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FY2009 Senate Budget Amendment Analysis
| Wednesday, May 21 Update: Senators have filed their amendments. See below for the ones The Arc supports. Now we must contact our Senators AGAIN and ask them to SUPPORT our amendments. The Senate's "debate" phase has already begun (May 21) but we can still influence that debate by contacting Senators by Friday. Go to the Action Center to send your Senator the message. |
Senate Amendments
Below are the amendments to the Senate Ways & Means Budget that we support. These amendments will begin to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Please note that there is no new money in the residential or day/employment line-items this year except for money that comes from other accounts (Turning 22, Salary Reserve), money that is tied to specific individuals or staff. When those other accounts are factored out, Community Residential services are facing a nearly $3 million cut in this budget, despite rising costs and a 600-person waiting list. Additionally, the number of DMR-funded students turning 22 this year (and facing the transition from school-life to adult-life) has increased 33% in the last 5 years, but the dollars have not kept pace. These families need your support!
We consider ourselves lucky to have many close friends in the Senate who care deeply about people with disabilities and the services they need. As you will see below, many of these friends -- including Senators Spilka (Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities), Berry, Joyce, Moore, Tucker, Marzilli, Tolman, Jehlen, Morrissey and Creedon -- most of whom have sponsored amendments (the name listed first) that will fund essential programs like Community Residential and Turning 22, and support key initiatives like funding the Rolland Settlement and changing the name of DMR. Please also note below the Senators who have co-sponsored (the names following the first name) our supported amendments.
SUPPORTED AMENDMENTS:
788 RESIDENTIAL RATE INITIATIVE
Mr. Moore, Joyce and Ms. Spilka moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, by inserting after item 5920-2000 the following item:-
"5920-2006, For the implementation of a residential rate initiative; provided, that the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than January 18, 2009, detailing the use of such funds to establish a rate system for vendor-operated residential services..........$2,250,000" 875 TURNING 22 ANNUALIZATION
Messrs. Joyce, Hedlund, Marzilli, Moore, Brown, Augustus, Creedon, Morrissey and Ms. Resor moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-5000, by striking out the figure “$17,664,660” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$19,664,660”. 710 COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Ms. Tucker moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-2000, by striking out the figure “$568,961,352” and inserting in place thereof the figure:- “$569,504,352”. 655 DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL RETARDATION NAME CHANGE
Mr. Berry, Ms. Spilka and Mr. Brewer moved that the bill be amended in Section 10 by striking out the word “disability”.
656 DMR NAME CHANGE II
Mr. Berry, Ms. Spilka and Mr. Brewer moved that the bill be amended in Section 85 by striking out the word “disability”. 732 ROLLAND SETTLEMENT
Ms. Jehlen and Messrs. Marzilli, Joyce and Creedon moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4000-0650, by inserting at the end, the following:- “and provided further that $17,500,000 shall be expended for the fiscal year 2009 cost of the so-called agreement Rolland vs. Cellucci settlement” 617 DISABLED PERSONS PROTECTION COMMISSSION Mr. Creedon moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 8100-0000, by inserting the following language:- “provided further, that not fewer than 5 officers shall be provided to the disabled persons protection commission for the purpose of investigating cases of criminal abuse;” 763 ENSURING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS OF DMR
Ms. Spilka and Mr. Morrissey move that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-2020, by striking out the figure “87,971,902” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$88,340,110”. 685 DENTAL SERVICES TO THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
Ms. Fargo and Messrs. Moore, Augustus and Marzilli moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4512-0500, by striking out the figure “$3,119,016” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$3,444,016”. AMENDMENTS OPPOSED:
We oppose the following amendments because they are earmarks without additional money attached. Many of these amendment sponsors are among our closest friends and we certainly recognize the prerogative of members of the general court to provide earmarks. However, we respectfully request that such earmarks include an amendment for new monies equivalent to the earmark itself. Otherwise unfunded earmarks reduce the dollars available for existing consumers and services. 673 WHOLE CHILDREN, INC.
Mr. Rosenberg moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5911-1003, by adding the following:- “provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be allocated to Whole Children, Inc. of Hadley”. 693 BEST BUDDIES
Mr. Tolman moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-2000, by inserting after the words “Mass Citizens Advocacy” the following:-“provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for Best Buddies Massachusetts” 858 WORK, INC Mr. Hart moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-2025, by inserting at the end the following:-“;provided that an additional $400,000 shall be expended on a contract with Work, Inc. for enhanced or expanded services and employment opportunities for citizens with disabilities” 871 HOUSE OF POSSIBILITIES
Messrs. Joyce and Creedon moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 5920-3000, by inserting the following:- “; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended towards the construction costs of House of Possiblities, a respite home for special needs children and adults in the town of Easton”. · Check back to this website for updated information, or visit our Main Budget Page.
