of interest are that will create policy regarding smoking in foster care homes.
The first bill is House Bill 692: Establish Policy/Smoking/Foster Care-Cotham
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H692v1.pdf
This bill will require the county Departments of Social Services to develop policies on how to address the issue of foster parents who smoke.
This bill was displaced from the calendar. Representative Nelson Dollar expressed concern regarding writing policy before completing a study on this issue. We expect to see this bill come back up next week.
The second bill is House Joint Resolution 694: Study/Smoking Ban/Foster Care Homes-Cotham.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H694v1.pdf
This joint resolution would authorize the Legislative Research Commission to study the impact of a smoking ban in foster care homes.

Representative Tricia Cotham expressed her concern for the health of children who are being placed in foster homes with foster parents that smoke. Committee members did feel that this study should move forward and voted it out of committee with a favorable report. This bill received a serial referral to the rules committee.


Senate Health Care Committee:

This committee will take up Senate Bill 331: MH/National Accred. Benchmarks-Berger. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S331v1.pdf
This bill will make changes to the national accreditation benchmark requirements for certain Medicaid enrolled facilities.

This bill received a committee substitute that changed the title and the intent of the bill. The new bill will permit Five Counties LME to join the state health care plan.
New bill edition:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S331v2.pdf

Senate Mental Health and Youth Services:
This committee will take up Senate Bill 721: Allow Electronic Supervision/MH/DD Facilities-Hoyle.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/Senate/PDF/S721v1.pdf
This bill will require the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to adopt rules establishing acceptable electronic supervision standards and alternate staffing requirements at facilities for children and adolescents with mental illness or developmental disabilities during client sleep hours.
This bill received considerable debate. The type of electronic supervision alluded to in this bill would be camera surveillance. Grandfather Home for Children currently uses this type of monitoring during client sleep hours. They are operating this system under a Mental Health Commission waiver that was provided to them in 2008 for one year.
Many of the concerns with this legislation are focused on the breadth of the bill. It includes facilities for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, some of whom may require personal care during sleep hours. This camera monitoring system may not be appropriate for this population.
This bill will be worked on by Senator Nesbitt and Senator Hoyle and will be re-written so that it is more narrowly focused.

Bills To Watch This Week:
HOUSE:

House Floor Vote:
HB 672 Committee Substitute - Earle, Brisson, Hurley and Hughes (Primary Sponsors) -
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STATE FUNDING/MENTAL
HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES/SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ABUSE SERVICES.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H672v2.pdf
This bill will require LMEs to hold a public meeting twice a year during their regularly scheduled board meeting to explain how single stream funds were used to serve people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. The second part of the bill deals with state dollars that are used to secure HUD group homes and apartments. The third part of this bill directs the Division of MH/DD/SA to analyze the effectiveness of single stream funding.





House Mental Health Reform:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 Room Time

H.B. 457 Recommended Approp. MH/DD/SAS Oversight Comm.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H457v1.pdf
This bill is the appropriation suggestions from the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

H.B. 458 Recommendations of MH/DD/SA Oversight Comm.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H458v1.pdf
This bill is the special provision suggestions from the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

H.B. 600 Mental Health Services for Children/Kids' Care.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H600v1.pdf
This bill will ensure that all children in North Carolina that are eligible for health services under NC Health Choice or NC Kids’ Care will receive mental health services, as recommended by the legislative study commission on children and youth.

H.B. 1086 Guardianship/Incompetency.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1086v1.pdf
This bill will amend the procedures for determining incompetency under the laws relating to guardianship as recommended by the House Study Committee on State Guardianship Laws.

H.B. 1188 Improve LME Accountability.-AB
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1188v1.pdf
This act pertains to the appointment of area authority and county program directors and membership on a Local Management Entity Board of Directors.


H.B. 1309 Residential Treatment Facil./TBI.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1309v1.pdf
This bill directs the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to adopt rules providing for the licensure and accreditation of residential treatment facilities for persons with traumatic brain injury.

NC Senate Passes the School Violence Prevention Act!

We are thrilled to announce that the NC Senate passed the School Violence Prevention Act (Bullying Bill) on Wednesday.  The final vote on this important legislation was 26 Yes and 22 No.

This bill passed out of the Senate with the enumerated categories which include students with developmental disabilities.

This victory would not have been possible without the strong support of advocates across the state.  

SB 526: School Violence Prevention Act will now go to the House.  Although there was strong support for this bill in the House last session, our work is far from over. We will need your voices and your advocacy to move this bill through two more committees and a floor vote.

Dispatch from Jones St: Bullying Bill Update

Today the NC Senate voted on SB 526: School Violence Prevention Act. This bill will provide a definition of what bullying is for schools. This bill also enumerates the categories of children that have statistically been shown to be bullied most often.

The vote on second reading was 25 Yes and 22 No.  The bills third reading will happen tomorrow.

We will have more details on the Senate debate later today.

