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House Bill 1366 - School Violence Prevention Act

Background:
The North Carolina House will hold a critical vote on House Bill 1366, the School Violence Prevention Act, as early as this Wednesday, July 2.

As you may remember, last year the House passed this important bill to address bullying, but the Senate stripped out critical language that addresses bullying based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and other categories. We know this language is needed to make sure our most vulnerable students are fully protected.

This week the House will be voting on whether to accept or reject the Senate's weakened version of this legislation.

We need your help to ensure that House votes not to concur with the Senate, so a conference committee can work to pass the strongest possible bill. Please, take a moment right now to email your legislator.

Take Action:
Email or Call Your Representative Today.

Find your Representative.

Tell Them:
-To vote NOT to concur with the Senate version of HB 1366: School Violence Prevention Act so that a conference committee can ensure that we have the strongest possible law to address the epidemic of bullying in our schools.

-Research has demonstrated that including this language makes students feel safer, and makes teachers and school staff more likely to intervene.

Why Enumeration of Categories is important to Students with Disabilities:
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.

Just to remind you how important this legislation is we are sharing this reflection from a North Carolina Youth Leadership Network member and advocate:

“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.”

Federal Update: CMS Moratorium

Today President Bush signed he Emergency War Supplemental Appropriation bill. Included in the supplemental appropriation bill includes a one year moratorium on six Medicaid regulations and extends unemployment benefits, veteran’s education benefits and provides relief for states affected by the most recent weather related disasters. The six Medicaid regulations included in this bill are the rehabilitiation option, school based administration/transportation and case management rules.

Monday Hot Topics: Hot Policy Topics This Week

North Carolina

Budget:
This weekend the media highlighted a major showdown regarding the budget. The House and Senate leaders are still working on the details of compromise on the budget. At the same time Governor’s Easley office advised the legislators that there is a projected $70 million shortfall for the next fiscal year. The media was reporting on Sunday some strong words between Governor Mike Easley and leadership in the legislature.  

July 1 starts the new fiscal year. There will be no need for a continuing resolution. Currently we are operating under the two year fiscal budget passed last summer.

So the real question is what happens now? Well, negotiations are continuing this week between the House and Senate. Looks like they will settle their differences and then check in with the Governor.  

This could get really interesting. Check out WRAL: Easley: Budget please 'falling on deaf ears'

Bills:
Last week two important bills passed the House and Senate. House Bill 12 Students with Disabilities and Special Education Changes, passed the Senate with a vote of 47 in favor 0 opposing. This bill, which passed the House last year, implements a recommendation of the House Select Committee on Education of Students with Disabilities. It restores a protection for students who have not yet been identified as needing special education services, but whose behavior clearly indicates the need for such services. This bill will now head over to the House chamber for concurrence. We are expecting to see this legislation on the Governor’s desk for his signature within the next week.

Also last week, the Senate and the House passed their Autism Committee Recommendation bill. Included in this legislation is the removal of the 18 year old age limit on the Silver Alert system. This is important for parents of children with Autism or other cognitive disabilities. Currently the Silver Alert system is only available for individuals who are over the age of 18.
We expect to see this bill in House and Senate health committees this week.
The Arc of North Carolina is continuing to support both of these bills.

Dispatch from the GA: Senate Health Committee Passes Autism Committee Report

The Senate Health Committee gave a favorable report to the Autism Committee Report today.

This legislation includes an important provision that would eliminate the age requirement to issue a Silver Alert. Currently you must be over the age of 18 and have dementia or other cognitive impairment for a Silver Alert to be issued if a person is missing.
This bill would remove that age limit.

Some children with autism and other cognitive disabilities may have a tendency to walk away from home. In our state there is no alert system that would be activated to assist in finding these children. Senate Bill 1892 would offer parents and guardians a way of alerting their communities that a child is missing.

This bill will be voted on by the full Senate later this week. The House Health committee passed a similar bill last week.