· Visit our Action Center to ask your Senator to support our amendments.
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Department of Mental Retardation |
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| Line Item |
Description |
Governor's Request |
Final House |
Senate Ways & Means |
Sen. W-M vs. Final House |
Senate Amendment Request |
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| 5911-1003 |
Administration & Operations |
$74,522,766 |
$77,575,612 |
$73,213,906 |
-$4,361,706 |
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| 5911-2000 |
Transportation |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
$14,137,324 |
$0 |
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| 5920-2000 |
Community Residential |
$568,961,352 |
$569,334,202 |
$568,961,352 |
-$372,850 |
$569,504,352 |
| 5920-2006 |
Residential Rate Initiative |
$2,000,000 |
$2,250,000 |
$0 |
-$2,250,000 |
$2,250,000 |
| 5920-2010 |
State Operated Community |
$137,630,099 |
$136,245,115 |
$137,187,683 |
$942,568 |
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| 5920-2020 |
Boulet/Waiting List |
$88,340,110 |
$88,173,986 |
$87,971,902 |
-$202,084 |
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| 5920-2025 |
Day/Employment |
$128,959,457 |
$128,959,457 |
$128,859,457 |
-$100,000 |
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| 5920-3000 |
Family Supports |
$55,044,228 |
$55,294,228 |
$55,994,228 |
$700,000 |
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| 5920-3010 |
Autism Division |
$3,287,118 |
$5,421,753 |
$6,064,413 |
$642,660 |
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| 5920-5000 |
Turning 22 |
$6,100,000 |
$7,700,000 |
$7,700,000 |
$0 |
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Turning 22 Annualization*** |
$17,664,660 |
$17,664,660 |
$17,664,660 |
$0 |
$19,664,660 |
| 5930-1000 |
State Schools |
$188,217,948 |
$187,545,814 |
$186,997,359 |
-$548,455 |
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| 5948-0012 |
DOE/DMR |
$8,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$10,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
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| 5982-1000 |
Templeton Retained |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$0 |
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| TOTAL |
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$1,275,350,402 |
$1,280,787,491 |
$1,277,237,624 |
-$3,549,867 |
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| Non-DMR Budget Items |
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| 4000-0117* |
EOHHS Salary Reserve |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
$23,000,000 |
$0 |
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| 4000-0700 |
Rolland Settlement** |
N/A |
$0 |
$1,541,616,319** |
$1,559,116,319 |
$17,500,000 |
| 4000-0650 |
Community First Initiative |
$45,800,000 |
$15,000,000 |
$20,000,000 |
$5,000,000 |
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| *Line item in Senate is 1599-6901 |
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| **Part of larger Masshealth Line item |
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| ***T22 Annualization figures (within line-item language) are not counted in totals |
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Senate Ways & Means Budget Overview Below is our overview of the Senate W-M Budget released May 14...
Our thanks to Senator Steven Panagiotakos, Ways and Means Chair, his fellow members and staff at the committee for some very positive initiatives in the Senate’s 2009 budget plan! Here are the highlights (see at bottom for detailed chart):
· The Senate addressed the cut in Turning 22 services in the Governor’s budget by allocating $7.7 million for T22 first-year funding · The DOE/DMR program received a $2 million increase! · The Family Support line item is up $1 million! · The Autism Division is up $2.8 million from the Governor’s budget! · Community First budget is $5 million higher than the House budget. · Salary Reserve remains at $23 million, with similar language to House We also have some cuts and policy items to work on during the Senate debate: · Residential Rate line-item was eliminated ($2.25 million reduction from House budget). Combined residential cuts are nearly $3 Million · Outside language would change the name of DMR to the Department of Developmental Disability Services. A bill originally filed by Rep. Costello, championed by Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) and supported by The Arc and other advocacy groups, would change the name to Dept. of Developmental Services. MASS opposes the use of the word “disability” in the new name. The Arc is concerned that the DD name would be confused with the federal definition of DD, which differs from MR. We would like a name that captures both populations. · The ultimate effect on the Community Residential account is unclear. Earmarks were removed with their accompanying dollars, however if these earmarks are reinstated without new money (which is likely), we will have the same cut as in the Governor’s budget ($543,000). · The Administration account was reduced more than $1 million from the Governor’s request. · There are problems in personnel accounts across DMR · Community First funding isn’t adequate for initiative and Rolland |
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