TAKE ACTION NOW! The School Violence Prevention Bill Will Be Voted On Tomorrow

NC ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED. TAKE ACTION NOW.

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act, passed the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Youth Services last evening. On Tuesday, May 5, 2009 it  will be on the Senate floor for a vote and we still have work to do! This legislation is important to the children with developmental disabilities in North Carolina.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders:
“Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation.”

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

EMAIL or CALL your Senator NOW.

TELL THEM:
• Vote YES for the bill!
* SB 526 enumerates protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.

* To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.

* Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities.

* This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment.

* Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

Find Your Senator:

Read the Bill:
Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act.
Sponsors: Senator Boseman.
Co-Sponsors: Senator Charles W. Albertson, Senator Bob Atwater, Senator Daniel G. Clodfelter, Senator Charlie Dannelly, Senator Katie G. Dorsett, Senator Linda Garrou, Senator Clark Jenkins, Senator Eleanor Kinnaird, Senator Vernon Malone, Senator Floyd B. McKissick Jr., Senator William R. Purcell, Senator Larry Shaw, Senator Josh Stein, Senator David F. Weinstein.
An Act to enact the school violence prevention act.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:
This week we will be again monitoring the budget process as appropriation subcommittees continue to meet. Here are your hot topics for the week:

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
8:30 a.m.
House Committee On Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, 421 LOB
House Committee On Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, 643 LOB

11:00 a.m.
House Committee On Health, 544 LOB
HB 455 (Insko) DESIGNATE KIDNEY MONTH
HB 535 (Insko) HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE/LYMPHEDEMA
HB 692 (Lucas, M.) ESTABLISH POLICY/SMOKING/FOSTER CARE
HB 694 (Holliman) STUDY/SMOKING BAN/FOSTER CARE HOMES
HB 945 (Sutton) ENFORCE FEDERAL INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
HB 1055 (England) MEDICAL RECORDS/COPYING FEES
HB 1249 (England) DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AWARENESS MONTH
HB 1251 (Holliman) CANCER SCREENING AWARENESS MONTH
HB 1373 (Yongue) PHASE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
HB 1384 (Jones, Earl) SHOPPING CARTS/PREVENT EXPOSURE TO GERMS

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
House Committee On Aging, 415 LOB
HB 994 (Tolson) PUBLIC HOUSING/ADULT CARE HOME DEMO PROJECT
HB 996 (Tolson) REPEAL ACH/PUBLIC HOUSING STUDY

11:00 a.m.

Senate Committee On Health Care, 544 LOB

SB 331 (Berger, D.) MH/NATIONAL ACCRED. BENCHMARK

SB 694 (Garrou) AMEND DENTISTRY LAWS/OUT OF STATE DENTISTS

SB 765 (Stein) CLARIFY PATIENT DATA/MEDICAL CARE DATA ACT

SB 917 (Dorsett) CANCER PATIENT ASSISTANCE

SB 1022 (Stein) COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS TASK FORCE

12:00 noon

Senate Committee On Mental Health & Youth Services, 414 LOB

SB 721 (Hoyle) ALLOW ELECTRONIC SUPRVSN./MH/DD FACILITIES

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

Weekly Legislative Wrap-Up 05/01/09

Committee Meetings:

House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee:
This committee met on Tuesday and Thursday of this week to hear reports on the merger of More at Four into Smart Start.
On Tuesday Dick Clifford with Frank Porter Graham presented on More and Four and the proposed transfer of More at Four and the merger with Smart Start. Mr. Clifford’s message to the members was to fully analyze the benefits of both programs prior to the merger. He stressed that there is strong data to support the effectiveness of More at Four. Members of the committee also received a report from Tara Larson on the progress of the screening tool for long term care facilities. Tara Larson reviewed the delay in implementing MUST due to technical issues, and the need to continue to partner with providers and their individual billing and IT systems prior to full start up. Ms. Larson did state that this work is continuing and that a standard tool will be effective. She addressed the work that the workgroup is doing on merging screening tools used currently such as SIS with the new screening tool PASAR.

House Health:
On Tuesday, House Bill 1339- DHHS Study/Medical Provider Rates was heard in committee. This bill will direct theDepartment of Health and Human Services to conduct a study of provider medical rates to determine the equity of existing rates among providers. The study would focus on the cost of providing services, capital costs, and medical malpractice insurance and a review of medical providers for a stand-alone payment method, including the consideration of a private consultant to perform the rate-setting process. The report is due back to Senate and House HHS Appropriations no later than October 1, 2009.
The bill received a favorable report and was re-referred to the committee on Appropriations.


House Judiciary I:
House Bill 925-Data Sharing/DHHS Agencies. This bill will authorize the sharing of confidential information among agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services in order to conduct quality assessment and improvement activities and coordinate appropriation and effective care, treatment, or habilitation of DHHS clients. This bill received a favorable report when it was debated in the House Health Committee. This is the final committee for this bill prior to heading to the House floor.
This bill received a favorable report and was calendared for a full House vote on Wednesday. This bill passed the House with a vote of 115 in favor and none opposed.