Dispatch from the GA: Senate Education Committee Passes HB 12

The Senate Education Committee gave a favorable report today to HB 12 Students with Disabilities and Special Education Changes. House Bill 12 implements a recommendation of the House Select Committee on Education of Students with Disabilities.

It restores a protection for students who have not yet been identified as needing special education services, but whose behavior clearly indicates the need for such services.

In the committee meeting today Representative Rick Glazier (D) and Representative Laura Wiley (R) spoke passionately about the need to identify and protect a small group of students who are falling through the gaps. Representative Wiley gave the example of a child who was identified as a disruptive student. The student would "act up" in the classroom and faced multiple disciplinary actions during their academic career. This student was placed in a pull out class taught by Representative Wiley. During a test period the student's behavior became disruptive. When asked why are you acting this way? The student responded "I don't know". Turns out this child had tourettes and was never properly identified. This is the student who would be helped by this bill.

HB 12 will now go to the Senate floor for a vote.

We congratulate Representative Rick Glazier on his leadership and dedication to children with disabilities. This legislation will go a long way to helping the children who all to often exist in the margins and are not helped by the system.

NC Legislative Update-Bills of Interest Today-Senate

Senate Education/Public Instruction will take up HB 12 Students Ineligible for Special Education/Protection and HB 15 Textbooks and Assignments on Short-Term Suspension. Both of these bills are supported by The Arc of North Carolina.
HB 12 Students Ineligible for Special Education/Protection protects unidentified, eligible students with disabilities from long-term suspensions when schools fail to identify them and their performance and behavior clearly established the need for such services.
HB 15 Textbooks and Assignments on Short-Term Suspension will permit students with disabilities to take home their textbooks while they are on short term suspension.

This committee meeting will take place at 10:00am in room 544 LOB.


Senate Health Care will be taking up SB 1892 Austism Committee Recommendations. The Arc of North Carolina also supports this legislation. SB 1892 includes three sections. The first would remove the age restrictions on the state's Silver Alert system. This would permit parents with autistic children and children with cognitive disabilities to access a state wide alert system if their child goes missing.

This committee meeting will take place at 11:00 am in room 544 LOB.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

The budget will be on the minds of all of our advocates and elected officials as we start off this week.

So let's get to it!  Today Monday, June 23rd the Health and Human Services conferees will meet in room 643 LOB to hash out the differences in the money report and the special provisions. 

Here is a quick look at the rest of the week:

Monday, June 23rd

5:00pm  House Education Committee

HB 388: Tax Credit for Children with Special Needs.

This bill would provide a tax credit to families of children with special needs who have had to place their children in private school or are homeschooling their children.  To qualify the child must have been enrolled for a year in the public school system and have an IEP.  There is no income eligibility requirement for this tax credit.  Last year 4,050 students with disabilities dropped out of high school, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Tuesday, June 24th

Several bills of interest today.  

10:00am House Judiciary 1   Room 1228

Senate Bill 1860 Amend Child Abuse/Child Fatality Task Force.  This bill passed the Senate and will now be taken up by the House. This will increase the penalties for knowingly and willingly harming a child.

10:00am Senate Judiciary 1  Room 1027

Senate Bill 2063 Jessica's Law/GPS Monitoring

This is the second bill to address the issue of child endangerment and sex offender registry.

Special NC Legislative Update: The Budget

The House and Senate are now in the process of negotiating the differences between their budget proposals.  There are some significant differences. 

In the Health and Human Services budget one significant difference is the CAP/MR-DD Tier 1 Support Waiver spending limits.  The House budget special provision set the spending limit at $20,000.00.  The Senate set this tier at $15,000.00.   The national average for this support waiver is $20,000.  Advocates, parents, people with developmental disabilities and LMEs have all supported the creation of these tier waivers and have supported the $20,000 dollar spending limit on the first tier.  We will continue to follow the debate on this issue.

It is looking more and more like the budget conferees will wrap up their work by Monday, June 23rd.  The legislators are on track to finalize the budget and put it on the Governor's desk by this coming Friday.

