Congress passes Budget with Major Cuts to Children's Programs - H.R. 1 has been adopted by the House.  It will go to the Senate to adopt a bill that rejects cuts to kids as a way to fix federal budget woes. Ask your Senators to pass a budget that helps, not harms, our children. A good summary of the details about H.R. 1 is available at www.everychildmatters.org .

Georgia's "Cross-Over Day" is March 16th.  This is the day that all bills have to get out of their respective chamber in order to be considered by the other chamber this year.  Since this is the first year of a two-year biennial session, if a bill fails to "cross over" this year, they will still have next year for it to be considered.  A listing of major child welfare and juvenile justice and behavioral health legislation can always be found here.

House Passes 2012 Budget - The Department of Education reduced the Governor's proposed cut in the Residential Treatment Facilities grant of $709,608 to a $38,701.  In the Department of Human Services the Embrace Program contract was eliminated.  The House rejected the transfer of the Family Connection Partnership to the Office of Children and Families.  The House fully restored funding for non-Medicaid home and community-based services.

In the Department of Community Health's budget proposal, the House reduced their proposed 1% cut in doctors’ and other providers’ fees to 1/2 percent and added funds to allow DCH to move from 6-month to 12-month eligibility reviews for children in Medicaid.  They wanted a more efficient eligibility processes.

A copy of the budget can be found here.  As reported by GBPI, Georgia revenue numbers are up. - State revenues for the first eight months of this fiscal year are running 9.2 percent ($853 million) ahead of the FY 2010 revenue collections. More than $226 million of the growth is accounted for by a decrease in the number of refunds distributed. Discounting fewer refunds distributed, actual revenue growth is 4.6 percent. The FY 2010 revenue estimate is based on 4 percent revenue growth.

It appears likely that FY 2010 will result in a surplus of between $300 to $400 million. Surplus funds will be used to begin to replenish the Revenue Shortfall Reserve.
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An email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
as a public service.                        
Normer Adams, Editor
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