Budget:
This week the House Appropriations Committee held a unique public forum to receive input from the citizens of North Carolina regarding the state budget. The members and leaders of the House held this public hearing in Wake County and at ten satellite sites across the state.
Many of the comments that were given focused on the merger of More at Four and SmartStart. There were multiple comments on not cutting any funding for people with developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and mental health needs.

Bills To Watch This Week:
HOUSE:

Two bills of interest will be taken up on Tuesday, May 5th in the House.

House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee:
On Tuesday the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee will meet at 8:30am in room 643 LOB. There is no announcement regarding the agenda for this meeting.

House Health Committee:
Also on Tuesday, the House Health committee will meet to hear ten different bills. Of interest are the two proposed bills that address smoking in foster care homes.
The first bill is House Bill 692: Establish Policy/Smoking/Foster Care-Cotham

This bill will require the county Departments of Social Services to develop policies on how to address the issue of foster parents who smoke.
The second bill is House Joint Resolution 694: Study/Smoking Ban/Foster Care Homes-Cotham.
This joint resolution would authorize the Legislative Research Commission to study the impact of a smoking ban in foster care homes.

SENATE:
Two bills of interest will be taken up Wednesday, May 6th in the Senate.

Senate Health Care Committee:
This committee will take up Senate Bill 331: MH/National Accred. Benchmarks-Berger.
This bill will make changes to the national accreditation benchmark requirements for certain Medicaid enrolled facilities.

Senate Mental Health and Youth Services:
This committee will take up Senate Bill 721: Allow Electronic Supervision/MH/DD Facilities-Hoyle.
This bill will require the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to adopt rules establishing acceptable electronic supervision standards and alternate staffing requirements at facilities for children and adolescents with mental illness or developmental disabilities during client sleep hours.

Dispatch from Jones St: Bullying Bill Update

UPDATE:

The Senate did not take up the Bullying Bill today. Your action on this important legislation will help get this bill through the Senate.  Take a moment this weekend and email your NC Senator.

NC ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED. TAKE ACTION NOW.

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act, passed the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Youth Services last evening. Today it will be on the Senate floor for a vote and we still have work to do! This legislation is important to the children with developmental disabilities in North Carolina.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders:
“Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation.”

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

EMAIL or CALL your Senator NOW.

TELL THEM:
• Vote YES for the bill!
* SB 526 enumerates protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.

* To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.

* Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities.

* This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment.

* Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

Find Your Senator:

Read the Bill:
Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act.
Sponsors: Senator Boseman.
Co-Sponsors: Senator Charles W. Albertson, Senator Bob Atwater, Senator Daniel G. Clodfelter, Senator Charlie Dannelly, Senator Katie G. Dorsett, Senator Linda Garrou, Senator Clark Jenkins, Senator Eleanor Kinnaird, Senator Vernon Malone, Senator Floyd B. McKissick Jr., Senator William R. Purcell, Senator Larry Shaw, Senator Josh Stein, Senator David F. Weinstein.
An Act to enact the school violence prevention act.

ACTION ALERT: BULLYING BILL CALL YOUR NC SENATOR TODAY!

NC ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED. TAKE ACTION NOW.

The NC Senate Votes on Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act TODAY at 11:00 AM.

Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act, passed the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Youth Services last evening. Today it will be on the Senate floor for a vote and we still have work to do! This legislation is important to the children with developmental disabilities in North Carolina.

Here is a brief message from one of North Carolina’s youth leaders:
“Being a person living a life with a disability can be difficult especially if the disability is visible. A person who does not walk straight or does not speak clearly is a target for bullies in the education system. As a student in their junior year of high school, people would think there would be an understanding and the teasing would decease but that is not the situation.”

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

EMAIL or CALL your Senator NOW.

TELL THEM:
• Vote YES for the bill!
* SB 526 enumerates protected categories to protect children most vulnerable to bullying and harassment. This legislation addresses the needs of students with disabilities.

* To SUPPORT the bill with the enumeration that is currently in this important legislation.

* Seventy-eight students with disabilities, who gathered in Raleigh during the summer of 2006, discussed their experiences dealing with bullying and harassment while attending school. These young leaders recognized the importance of creating legislation that would create a protected category for students with disabilities.

* This legislation will support students with disabilities by utilizing the protected categories as a self-advocacy tool. Students with disabilities will be able to look to this legislation as their right to be protected from bullying and harassment.

* Enumeration of protected categories is a clear sign that all students, regardless of differences in characteristics, appearance, or ability are valued and deserve protection.

Find Your Senator:

Read the Bill:
Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act.
Sponsors: Senator Boseman.
Co-Sponsors: Senator Charles W. Albertson, Senator Bob Atwater, Senator Daniel G. Clodfelter, Senator Charlie Dannelly, Senator Katie G. Dorsett, Senator Linda Garrou, Senator Clark Jenkins, Senator Eleanor Kinnaird, Senator Vernon Malone, Senator Floyd B. McKissick Jr., Senator William R. Purcell, Senator Larry Shaw, Senator Josh Stein, Senator David F. Weinstein.
An Act to enact the school violence prevention act.