NC Legislative Update: Senate Budget Vote Day 1

Today the Senate voted on their budget proposal. The vote was 33 in favor and 16 opposed with one person absent. The budget total is $21.4 billion.  The next vote will be on Thursday with conference committees ready to gear up next week. 

Read more about it:

Dan Kane, Senate Passes Preliminary Budget.

Dispatch from the GA: Senate Budget Update Live!

Senate Health and Human Services Appropriation subcommittee review is completed.  The Senate is now heading to finish the remainder of the presentations.

After all presentations are completed there will be a time for discussion and questions.  There will also be amendments presented.

Senator Dannelly announced at 10:00 a.m. that the deadline for submitting amendments had concluded.  No new amendments would be accepted after 10:00 a.m.

Dispatch from the GA: Senate Budget Update Live!

Senator William Purcell and Senator Doug Berger are reviewing the HHS Senate Appropriation Subcommittee proposals right now.

Dispatch from the GA: Senate Budget Update Live!

The Senate is going over their full budget proposal right now in room 643 LOB.  Want to listen on line? Head over to the NC General Assembly website.

Here is the agenda for today:

Education

Health and Human Services

Natural and Economic Resources

Justice and Public Safety

General Government

Transportation

Salaries and Benefits

Statewide Reserves

Capital

General Fund Availability/General Provisions

Right now Senator Malone and Senator A.B. Swindell are reviewing for the full committee the Education budget as proposed by the appropriation subcommittee.

NC Legislative Update: Senate Budget

Yesterday, the Senate began to unveil their budget proposal.  Some major differences emerged during the day. 

The Senate increased funding of More at Four to $41 million.  This is still $4 million short of the Governor's request but a significant increase from the House budget. The Senate went with the Governor's recommendation to reduce Medicaid reimbursement by 75%, the House in contrast only did a 50% reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates.  The Senate did put in place a one time $36 million toward Community Support for people with mental illness.  This one time investment was designed to give a financial infusion to a troubled program and give the Department and Division time to implement a more stabilizing solution. 

Teacher's and state employees received a raise in line with what the House had proposed. 3% for teaches and for state employees a 2.75% or $1,000 raise depending on which is greater.

Today Senate Base Budget Appropriations will receive the budget and possible amendments.  The goal of the House and Senate is to have the budget signed by the Governor by July 1.  Just in time for the new fiscal year.  

It is looking like this session will end right around the 4th of July holiday!

Additional Information:

Check out Dan Kane's take on the budget. Senate, House Differ on State Budget Details

Dispatch from the GA: Senate HHS Appropriations

The budget has been released.  Here is a quick money report from the Senate on our legislative budget requests.

CAP/MR-DD Waiver Funding: We requested $10 million.  The House appropriated $8.2 million and the Senate has appropriated $8.2 million.

START Crisis Model for Developmental Disabilities:  We supported the start up of this crisis service model for people with developmental disabilities.  The House appropriated

$3,239,688 recurring and $204,459 non recurring for 9 START Crisis Model teams that would be locally based.  The Senate appropriated $1,737,250 recurring and $138,993 non recurring to fund 6 START crisis models.  The teams would be state employees.

Respite Beds for Developmental Disabilities: Both the House and the Senate appropriated $903,375 recurring and $177,617 non recurring funding for 12 respite beds for people with developmental disabilities across the state.

Medically Fragile Children:  Both the House and the Senate have appropriated $70,000 non recurring funding and $290,000 in block grant funding for Tender Healthcare.  This non-profit organization serves children who are medically fragile.

Housing 400 Initiative: The House and the Senate both provided $1 million in recurring funding for operational cost subsidy and $7 million in non-recurring funding for home construction.

Early Intervention for Autism: The Senate appropriated $1,875,000 recurring for early intervention for Autism.  This is an increase of $575,000 from the House budget that appropriated $1,300,000 for early intervention.

