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Children's Services Council (CSCs) supporters continue
their intensive work to educate legislators about the value and
strengths of the independent CSCs that have served millions of
Florida's children for decades. However, the bill that jeopardizes the
future of CSCs continues to move. Next week, the Senate Community
Affairs Committee will take up CS for SB1216
on Wednesday, April 7. This is the second committee in the Senate.
In the House, with
the final agenda still pending, it is anticipated that the Military &
Local Affairs Policy Committee will again consider the CSC
bill when it meets next Thursday, April 8. Having been amended before
adjournment at the last meeting, it is now Proposed Committee
Substitute (PCS) for HB1227.
The House PCS
largely conforms to the Senate version, Committee Substitute for SB
1216, which removes provisions relative to county commission oversight,
but maintains a requirement for CSC reauthorization every six years.
Additional amendments were approved by the House Committee last time.
The first adopted amendment, sponsored by Rep. Juan Zapata
(R-Miami-Dade), moves the August primary requirement to a General
election. The second adopted amendment, also by Rep. Zapata, changes
the schedule for CSCs established in 1990 or before to go to referendum
in 2012 (instead of 2010.) The third amendment, by Rep. Mark Pafford
(D-Palm Beach), was under discussion when time ran out. Rep. Pafford's
amendment would change the referendum requirement so that all CSCs, except
Miami-Dade, would go to ballot on or before the general election in
2016 (instead of 2010). Miami-Dade would remain at 2018 since they just
went to referendum in 2008. A fourth amendment, also by Rep. Pafford
but not heard, seeks to replace the referendum provision with a
requirement that CSCs undergo a comprehensive statutory review of their
operations and functions as prescribed in an existing statute for
special districts (s. 189.428).
At a time when funding
for children's programs is being cut to levels that will endanger
thousands of children, the possibility of additional cuts will make the
crisis even worse.This unnecessary proposal impinges on local
communities and could not come at a worse time for programs that rely
on CSC support. Download
additional talk points.
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House and Senate Pass Budgets, Negotiations to Begin Soon
Passing their respective budgets was the chief order of
business in the House and Senate this week, laying the groundwork for
an earlier-than-usual appropriations stand-off between the two
chambers. The House passed its $67.2 billion spending plan (HB 5001)
along partisan lines (77-44), which was $1.8 billion less than the
Senate's $70 billion plan (SB 2700).
The chief differences are that the Senate included additional revenues
from gaming ($435 M) and additional federal Medicaid money ($880 M)
that has not technically been approved by Congress yet.
House Speaker
Larry Cretul has maintained his position that the House budget will
only include revenues it has - not money hoped for such as gaming or
federal Medicaid bonuses. "We've anchored it in the realities of
the economy and we haven't put in any money that we don't actually
have," said the Speaker.
In another major
difference, the Senate budget features an expansion of Medicaid
managed-care-based reform to 19 counties. It includes a provision
requiring that the Agency for Health Care Administration submit an
application to the federal agency for a Medicaid rule waiver that
essentially transforms the state program to a voucher system that could
be used for managed care providers. It also limits state spending to
what the legislature appropriates and, for the first time, would
institute co-payments and deductibles for some Medicaid patients. The
Medicaid changes are not included in the House bill. In any case, the
waiver would have to be approved by the Obama administration.
The House also
took up a series of implementing and conforming bills. Some of the
bills affecting children are:
- HB 5301
on the Medicaid system. The bill reduces eligibility for prenatal
services by eliminating optional Medicaid eligibility and coverage
for pregnant women with incomes between 150 and 185 percent of the
federal poverty level. The bill passed 77-41.
- HB 5305
on child welfare. The measure cuts adoption benefits for state
workers and establishes a $675 a month transition fee for
18-year-olds transitioning from the state child welfare system -
about half what it is currently. The bill passed 75-44.
The following table highlights Florida CSC funding
priorities as reflected in the two versions of the budget. The next step is high-stakes
negotiating by the conference committee. The dates have not yet been
set.
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PROPOSED
CHANGES (+/-) COMPARED TO 2009-10 BUDGET AS OF 4/2/10
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ISSUE
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HOUSE
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SENATE
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COMMENT
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$0
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$0
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Sen.
Mike Fasano amendment provides $3.1 million in non-recurring funds to
restore SR funding. Restores 1,728 program slots.
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+ $35.5 M
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+ $2.8 M
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Despite increase over last year, the Senate
budget still represents a nearly 10% cut in VPK. The House has a 1%
cut. Click here for
details.
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+ $7.4 M
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+ $17.6 M
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- $4 M
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$0
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House proposes eliminating Healthy Start
Coalitions and transferring service dollars to County Health
Departments. See Call to Action.
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+
$717,736
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$0
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Senate budget is contingent on
federal FMAP dollars. House is not.
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- $1.8 M
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- $1.8 M
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Uses non-recurring stimulus
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Children's Medical Services
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+ 23.9 M
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+ $24.1 M
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Child Protection Investigation
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- $1.4 M
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Community Based Care (CBC)
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+ $5.7 M
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- $4.1 M
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$0
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$0
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House and Senate staff say base budget is
covered. House conforming bill cuts monthly stipend to $675, nearly
half of what it was.
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Maintenance Adoption Subsidies
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- $1.8 M
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Juvenile Assessment Centers
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+ $100,869
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+ $100,596
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- Healthy Start -- Contact
House leadership (Speaker Cretul), the Chair of the Full
Appropriations Council on General Government and Health Care (Rep.
Rivera), and the Chair of the Health Care Appropriations
Committee (Rep. Grimsley) to
restore funding for Healthy Start Coalitions during
conference negotiations. Please thank Reps. Adam Fetterman (D-St.
Lucie), Yolly Roberson (D-Miami-Dade) and Elaine Schwartz
(D-Broward) for speaking against the elimination of the coalitions.
- JACs - Contact House members and urge them to restore $1
million in JAC funding.
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Senate Deal
Jeopardizes Millions in DJJ Treatment Programs
In the name of keeping prisons open and maintaining jobs,
the Senate transferred $16 million from the Department of Juvenile
Justice to the Department of Corrections (DCC). Sadly, that $16-million
transfer would result in the elimination of residential treatment
programs for troubled children. An amendment was approved that would
have restored the $16 million using FMAP dollars. However, a separate
amendment moved the funds to DCC.
Contact your Senators. Tell them to oppose the transfer
of residential treatment dollars for adult prison beds. Ask them to
restore the $16 million for residential treatment for troubled
youth.
- Almost 100% of all DJJ
residential beds are currently full. Cuts will increase waiting
lists and expand detention.
- 95% of DJJ residential
beds serve youth with specialized mental health and substance
abuse needs.
- Programs across the state will close and seriously
troubled youth will not receive treatment and rehabilitative
services.
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TAKE
NOTE
Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC web site.
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