Dispatch from Jones St: Bullying Bill Gets Favorable Vote from Senate Mental Health and Youth Services Committee

Today the Senate Mental Health and Youth Services committee met to debate Senate Bill 526: School Violence Prevention Act. This bill is better known as the bullying bill.  The bill includes a list of enumerated categories that identify students that are most likely to be bullied.  This important list includes students with developmental disabilities.

The bill passed out of the committee with a 6 to 2 favorable vote.  It will now go to the Senate floor.

Dispatch from Jones St: More Information on Public Meeting Hosted by NC State House Appropriations Committee

The North Carolina Legislative website has updated information regarding this important public meeting on the state's budget.

The North Carolina State House Appropriations committee will host a public hearing on Tuesday, April 28th from 6:00pm-9:00pm to receive public input on the budget process.  This meeting will be held at the North Carolina This is a time to speak your concerns.

The House is also accepting written comments regarding the budget.

Can't be in Raleigh? No problem. This event will be live streamed.

Please visit the website for more information.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

This week the North Carolina House Appropriations committee will hold a public meeting to receive input on the state budget. We will be posting more information about this event as it becomes available.

The North Carolina Senate Finance committee is still working on their tax package.  The last word on this was that there may not be a vote on it this week but there will be a lot more discussion on it this week.

The April numbers look a bit better than expected, according to Governor Perdue.  What this will mean for House leaders as they work on the budget is anyone's guess.

Here is what to look for this week.

Bills to Watch for the Week:

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

On Tuesday, House HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will discuss the Continuation Reviews and Screening Updates with Dick Clifford, from Frank Porter Graham.  There will also be a continuation of the discussion regarding the merger of More at Four and SmartStart.

House Judiciary I will take up House Bill 925-Data Sharing/DHHS Agencies. This bill will authorize the sharing of confidential information among agencies of the Department of Health and Human services in order to conduct quality assessment and improvement activities and coordinate appropriation and effective care, treatment, or habilitation of DHHS clients. This bill received a favorable report when it was debated in the House Health Committee.  This is the final committee for this bill prior to heading to the House floor.

Also on Tuesday, the House Health committee will take up House House Bill 1339-DHHS Study/Medical Provider Rates. This bill will direct the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study of provider medical rates to determine the equity of existing rates among providers. The study would focus on the cost of providing services, capital costs, and medical malpractice insurance and a review of medical providers for a stand-alone payment method, including the consideration of a private consultant to perform the rate-setting process.  The report is due back to Senate and House HHS Appropriations no later than October 1, 2009.

 

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

North Carolina:

This week Secretary Lanier Cansler addressed the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. Here is a brief report from that meeting.

On Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler addressed the members of the House Health and Human Services Subcommittee regarding the Department’s concerns over the Senate budget proposal.
Secretary Cansler expressed the following concerns. The Senate budget eliminates all positions that had not been filled in the past six months. Only 5% of the total HHS budget funds positions. 95% of the HHS budget is directed at services. The 60% of the 5% of positions eliminated are in state facilities.

Secretary Cansler stated that if we truly think about the elimination of these vacant positions we would see a significant impact on the structure of our state facilities. He also brought to the attention of the membership that our state pay structure is still not competitive enough. The example that he gave to the members of the committee was with the hiring of engineers and architects. Due to the lack of competitive salary offers we are having difficulty in attracting the quality of architect sand engineers that we require.

An additional concern was with the MMIS reductions. Secretary Cansler stated that in the previous legislative session the legislature directed the Department to make the MMIS system their top priority. Secretary Cansler agreed with this directive but stated that by cutting the budget we are dramatically affecting the implementation of the MMIS system. The Senate budget, according to Secretary Cansler would effectively shut the program down.

Overall Secretary Cansler expressed his concern to members of the House Health and Human Services appropriation subcommittee that the Senate budget would restrict management flexibility at the Department. The example that he presented was the Senate’s budget line of 23 million dollars for management flexibility. Secretary Cansler stated “at first I thought this was a good thing. But in reality they want another 22 million dollars in cuts in administrative costs. I can get it any where I want but those administrative costs would be in staff positions.”

On the reduction of Community Support hours to eight hours a week, as proposed by the Senate budget, Secretary Cansler pointed out that DMA estimates that we would not come near the mark of the savings stated in the Senate budget.
Secretary Cansler requested that the House HHS Appropriations subcommittee work with the Department to effectively craft a budget.

Dispatch from Jones St: House Hold Public Hearing on Budget

The Appropriations Committee of the North Carolina House of Representatives on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 will be receiving public comment on the state budget.

The hearing will be held from 6-9 p.m. in the auditorium of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh on Fayetteville Street. Ten community colleges across the state will host interactive broadcasts of the hearing and it will also be streamed live on the Internet.