Autism Awareness and Education Video: This is a new item that was not included in the House budget.  It comes out of the Autism Task Force.  The Senate has appropriated $30,000 non recurring for TEACH to develop videos for autism education and awareness for public officials and judicial branch officials.  

Supportive Series for HUD 811 Projects:  The House and the Senate both appropriated $129,331 recurring and $155,000 non  recurring. This money is direct support dollars to residents of independent housing units in Wake, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Buncombe counties. This request was part of our legislative funding requests.

Traumatic Brain Injury Services: Both the House and the Senate appropriated $1 million for traumatic brain injury.

Beyond Academics: Intellectual Disability Transition Program.

Both the House and the Senate appropriated $200,000 in non recurring funding for this program.

We will update the special provisions later in the day.  We extend our gratitude to the Senate leadership for understanding the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina

Budget:
The Senate will release its budget this week. The process begins on Monday, June 16 at 3:00pm with Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee. At 4:00pm the Education Appropriation Subcommittee will roll out its budget. The full Senate will vote on the budget Wednesday and Thursday of this week. We will update this site with information regarding the budget.
There are going to be significant differences between the House and Senate budget. Some of the rumored differences are teacher’s raises and UNC expansion funding for incoming Freshmen.
Even with these differences, it is still possible that we will have a final budget signed by the Governor by July 1st.

Check out this take on the budget: NC Senate Wants More Education Spending.

Bills Of Interest:
A few things we are tracking in the House and Senate this week. All of them are in the Education subcommittees.

House Education Subcommittee
On Tuesday, June 17 2008 this subcommittee will take up two bills that affect students with disabilities.  

HB 2288 Continue Dropout Prevention Commission.
The Dropout Prevention Commission worked during the past session break to address the reasons that student dropout of high school. This legislation would authorize this commission to continue its work.

HB 2306 IET Team and Homebound Instruction Changes.
This bill makes one change to last years law. It removes “the head of the student’s IEP team” and replaces it with “the designee or designees of the student’s IEP team”
Wednesday, June 18

Senate Education Committee
On Wednesday, June 18, 2008 this committee will take up HB 12  Students Ineligible for Special Education Protection. This bill passed the House in last years long session.
This bill protects unidentified, eligible students with disabilities from long-term suspensions when schools fail to identify them and their performance and behavior clearly established the need for such services. We expect to see a committee substitute for this bill. We will update this blog with the changes. HB12 is on The Arc of North Carolina’s Legislative Agenda.

NC Legislative Update: Friday Wrap Up

North Carolina Budget:

Looks like the Senate is ready to roll out their budget.  On Monday, June 16 the appropriation subcommittee will unveil their budgets.  On Thursday we were hearing rumors of a $20 million dollar cut to the Health and Human Services budget. We will update on where that cut was once we see the budget.

It is also looking like the Senate is trying to increase the teacher pay raise to 5%.  The House had included a little over 3% pay raise in their budget for a teacher pay raise.  

Senate Health and Human Services Appropriation Subcommittee will be meeting on Monday, June 16th at 3:00pm in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building to roll out their budget.  We will be blogging live from the meeting. You can also listen on line by going to the NC Legislature's website.

Bills:

Medical Release of Ill or Disabled Inmates.

This week Governor Mike Easley signed this bill into law.  As discussed earlier in this blog, this law would permit non violent prisoners who become terminally ill or permanently disabled to be paroled, per the parole commissions recommendation.

Autism Committee Recommendations. House Bill 2553

This bill includes removing the current age restrictions for the Silver Alert System.  This legislation came out of the Autism Committee Report.  Currently the Silver Alert System can only be activated if a person is 18 years or older, is missing and has a cognitive impairment or has dementia.  If this law passes the Silver Alert System will require no age limit for activation.

This bill was taken up by the House Health Committee on Wednesday, June 11th.  The bill received a favorable report from the committee and has been referred to appropriations.

