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FY 2006 House Budget Recap
May 2, 2005
For people served and unserved by DMR, there were some wins and serious losses in the House Budget that concluded last Friday April 29th at 9:10 pm. The House Ways and Means Committee released its version of the FY2006 budget on April 13, 2005. It included a new line item for a Division on Autism within the Department of Mental Retardation, funded at $1 million and a salary reserve line item for Direct Care Workers, funded at $10 million. Other than these initiatives, the House spending plan was remarkably similar to the Governor's budget proposal. The autism initiative is a mixed bag because the division is focused on children up to the age of eighteen and leaves the adult population without a focus, particularly people with Asperger's and others who do not fall into DMR eligibility guidelines. The Arc of Massachusetts has argued with policy makers that there is a danger in segmenting people with specific disabilities, however, Rep. Barbara L'Italien (Andover) effectively advocated for the Autism population. The Arc of Massachusetts worked aggressively to boost funding in the Family Support Line Item, and had lobbied for an additional $4.5 million dollars. Because the House added $1 million for the autism division, The Arc worked with Rep. Tom Sannicandro (Ashland) and twenty five other co-sponsors, who filed an amendment providing $3.5 million additional dollars for the DMR Family Support program. Rep. Jim Marzilli filed an amendment adding $24.5 million dollars for the direct care workers salary reserve. Budget debate began on Monday, April 25. All DMR, DMH, MRC and most disability-related amendments were considered at this time. The only significant change came when the House provided $500,000 additional funds for the DMR Family Support line item. This was largely due to Rep. Sannicandro, who used the opportunity to make his maiden speech describing his personal experience as the father of a 21 year old man with Down Syndrome. If you have a moment, please send Rep. Sannicandro an email or call to say "thanks" for his efforts in providing the only significant DMR increase during the entire House process:
E-mail: Rep.TomSannicandro(at)Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: 617-722-2090 The House added an additional $50,000 to the DMR residential account, but tacked on $300,000 in earmarks for local projects. There was no progress made on Direct Care salaries. The amount stands at $10,000,000. The budget now moves to the Senate. We are told the Senate Ways & Means Committee will release its proposal by May 18th. Senate budget debate will begin on May 23, 2005. Budget Path: Governor => House => Senate => Conference Committee => Governor => Vetoes (Legislature) Fiscal Year State Budget begins July 1
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Amendments taken up by the House of Representatives.
FY2006 DMR Budget and related line items
Line Item | Description | Request for FY2006 | Governor’s 2006 | House Ways and Means | Final House | 5911-1000 | Administration |
| $12,780,909 | $12,799,349 | $12,799,349 | 5911-2000 | Transportation | $13,882,269 | $13,882,269 | $13,882,269 | $13,882,269* | 5920-1000 | Regional/Area Offices |
| $53,853,237 | $53,490,519 | $53,490,519 | 5920-2000 | Community Residential | $499,491,126 | $499,491,126 | $499,369,626 | $499,419,626** | 5920-2010 | State Ops. |
| $119,978,807 | $119,556,581 | $119,556,581 | 5920-2020 | Boulet/Waiting List | $85,614,227 | $85,614,227 | $85,614,227 | $85,614,227 | 5920-2025 | Day/Employment | $113,106,979 | $113,106,979 | $113,106,979 | $113,106,979*** | 5920-3000 | Flexible Supports (Family Supports) | $55,289,967 | $50,789,967 | $50,789,967 | $51,289,967 | 5920-3010 | New Autism Division |
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| $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 5920-5000 | Turning 22 | $6,467,670 | $6,467,670 | $6,467,670 | $6,467,670 | 5930-1000 | State Schools | Close state schools | $166,072,065 | $165,986,286 | $165,986,286 | 5982-1000 | Templeton Retained |
| $100,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | TOTAL DMR Budget |
| $1,122,137,256 | $1,122,163,473 | $1,122,713,473 |
| 1599-6901 | Salary Reserve | $36,000,000 | $0 | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | 1599-6902 | Rate Adjustment | $10,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $0 | $0 | 4000-0430 | Dental Services and Eyeglasses | Dental and Eyeglass benefits restored | No Action | No Action | No Action | 5948-0012 | DOE/DMR | $7,500,000 | $7,500,000 | $7,500,000 | $7,500,000 |
House Earmarks with Sponsors:
*$100,000 for the Life Focus Center in Charlestown Eugene O’Flaherty (Chelsea)
**$150,000 for Best Buddies Dan Bosley (North Adams); $100,000 for Special Olympics Stephen LeDuc (Marlboro); $50,000 for the Advocacy Resource Center in New Bedford Antonio Cabral (New Bedford)
***$100,000 for the Life Focus Center in Charlestown Eugene O’Flaherty (Chelsea)
AMENDMENT OUTCOMES
Family Support, 5920-3000 (DMR, Family Support), Lead Sponsor: Tom Sannicandro Additional $3.5 million for a total of $54,289,967 Action: $500,000 added
Salary Reserve, 1599-6901 (in Admin. and Finance accounts), Lead Sponsor: Jim Marzilli Adds $25.7 million for direct care salaries, total $35,700,000 No Action
Fund housing for people served by DMR and DMH. Lead sponsor: Kay Khan Earmarks 50% of monies from the sale, lease, sublease of any state mental health OR state mental retardation facility to support housing for individuals served by those departments. No Action
AHVP (7004-9030), Lead Sponsor: Anne Paulsen Restores the Alternative Housing Voucher Program for people with disabilities to its original level of $4 million. No Action
DOE/DMR (5948-0012), Lead Sponsor: Barbara L'Italien Additional $1 million for joint DOE/DMR residential chargeback account for municipalities to help special education students remain at home. No Action
Special Education Circuit Breaker (7061-0012), Lead Sponsor: James Eldridge Additional $20 million for municipalities to provide SPED services. No Action
AMENDMENTS Opposed by The Arc
DMR Facilities - Language Change (5930-1000), Lead Sponsor, Tom Stanley Replaces original language from FY2005 and House Ways and Means FY2006 Budget related to state schools that was community-oriented and places more emphasis on keeping segregated state schools open and funded. Orders DMR to file a report as to the Department’s long-term plan to maintain capacity at state schools and ICFs. The original language protects the rights of people who wish to remain in state schools, if they so choose, but directs the state to take steps to consolidate or close state schools when specific criteria were met (consistent with Olmstead). No Action
Toxins Study - Deletes line item 7100-0350, Lead Sponsor Paul Loscoco The line item this amendment strikes provides $250,000 funding for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute to conduct an analysis of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. No Action
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