Members of the public are invited to offer suggestions and comments about the budget. Each speaker will have three minutes to share information. Other rules may also be established and will be available online at the North Carolina Legislature website closer to the date of the hearing. Information about how to submit written comments and how to access the online broadcast will also be available at the site.

Dispatch from Jones St: Senator Vernon Malone Services

From Indy Week:

The Malone family announced a schedule of services for the late

State Senator Vernon Malone, who passed away unexpectedly at his home on

Saturday, April 18.

*            Viewing of the body will be held Wednesday, April 22 from 9:00 until

4 p.m. at Lea Funeral Home, 2500 Poole Road, Raleigh

*            The body will be in repose at Martin Street Baptist Church at 6 p.m.

on Wednesday, April 22.

*            Family will receive friends and visitors at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at

Martin Street Baptist Church, Raleigh

*            Funeral services will be on Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 p.m. at

Martin Street Baptist Church, Raleigh.

*            A burial service will immediately follow at the Carolina Biblical

Gardens in Raleigh after the funeral services.

The Malone Family has asked in lieu of flowers that individuals make

contributions to the Senator Vernon Malone Scholarship Foundation at Shaw

University. Donations can be sent to Shaw University, c/o Marilyn Fields,

118 East South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

This week the General Assembly will begin its week by grieving the loss of one of their own. On Saturday, Senator Vernon Malone passed away at his home in Raleigh.  Senator Malone was a dedicated public servant.  His leadership on education policy will be deeply missed.

The House will continue to work on the budget this week with a series of appropriation subcommittee meetings.

Also this week we will see the first meetings of the new Senate Select Committee on Economic Recovery.  This committee will be discussing and presenting the economic recovery package.

Meetings this Week:

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS/Education (House) 421LOB

8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS/Health and Human Services (House) 643 LOB

IMMED. AFTER SESSION SELECT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY (Senate) 544LOB

11:00 AM EDUCATION (House) 643 LOB
Char/Meck School Board Police. (H538)
Change School Starting Date. (H593)
Study Equity of School Counselor Compensation. (H1179)
Study Length of School Lunch Period. (H1470)
Counties & Schools Share P. E. Equ (H1471)

12:00 PM HEALTH (House) 544 LOB
Collateral Source Evid. Admissable/Med Mal. (H415)
Consumer Health Freedom Act. (H842)
Allow Dietetics/Nutrition Bd./Recover Costs. (H886)
Brain Injury Advisory Council. (H1284)
NC Risk Pool Clarifications. (H1391)
NC Risk Pool Changes/Out-of-State Services. (H1392)

2:00 PM STATE GOVERNMENT/STATE PERSONNEL (House) 424 LOB
Amend Professional Counselors Act/Fees. (H746)
Organ Donation Month. (H1014)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
IMMED. AFTER SESSION SELECT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY (Senate)
544LOB
8:30 AM APPROPRIATIONS/BASE BUDGET (Senate)
Rep. Gerry Madden, Texas House Member, will speak on Texas’s efforts to slow down prison construction 643LOB

10:00 AM EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Senate)  643 LOB
Encourage Volunteerism in Schools (S1028)
Establish Physician Assistant Scholarships (S678)
Classroom Experience for School Personnel (S406)
Probationary Teacher Appeals (S962)

11:00 AM HEALTH CARE (Senate) 544 LOB
Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places (H2)
DHHS Study/Influenza Vaccine Public Schools (S805)

Dispatch from Jones St: Senator Vernon Malone Passes Away Additional Information

The following is a link to an update from Indy Week.

Dispatch from Jones St: Senator Vernon Malone Passes Away

The Arc of North Carolina offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Senator Vernon Malone.

Senator Malone served as co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations on Education/Higher Education and Education/Higher Education Committee.  Senator Vernon Malone was a member of the Senate Health Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services.

Senator Malone was a tireless advocate in education and has shown leadership and support for students with developmental disabilities.

Most recently Senator Malone, a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 208: People First spoke strongly for the bills passage.

We will post more details when they become available.

News and Observer Story.

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

Budget: 

This week the House began reviewing the Senate's $21 billion dollar budget proposal.  The

Senate's proposed budget for MH/DD/SA closely tracks the Governor’s proposed budget. During the Health Appropriation meeting Senator Doug Berger stated that the budget reflects at 5% decrease from the continuation budget in fiscal year 2009-2010 and a 6% decrease for fiscal year 2010-2011. 
The budget does support the Governor’s proposal to close the Wright and Whittaker schools. The Senate’s proposed budget does not reflect any cuts to the CAP/MR-DD Waiver program or to the START Crisis program.
The Senate budget special provisions did include direction to the Division to begin the process of applying for a TBI Waiver and a direction to the Institute of Medicine to study Veteran Mental Health services. The Senate budget also continued to support the medically fragile child care center located in Raleigh. The Senate budget did include a one time cut to the Housing 400 Initiative program, the funds affected with this cut are the housing subsidy appropriation. 