A Quick Look At Next Week:

On Wednesday, June 18th House Bill 12: Students Ineligible for Special Education Protection will be taken up by the Senate Education Committee. There will be a committee substitute for this bill.  This bill protects unidentified, eligible students with disabilities from long-term suspensions when schools fail to identify them and their performance and behavior clearly established the need for such services.

Action Alert: Call These Senators Today!

Background:
The House has passed their budget and it is now in the Senate. We were very pleased with the $8.2 million dollar funding for new CAP/MR-DD slots. We need to let Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee members and Senate Appropriation members know how important this funding is to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
New CAP Tier 1 Support Waiver Slots in the House budget are currently set at a spending limit of 20,000 (twenty thousand). We need the Senate to support this spending limit. At this time the Senate is considering $15,000.00 spending limit. This would be a disaster for families on the waiting list. National and State data indicate that $20,000 (twenty thousand) is that appropriate spending limit for this tier.

Take Action:
We need you to call or email these members on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Tell Them:
To support the House budget. $8.2 million dollars will open over one thousand support waiver slots. These slots will begin to address the needs for people with developmental disabilities currently on our waiting list.

To support the $20 thousand spending limits on CAP/MR-DD Support Waiver Tier 1.
This spending limit is supported by Division of Health and Human Services, Local Management Entitites (LMEs), advocacy groups, provider organizations, people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Who to Call:
Senate Health and Human Service Appropriations
Senator Doug Berger 919.715.8363 Dougb@ncleg.net
Senator William Purcell 919.733.5953 Williamp@ncleg.net

Senate Appropriations
Senator Charles Albertson 919.733.5705 Charliea@ncleg.net
Senator Charlie Dannelly 919.733.5955 Charlied@ncleg.net
Senator Linda Garrou 919.733.5620 Lindag@ncleg.net

NC Legislative Update: The Senate Budget

This week has been off to a quick start.  The Senate received the budget and set to work on it.  The Senate Appropriation chairs have been meeting with Senate Appropriation Subcommittee chairs to work out the nuances of both the money report and the special provisions.  

Late this afternoon we heard a rumor that the budget process may be slowing down ever so slightly.  There is a discussion happening regarding teacher raises and UNC's requests regarding enrollment funding.  

One additional rumor puts the roll out of the budget for next week.  We will keep you informed as things continue to move forward in this very complicated process.

NC Legislative Update: Details From the House Budget

This week the major news at the General Assembly was the House passing its budget.  The budget comes in at $21.3 billion dollars.  It reflects a 3 percent increase in state spending annually.  Two sections of the budget that have a considerable impact on the people with developmental disabilities and their families is the Health and Human Services budget and the Education budget.  Here is a detailed break down of the funding provided by this budget.

Health and Human Services:

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Education
$100,000 Recurring
Provides funding for the North Carolina T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood Project.

Medically Fragile Children’s Program
$70,000 Non Recurring
Funding of this program provides services for the child care component of pediatric day treatment center for medically fragile children. In addition this program will receive an additional $290,000 from the SSBG Block Grant. This was a new appropriation that had not been funded in the previous draft proposal. Total appropriation $360,000.

CAP/MR-DD Tiered Slots
$8,232,411 Recurring
This funding will provide for additional Community Alternatives Program slots for people with developmental disabilities.

Mental Health Screening and Assessments in Adult Care Homes
$198,846 Recurring
$1,905,648 Non Recurring
Provides funding to implement a mental health screening program for residents of adult care homes.

Money Follows the Person Administrative Funding
$59,186 Recurring
Provides funding for two positions and operating expenses to implement the federal Money Follows the Person grant.

NC Health Choice Expansion
$10,387,650
Provides funding to expand the NC Health Choice program to support an additional 10,683 children, for a total of 133,036 children. This is SCHIP.

START Crisis Model for Developmental Disabilities
$3,239,688 Recurring and $204, 459 Non Recurring
This funding will provide for 9 Developmental Disabilities Systemic Therapeutic Assessment, Respite, and Treatment Crisis Model teams. These teams will operate under a regionally-purchased, locally-hosted model and will be supported by $1 million in Medicaid reciepts.

