|
 |
| House Budget FY2009 Final |
|
| |
| |
| The House on Tuesday voted on DMR amendments, finalizing several key disability-related line items. Thanks to the courage of our Legislature, the House budget next year includes more funding for services for people with disabilities and their families than the Governor’s proposed budget.
As you will see below, we by no means got everything we asked for or everything that our members need to have their needs met. However, considering the economic climate, we were concerned that DMR could have taken a much larger hit.
Our biggest successes were in the funding for the Autism Division, up more than $2 million ($1.6 million after earmarks are factored out) and Turning 22 services, up $1.6 million from the Governor’s budget.
There were smaller, but significant, increases in Family Support services, up $250,000 ($150,000 after earmarks), Community Residential Services, up about $373,000 ($173,000 after earmarks), and the Residential Rate Initiative, which adds another $250,000 on top of the Governor's budget for residential programs.
Unfortunately, the Legislature ultimately cut funding for the Governor's proposed Community First Initiative drastically, and the DOE/DMR program is not getting an increase from this fiscal year. See chart and amendment details below for more information.
We are extremely grateful to those legislators who took the lead on amendments - Reps. Tom Sannicandro, Barbara L’Italien, Mary Grant, Alice Peisch, Ted Speliotis, Lida Harkins, John Scibak, Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, Robert DeLeo and Kathi-Anne Reinstein - as well as the dozens of others who co-sponsored those amendments.
Thanks to all of you who emailed, called and visited your elected officials to let them know how important these services are to people with disabilities.
The budget debate is not over yet. We are still awaiting final news from the House on other key line items, specifically the DOE/DMR program. Then, once the House wraps up later this week, we will be looking to the Senate to at least match those funding levels.
Be sure to check back to this website for the latest information about the budget and how to take action as the budget moves onto the Senate and beyond.
|
| Department of Mental Retardation Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Line Item |
Description |
Governor's Request |
House Ways & Means |
Amendment Request |
Final House Budget 2009 |
House budget vs. Gov's Budget |
| 5911-1003 |
Administration & Operations |
$74,522,766 |
$77,575,612 |
|
$77,575,612 |
$3,052,846 |
| 5911-2000 |
Transportation |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
|
$14,137,324 |
$0 |
| 5920-2000 |
Community Residential |
$568,961,352 |
$569,134,202 |
$571,134,202 |
$569,334,202 |
$372,850 |
| 5920-2006 |
Residential Rate Initiative |
$2,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
|
$2,250,000 |
$250,000 |
| 5920-2010 |
State Ops. |
$137,630,099 |
$136,245,115 |
|
$136,245,115 |
-$1,384,984 |
| 5920-2020 |
Boulet/Waiting List |
$88,340,110 |
$88,173,986 |
|
$88,173,986 |
-$166,124 |
| 5920-2025 |
Day/Employment |
$128,959,457 |
$128,859,457 |
|
$128,959,457 |
$0 |
| 5920-3000 |
Family Supports |
$55,044,228 |
$54,994,228 |
$56,044,228 |
$55,294,228 |
$250,000 |
| 5920-3010 |
Autism Division |
$3,287,118 |
$2,921,753 |
$8,000,000 |
$5,421,753 |
$2,134,635 |
| 5920-5000 |
Turning 22 |
$6,100,000 |
$6,100,000 |
$8,467,670 |
$7,700,000 |
$1,600,000 |
| 5930-1000 |
State Schools |
$188,217,948 |
$187,245,814 |
|
$187,545,814 |
-$672,134 |
| 5948-0012 |
DOE/DMR |
$8,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$14,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$0 |
| 5982-1000 |
Templeton Retained |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
|
$150,000 |
$0 |
| TOTAL |
|
$1,275,350,402 |
$1,275,537,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-DMR Budget Items |
| 4000-0117 |
EOHHS Salary Reserve |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
|
$23,000,000 |
$0 |
| 4000-0650 |
Community First Initiative |
$45,800,000 |
$15,000,000 |
$28,300,000 |
$15,000,000 |
-$30,800,000 |
| 4000-0700 |
MassHealth (within this large line-item, asked for additional funding for Rolland) |
N/A |
N/A |
$17,500,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
DMR Community Services Amendments
1. Turning 22 (5920-5000) Asked $8,467,670; Budgeted $7,600,000.
Asked to restore funding to FY2007 levels. The numbers of students transitioning from school-life to adult-life has increased by more than 100 students, but the funding has not followed. With the $7.6 million, graduating students may still face a void of services for a time. Sponsor: Rep. Tom Sannicandro
2. Community Residential (5920-2000) Asked $571,134,202; Budgeted $569,334,202. We were able to restore part of the ½ million dollar cut in the Governor's budget but not enough cut into the 600-person waiting list. Sponsor: Rep. Alice Peisch
3. Family Support (5920-3000) Asked $56,044,228. Budgeted 55,294,228.
Received an extremely modest increase to a line-item that is perhaps DMR's most cost-effective. The $150,000 increase over the Governor's budget (after earmarks) will serve an additional 75 families and save the Commonwealth money in the long run. This fund serves about 13,000 individuals, but there is a 3,000 person waiting list for services. The account has received only one increase of $500,000 in the last 7 years. Sponsor: Rep. Mary Grant
4. Autism Division (5920-3010) Asked $8,000,000. Budgeted $5,321,753.
For the growing population of children with autism. The autism waiver currently assists fewer than 100 students. Early help in their homes will give them the chance to have productive lives in their communities as teens and adults. These funds would give autistic children the social, behavioral and communication services they need. Sponsor: Rep. Barbara L'Italien
5. DOE-DMR (5948-0012) Asked $14,000,000. Budgeted: $8,000,000.
To add more funding for a program that keeps families together and saves the Commonwealth money long-term by allowing children to stay home rather than seeking residential placements. This funding would address the 2-year waiting list and prevent the separation of children from their families. Sponsor: Rep. Barbara L'Italien
|
|
|
Community First and Rolland Amendments
Since this is new to many of our surfers and constituents, we have uploaded a little more background for you here.
Fact sheet on the Community First Initiative here. Located at Disability Policy Consortium site.
1. Community First (757) Asked $28,300,000; Budgeted: $15,000,000
Governor originally budgeted nearly $46 million to more adequately fund this Olmstead initiative, which assists 15,600 elders and individuals with disabilities to receive transitional and home and community based services (HCBS). We lowered our ask because of budget considerations, but didn't get that. This will be the first time for many to have a chance at community services and it begins to address the nursing home bias. Services include Medication management, Home-delivered meals, Residential supports and home maker services among others. Scope of program must be at certain size to meet federal obligations. Sponsor: Kathi Anne Reinstein
2. Mass Health (758) Asked for additional funds for Rolland Settlement
Asked $17,500,000; Budgeted $0
We were not able to get funds added to MassHealth line item to partially cover the cost of the Rolland vs. Cellucci settlement. The new settlement will allow 640 class members with mental retardation and developmental disabilities who reside in nursing facilities to move to community homes. Remaining individuals will receive specialized services as necessary.
Sponsor: Kathi Anne Reinstein
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|