Committee Meetings:

Senate Judiciary I:
Senate Bill 602: Medicaid False Claims/Qui Tam Actions-Kinnaird.
This bill would strengthen the prosecution of Medicaid fraud by increasing criminal penalties for provider fraud, create criminal penalties for obstruction and making false entries, establish a private civil action for provider false claims, and authorize a subpoena for documents in cases of provider fraud and abuse.

The request for this bill came from the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Health and Human Services. The impetus for this bill comes from the Deficit Reduction Act. The bill is trying to conform to the current federal laws on Medicaid fraud. All states have been requested to pass legislation similar to this in order to draw down additional Medicaid funding.

This bill was not voted on during the committee meeting. There was a healthy debate dealing with issues regarding parts of the legislation that would extend authority for DMA to subpoena documents outside of a request from the attorney general’s office.

This bill will continue to be worked on and will be back in committee next week.

House Health:
House Bill 925: Data Sharing/DHHS Agencies-Alexander.
This bill would authorize the sharing of confidential information among agencies f the Department of Health and Human Services in order to conduct quality assessment and improvement activities and coordinate appropriate and effective care, treatment or habilitation of DHHS clients.
Representative Alexander spoke on behalf of this legislation. This bill would permit better coordination of care and would still follow HIPPA regulations. There was no debate on the bill. It was passed out of committee.

Senate Health Care:
Senate Bill 331: MH/National Accred. Benchmarks-Berger
This bill would make changes to national accreditation benchmark requirements for certain Medicaid enrolled facilities.
This bill was pulled from the calendar.

House Mental Health Reform:
House Bill 672: Accountability for State Funding/MHDDSA-Earle.
The committee had a vigorous debate regarding this bill but did not vote on it. It will be taken up next week. The bill would require LMEs to hold a public meeting at one of their board meetings before moving funding from one disability group to another. It does not limit the LMEs ability to move funds but it does give the disability advocates an opportunity to voice their concerns on the front side of changes as opposed to after the fact. The bill also had language that would require LMEs to meet Division benchmarks prior to moving funds. This language caused considerable debate and in the last few minutes of the meeting Representative Alexander proposed an amendment that would require the public hearings but remove the benchmark language. In addition her amendment would require the Department to report to the Legislature on how single stream LMEs were using funds by January 2010.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2009 a compromise bill was negotiated. Representative Alexander was asked to withdraw her amendment and the new committee substitute passed unanimously out of committee.

The following is the compromise language:
Section 1:
A LME that utilizes single stream funding must, on a biannual basis, report on the allocation of service dollars and allow for public comment at a regularly scheduled LME Board of Directors meeting.

Before an LME proposes to reduce State funding to HUD group homes and
HUD apartments below the original appropriation State funds, the LME
must: a. Receive approval of the reduction in funding from the Department,
and b. Hold a public hearing at an open LME board meeting to receive
comment on the reduction in funding.

Section 2:
The Department of Health and Human Services shall analyze the effectiveness of single stream funding in the expenditure of state funds and review the allocation of service dollars to specific disabilities of those LME utilizing single stream funding for a year or more and report its findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division by June 30, 2010.

Bills that Passed the House:

House Bill 218: Parent & Student Involvement Act
This legislation begins the process of looking at our states policies for long term suspension. The bill will require written notification including a description of the incident leading to the recommendation for expulsion or suspension for more than ten days. The specific provisions of the student conduct policy or rule alleged to have been violated and the specific process to request a hearing to contest the expulsion or suspension for more than ten days including the number of days within which to request a hearing. This bill passed the Juvenile Justice and Education committee and was on the House floor for a vote on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
This bill passed the House second reading with a vote of 107 in favor to 7 opposed. Third reading was scheduled for Thursday, April 16th and the bill is expected to pass.

Bills that Passed the Senate:

Senate Bill 208: People First
On April 9, 2009 the Senate passed Senate Bill 208: People First legislation with a vote of 47 in favor and none opposed, three Senators were absent for the vote. This bill was debated in the Senate Health committee where Senators questioned if this bill would have any unintended consequences. Some of the concerns raised were with the changing of language that could affect Medicaid funding, criminal laws that contain specific federal or state definitions, and civil laws that contain specific rulings that incorporate definitions. These concerns are the same that were raised in all of the states where this legislation has been presented. After multiple negotiations a compromise bill was presented on the Senate floor. This bill directs Legislative Services to include in legislative draft training a section on the use of People First language. This bill also directs the General Statutes Commission to recommend to the 2010 and 2011 General Assembly any statutory changes and drafting policies needed to make the General Statutes and administrative rules refer to a person with a disability as a person first. This bill will now go to the House.  

Dispatch from Jones St: House HHS Appropriations

Here we go with budget round #3!  The Governor put out her budget proposal and the Senate followed with their budget proposal and now we have the House beginning their process.