Respite Beds for Developmental Disabilities
$903, 375 Recurring and $177,617 Non Recurring
This funding will provide for start-up and ongoing support of 12 respite beds for individuals with developmental disabilities across the state.

Housing 400 Initiative-Housing Trust Fund
$7,000,000 Non Recurring
The funding for the Housing 400 Initiative increased in the final budget from $4,000,000. This funding provides for the financing of additional independent and supportive living apartments for people with disabilities. $2,000,000 of this funding is redirected from the Mental Health Trust Fund.

Housing 400 Initiative-Operating Cost Subsidy
$1,000,000 Recurring
This funding provides the operating cost for the independent-and supportive living apartments. It provides for the deep affordability that is needed for people with disabilities receiving Supplement Security Incomes.

Early Intervention for Autism
$1,300,000 Non Recurring
This appropriation is a reduction from the original $2,000,000. This funding supports three model programs of early intervention for autism across the state. These programs serve children with autism from birth through age 10.

Supportive Services for HUD 811 Projects
$129,331 Recurring and $155,000 Non Recurring
This funding will provide on-going operation and start –up expenses to support 6 two-bedroom and 19 one-bedroom apartments financed through HUD. These units are located in Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Rowan County and Buncombe County. Direct services dollars are the key to a successful transition to independent living options for the residents of these units.

Traumatic Brain Injury Services
$1,000,000 Recurring
This funding is directed to TBI services.

Beyond Academics: Intellectual Disability Transition Program
$200,000 Non Recurring
This funding will provide support to Beyond Academics, a non-degree university-based programs for students with developmental disabilities.

Education:

Children with Disabilities
$6,200,000 Recurring
This funding will be allotted to Les to support special education and related services for students with identified disabilities. This funding will increase the per student funded rate to $3,386.84 per student.

Dropout Prevention Grants
$15,000,000 Non Recurring
This appropriation provides for a second year of funding for a grant program that distributes funding on a competitive basis to support innovative LEA programs that address dropout prevention.

More at Four
$23,000,000 Non Recurring
This funding will expand the More at Four program by 4,184 slots in 2008-2009 and increase the average per slot amount by 3%. The increase will result in 32,829 total available More at Four slots.

Positive Behavior Support
$90,000 Recurring
Provides funding to support an additional position for the Positive Behavior Support initiative, an effort to improve the environment for all students by establishing and reinforcing clear behavioral expectations throughout the school building and school day.

Funds for Class-Size Reduction
$19,750,000
General Assembly directs the Director of the Budget to transfer sufficient funding from the Education Lottery Reserve Fund to maintain K-3 student/teacher ratios at 18:1.

Bills that Moved This Week:

The budget was not the only thing happening at the General Assembly this week. There were multiple committee meetings and floor votes in the Senate and House.

One bill that we have been tracking is SB 1840 Medical Release for Ill and Disabled Inmates.  This bill directs the Department of Correction and the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission to provide for medical release of no-risk inmates who are either permanently and totally disabled, terminally ill, or geriatric. This bill passed both chambers and is now awaiting the Governor's signature.

Friday Wrap Up: The Budget Moves to the Senate

On Thursday the House received bipartisan support on their $21.3 billion dollar budget. The final vote was 104 in favor of the budget with 10 in opposition. The budget increases state spending on an annual basis by only 3.3 percent. The bill does include a teacher pay increase of 3 percent and a state employee pay increase of 2.75 percent.

The Health and Human Services budget included $8.2 million dollars to fund new CAP/MR-DD slots. The budget addresses the need for crisis services for people with developmental disabilities by appropriating $3.4 million towards the START Crisis Model and an additional $903 thousand toward respite beds for people with developmental disabilities.

Housing for people with developmental disabilities was also a priority for the Health and Human Service budget. The Housing 400 Initiative saw an increase in funding from $4 million dollars to $7 million dollars in the final budget. There was also an additional investment of $1 million dollars in recurring funding for operating subsidies for the Housing 400 independent living units.