Just in case you are curious, the Senate tax plan has not yet been revealed. We are expecting to see that this week.

More curiosity? Today is April 15th, tax day, and with that hanging over the General Assembly we should see the new numbers of just how much revenue this state has for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

We will be following all the events this week.

Dispatch from Jones St: HB 672 State Accountability MH DD SA

Today the House Mental Health Reform committee will continue its debate of House Bill 672: State Accountability MH/DD/SA.  We will update you on what happens after the meeting.

Friday Wrap Up: Bills, Committee Reports, and Other legislative Stuff.

Weekly Legislative Wrap-Up 04/09/09

The Senate bill filing deadline and the House bill filing deadline have both passed. After this report on bills filed we will have no new legislation to be introduced. The focus of all future wrap-ups will be about what has happened in committee meetings.

Committee Meetings:

House Mental Health Reform:
On Wednesday, April 8, 2009 the House Mental Health Reform committee debated two bills that directly affect people served by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

The first bill debated was House Bill 673:
House Bill 673: Support for Developmental Disability Services-Earle.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H673v1.pdf

This legislation will create a statewide data collection system that will reflect how many people with developmental disabilities are currently waiting for services and what services they are waiting for. The bill also permits the Department to ensure that State-funded developmental disability services are authorized on an annual or semi-annual basis depending on the services, and will also give direction to the Department to develop developmental disability service definitions that allow for funding of a person-centered plan.

This bill was also debated with many of the committee members stating that a statewide data collection system that could present to the legislature any gaps in services was a needed legislation. This bill was voted on and passed out of committee with a favorable report. The bill will now be re-referred to appropriations.

The second bill debated was House Bill 672:
House Bill 672: Accountability for State Funding/MHDDSA-Earle.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H672v1.pdf

The committee had a vigorous debate regarding this bill but did not vote on it. It will be taken up next week. The bill would require LMEs to hold a public meeting at one of their board meetings before moving funding from one disability group to another. It does not limit the LMEs ability to move funds but it does give the disability advocates an opportunity to voice their concerns on the front side of changes as opposed to after the fact. The bill also had language that would require LMEs to meet Division benchmarks prior to moving funds. This language caused considerable debate and in the last few minutes of the meeting Representative Alexander proposed an amendment that would require the public hearings but remove the benchmark language. In addition her amendment would require the Department to report to the Legislature on how single stream LMEs were using funds by January 2010.

Bills filed:
House Bill 925: Data Sharing/DHHS Agencies. – Representative Alexander
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H925v1.pdf
This bill authorizes the sharing of confidential information among agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services in order to conduct quality assessment and improvement activities and coordinate appropriate and effective care, treatment, or habilitation of DHHS clients.

House Bill 940: Funds/NC Special Olympics. – Representative England.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H940v1.pdf
This is a funding bill that will appropriate $200,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years.

House Bill 1087: MHDDSA Client Rights/Provider Entities. – Representative Braxton
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1087v1.pdf
This bill makes technical correction to the clients rights and humans rights committee. It removes the language referring to county program and inserts local management entity.
House Bill 1088: DHHS/Procurement Methods.-Representative Braxton.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1088v1.pdf
This bill would exempt from purchases and contracts law purchases by certain mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services facilities.

House Bill 1129: Clarify Silver Alert-All Ages. – Representative Mobley
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1129v1.pdf
This bill clarifies that the Silver Alert system may be issued for a person of any age who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.

House Bill 1188: Improve LME Accountability. – Representative Insko
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1188v1.pdf
This bill makes technical corrections to the appointment of area authority and county program directors and membership on a local management entity board of directors.

House Bill 1237: Establish Adult Day Health Overnight Respite.-Representative Moore
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1237v1.pdf
The bill would establish adult day health overnight respite programs and to direct the Division of Medical Assistance to pursue a Medicaid waiver to provide coverage for respite care.

House Bill 1243: Study Medicaid Income Levels/CAP.-Representative Mobley
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1243v1.pdf
This bill will authorize the legislative research commission to study the income requirements of the Medicaid and Community Alternative Programs (CAP).

House Bill 1297: Provider Credentialing/Insurers. – Representatives Stewart
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1297v1.pdf
This bill pertains to the credentialing of health care providers under health benefit plans.

House Bill 1309: Residential Treatment Facility/TBI.-Representative Insko
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1309v1.pdf
The bill directs the commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services to adopt rules providing for the licensure and accreditation of residential treatment facilities for persons with traumatic brain injury.

Additional Legislative News:

Budget:
This week the North Carolina Senate passed its budget. The budget sits at $21 billion dollars and for MH/DD/SA it closely tracks the Governor’s proposed budget.
During the Health Appropriation meeting Senator Doug Berger stated that
the budget reflects at 5% decrease from the continuation budget in fiscal year 2009-2010 and a 6% decrease for fiscal year 2010-2011.
The budget does support the Governor’s proposal to close the Wright and Whittaker schools.
The Senate’s proposed budget does not reflect any cuts to the CAP/MR-DD Waiver program or to the START Crisis program.
The Senate budget special provisions did include direction to the Division to begin the process of applying for a TBI Waiver and a direction to the Institute of Medicine to study Veteran Mental Health services.
The Senate budget also continued to support the medically fragile child care center located in Raleigh.

People First Bill Update

Due to the Senate's budget agenda the People First Bill was moved to Thursday.

Senate Appropriations Bill:SB 202

Today Senate Appropriations Committee met to review and vote on the Senate proposed budget. The Senate Health and Human Service budget includes an approximate 5% decrease from the continuation budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and an approximate 6% decrease for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The Senate budget does include a special provision that will direct the Division of MH,DD,SA to begin the process of applying for a TBI waiver.

The Senate budget for HHS tracks very closely to the Governor's proposed budget.

There were no reductions to the CAP/MR-DD Waiver funding that currently exist in the continuation budget.

SB 208: People First Bill

The full Senate will vote today at 3:00pm on the Senate Bill 208: People First. We will be watching and listening to the debate on the Senate floor and will report the vote.

Senate Appropriation Meeting Now to Present Budget

This is it folks! The Senate full appropriations is now presenting their budget. We will have a detailed report later this week once we review and compare the Senate and Governor's proposals.

Institute on Medicine Study on Developmental Disabilities Transition Report-Tuesday

During the 2008 legislative short session the General Assembly requested a study on transition services for people with developmental disabilities.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2009 the House Appropriations Health and Human Services will receive this report.

Here is the information:
DAY & DATE: TUESDAY, April 7, 2009
TIME: 8:00 am
LOCATION: 1228 Legislative Building
COMMENTS: Study on Developmental Disabilities Transitions Report from the North Carolina Institute on Medicine presented by Pam Silberman.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina:

Last month Governor Bev Perdue released her budget. Today the Senate gets its turn at the budget.  According to the rumor mill, we expect to see a difference in spending between the Governor's proposal and the Senate's proposal in Education. Specifically at how much UNC will receive.  There is also going to be a difference in the cigarette tax.  North Carolina is still a tobacco state as witnessed by those full page ads this weekend.  So...with that here is the fun down for the week.

Monday, April 6, 2009
3:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION/HIGHER EDUCATION (Senate)  421LOB

4:00 PM  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Senate)
Senate Budget Report  1124LB

4:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Senate)  414LOB

4:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY (Senate)
JPS Budget Report  415LOB

4:00 PM  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATURAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES (Senate) Senate NER Budget  423LOB

4:00 PM  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Senate) Presentation of HHS Budget 643LOB

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

10:00 AM Senate Judiciary I - 1027 LB
Assets of Ward's Estate (S605)
Notice to Creditors Without Estate Admin. (S606)
Make General Statutes Gender Neutral (S870)
Guardianship/Incompetency (S932)
Guardianship/Jurisdiction and Portability (S945)
Guardianship/Court-Appointed Counsel (S946)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009
10:00 AM Senate Education/Higher Education - 643 LOB
State Bd. of Community College Elections (H485)
Require Arts Educ. Credit for Graduation (S66)
Modify DPI/SBE Reporting Requirements (S689)
Reinstatement of Sick Leave/School Employees (S740)
Amend the Compulsory School Attendance Law (S708)

11:00 AM Senate Health Care - 544 LOB
Increase Transparency of MH/DD/SA Facilities (S799)
Rewrite Sanitarian Examiners Laws/Fees (S834)
Tech. & Org. Changes/Certain DHHS Facilities (S1042)
Amend Rabies Laws (S674)

2:00pm House Mental Health Reform  - 424 LOB
HB 672 Accountability for State Funding MH/DDSA Earle
HB 673 Support for DD Services Earle
HB 666 Clarify Status of DWI Treatment Courts Alexander

Nancy Ann DeParle-White House Forum

Nancy Ann DeParle has been tapped by President Obama to navigate his health care plan. "It is clear that we can not wait for health care reform. Across the country families are being forced to make difficult choices between rent or the health care they need. The cost of health care is a threat to our economic reform."

Cost of Health Care:

Second part of the forum will be with the cost of health care and how we afford health care.

Third is wellness, the new paradigm of health care. The blueprint to move away from "sick care" to "well care".  

Last part will be Governor Perdue talking about North Carolina community care. They help navigate the consumer through the system. "Right place, right care, right time, right cost" says Governor Bev Perdue.

Governor Perdue has taken the stage to start the event

Governor Perdue is welcoming all of the audience members and thanking us for coming to this event. Format for the day s starting out thinking of health care in general. The rising cost of health care, the difficulty of getting health care, the financial burden of health care for states and small business.  President Obama's administration gets the fact that the financing of health care is a federal responsibility.

States need to focus on the delivery system.

Health Care Forum is Underway

Here we go. Opening statements from taped address by President Obama "Health care reform can not wait another year"