The Education budget included $6.2 million dollars for children with disabilities, this funding increases the per student funding amount. There was also an investment of $19 million dollars to reduce class size.  

The Senate has already started work on their budget. This week the Senate Appropriation subcommittees for General Government, Education, and Health and Human Services met to review appropriation bills. Rumor has it that the Senate budget will be set to be rolled out on Thursday of this coming week.

We will keep you informed as the budget train continues to steam down the track!

Dispatch from the GA: Senate HHS Appropriations

Senate Health and Human Services Appropriation is meeting right now to hear appropriation bills.  The Arc of North Carolina just presented on the reason to fund direct service dollars to people with developmental disabilities in independent supportive housing in Wake, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Buncombe counties. The funding would serve 31 people living in these apartments.  The second presentation was a funding request for Tender Healthcare.  This is a day care center in Raleigh which serves children who are medically fragile.  Senator Walter Dalton just spoke to the need to fund Tier 1 CAP/MR-DD slots.  It is expected that all of these bills will pass out of committee today.  These bills will then be considered as the Senate puts together its budget.

Dispatch from the GA: House Budget Update and Senate Appropriations

The train has definitely pulled out of the station and is on its way down the track.  The House is right now hearing amendments during the third and final reading of the House budget. At some point there will be a final vote and the budget will be sent over to the House.

Meanwhile, the Senate has started appropriation committee meetings.  Yesterday was Senate Education Appropriations.  Today is Health and Human Services, General Government,and Information Technology.  Appropriations committees are hearing directly from the bill sponsors regarding the need to fund the programs that are detailed in the appropriation bills.  Many of the bills listed today in the Health and Human Services Appropriation Committee are programs that have received funding in the House budget.

More later.....

NC Legislative Update: The Budget Is Vote On

Today the full House took up the budget on the House floor.  Out of all the bills that will be debated and voted on this session, the budget is the longest and by far the most complicated and most contested legislation during the short session.

After a marathon session last evening. Today's gathering started at 2:00 p.m. and was finished by 6:00 p.m. The rules require that the budget be voted on in two separate days.  So, today was not yet the end of the debate nor the end of the myriad of amendments. The actual end to this first process on the House side will be tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

So, here is the vote. 114 Representatives were present today. Ayes: 102  Noes: 12 Excused Absent: 3 and Excused Vote: 1.

Included in this budget is $8.2 million dollars for new Community Alternative Program Waiver Slots (CAP) MR/DD.  This is a wonderful achievement that could not have happened without the voices and actions of many advocates around our State.  

We will be posting a complete recap of the budget on Friday.

Election 2008: Democratic Primary Update

In North Carolina we have all be focused on the House budget process. In Montana and South Dakota the focus was on the final Democratic Presidential Primary. CNN and MSNBC are reporting that Senator Barak Obama has won Montana and Senator Hillary Clinton has won South Dakota.

CNN is also projecting that Senator Obama has hit the "magic number" by securing enough delegates to become the first African-American Presidential nominee.

Dispatch from the GA: Bugdet Amendments Over on to Wednesday

After a marathon session of amendments that ended close to 9:00 pm, the House budget moved another step closer to passage.

House is set to convene tomorrow at 2:00 pm to vote on the budget. Final vote will be on Wednesday and then it will head over to the Senate.

We will have a full report on the final budget proposal tomorrow.

Dispatch from the GA: House Budget Work Still Going

Representative Beverly Earle offered an amendment to the CAP/MR-DD Tier Waiver Special Provision.  The amendment raised the funding limit on the Tier 1 support waiver from $15,000 to $20,000.  The amendment was supported by LMEs, multiple advocacy groups, and the developmental disability community.  After a spirited discussion, this amendment passed. 

We are very thankful for the leadership of Representative Beverly Earle and her advocacy for this amendment.

Dispatch from the GA: House Budget Keeps Moving

We are into the amendment part of the day now.  There are close to 100 amendments that are filed and will be moving to through the process.  So far there have been no amendments related to HHS (Health and Human Services).

Dispatch from the GA: It is House Budget Day!

Today is the day!! The full House is gathered right now in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building reviewing the full House budget.  Right now we are reviewing the Health and Human Services budget special provisions and money report.

It should be a fun  and long day!  We will keep you informed as the day goes on.  

Monday Quick Hits: Hot Policy Topics for This Week

North Carolina

Budget:
Last week all of the appropriation subcommittees in the House completed their budgets and voted on their recommendations. The full House budget is expected to come out this week. Looking at the current calendar we are guessing it will be in full House appropriations on Wednesday.

Legislation:

Senate
On Tuesday the Senate Committee on Judiciary II will be taking up SB 1860: Amend Child Abuse. This legislation comes out of the Child Fatality Task Force and would increase the penalty for willful abuse of a child. A willful act of reckless disregard with a child would become a Class E felony if it results in serious bodily injury to the child. The House takes up the same bill on Wednesday in the House Committee on Children, Youth and Families. 

On Wednesday the Senate Committee on Health Care will take up SB 1686: Smoke-Free State and Local Building Grounds. This bill require that the grounds within a certain distance of state-owned or operated buildings be smoke free.  This bill comes out of the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Mental Health & Youth Services will take up SB 1610: Recommendations of MH/DD/SA Oversight Committee.  

House
On Tuesday the House Committee on Children, Youth and Families will take up HB 2338 Hospital Report Child Injuries. This bill would change the way hospitals report child injuries that may be in the physician's professional judgement the result of non-accidental trauma.

Calendar

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

HOUSE:
10:00 a.m. House Committee On Judiciary III, 1425 LB.
HB 2163 (McLawhorn) PITT CO. SHERIFF/ACCESS DHHS DRUG DATA BASE
HB 2390 (Bordsen) RAISE CEILING ON PERSONAL PROP. SALE/GUARDIAN
HB 2391 (Bordsen) NO AUTO. REVOKE/DRIV. LIC./INCOMPETENT PERSON
HB 2492 (Justus) AMEND RELEASE OF JUVENILE ESCAPE INFO

SENATE:
10:00 a.m. Senate Committee On Judiciary II, 1124 LB.
SB 1860 (Allran) AMEND CHILD ABUSE/CHILD FATALITY TASK FORCE

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

HOUSE:
12:00 p.m. House Committee On Children, Youth and Families, 1425 LB.
HB 2338 (Clary) HOSPITAL REPORT CHILD INJURIES
HB 2339 (Clary) AMEND CHILD ABUSE/CHILD FATALITY TASK FORCE
HB 2340 (Earle) TRANSPORTING CHILDREN IN OPEN BED OF VEHICLE
HB 2379 (Barnhart) GUARDIANSHIP STUDY

SENATE:
11:00 a.m. Senate Committee On Health Care, 544 LOB.
SB 1662 (Rand) DISAPPROVE NURSING FACILITY REQUIREMENTS RULE
SB 1686 (Purcell) SMOKE-FREE STATE AND LOCAL BLDG. GROUNDS
SB 1733 (Purcell) HOSPITAL REPORT CHILD INJURIES
SB 1770 (Nesbitt) EXPAND MEDICAL EXAMINER JURISDICTION/FUNDS

12:00 p.m. Senate Committee On Mental Health & Youth Services, 414 LOB.
SB 1610 (Nesbitt) RECOMMENDATIONS OF MH/DD/SA OVERSIGHT COMM

Election 2008: Democratic Primary Puerto Rico

CNN and MSNBC are reporting that Senator Hillary Clinton has won the Puerto Rico Primary.  The next two Democratic Primaries are scheduled for this coming Tuesday.  This very long primary race comes to a conclusion on Tuesday night with all fifty states having a say on who will lead the Democratic party in November.

Once all the numbers from today are in we will update the delegate count.