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State Legislators
Dealing for
Dollars
Legislators Thursday began
negotiations to balance the state's anemic budget after
the House and Senate announced appointments to joint
budget conference committees. Budget chairs have reached
early agreement on a few key elements of the final
budget. Lawmakers agreed to a seven-day sales tax
holiday for the coming year, but it will be for clothes
only and not books. They also will suspend the hurricane
sales tax break holiday for the coming year. The Senate
agreed not to raise school property taxes next year.
Additionally, the Senate has agreed to divert $270
million from the Department of Transportation (DOT)
trust fund, and $330 million from a DOT fund generated
by taxes on real estate transactions. Despite pleas from
Gov. Crist, lawmakers have not agreed to tap into the
Lawton Chiles Endowment to soften the blow of deep cuts
to health care. The Senate wants to spend $159 million
from the fund. Legislators also say they do not plan to
increase the cigarette tax or add a penny sales
tax.
Conference negotiations began
with $7.1 billion in general revenue appropriated for
Health and Human Services. In the House, that amount
translated into $83 million less than originally
proposed. In the Senate, it meant a little more.
Conference committees are expected to meet through
Tuesday, April 22, to iron out differences. At that
time, any unresolved issues will be bumped to House and
Senate leadership for final negotiation. The legislature
is required to pass a balanced state budget before
session's end on May 2. An extended session is highly
unlikely.
TAKE
ACTION:
Contact legislators and members of the budget conference
committees now and urge them to protect critical
programs for children.
> House
Conferees List - House
Contacts
> Senate
Conferees List - Senate
Contacts
A more complete list of cuts
that need to be restored is found in the table
below.
|
ISSUE |
SENATE |
HOUSE |
COMMENT |
|
School
Readiness |
-$14.5
M |
-$11
M |
|
|
Healthy
Start |
-$.7
M |
-$5
M |
Reduction in Family Health
(DOH). |
|
Healthy
Families |
-$3.8
M |
-$3.9
M |
12.5%
reduction. |
|
Early Steps |
-$3.8
M |
-$1
M |
Reduced federal funding
authority. |
|
Children's Medical
Services |
-$7.8
M |
-$11.7 |
17% reduction in GR in
House; 11% reduction in GR in
Senate. |
|
Community Based
Care |
-$18.9
M |
-$18.9
M |
4.4%
reduction. |
|
CW Prepaid Mental Health
Plan |
-$4
M |
-$4
M |
|
|
Child Protection
Investigation |
-$7
M |
-$7
M |
Includes 5% reduction to
Sheriff's ($2.4 M) and $4 M reduction (71
positions) in DCF. |
|
Independent
Living |
----- |
-$7
M |
25% reduction in
House. |
|
Adoption Maintenance
Subsidies |
-$16.6
M |
-$16.6
M |
Program is funded at same
amount as last year. However, it is running at a
deficit. With current adoption goals, FCF predicts
the program will run at a $16.6 M deficit by next
year. |
|
JACS |
-$.34
M |
-$7
M |
House cuts $3.65 M from
high-volume JACs in Palm Beach, Pinellas, Broward,
Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Orange counties.
Low-volume JACs are cut by $3.4
M. |
|
CINS/FINS |
-$1.8
M |
-$1.8
M |
|
|
Gender
Specific |
-$0.69
M |
-$0.35
M |
Reduction in PACE; GAP (4
additional
locations) | |
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Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to
Meet
Again
With the defeat of the Taxpayer Bill of
Rights (TABOR) proposal (CP 45) in Monday's Taxation and Budget Reform
Commission (TBRC) meeting, attention has shifted back to
the TBRC's approved "tax swap" proposal (CP 02), which eliminates an estimated $9
billion in property taxes for schools, and requires the
legislature to find other ways to replace the revenue by
increasing the state sales tax and/or repealing many
sales tax exemptions. Sen. Mike Haridopolos (R-Brevard)
has criticized the constitutional amendment proposal,
saying it would lead to the largest tax increase in
state history.
This morning, Sen. Haridopolos held a
three-hour public hearing on the proposal. School board
members, the tourism industry, accountants, printers,
manufacturers, the agricultural industry, and several
major business groups testified in opposition to the
proposal saying it would create uncertainty in the
marketplace, and could lead to an even more complex and
burdensome tax structure for Florida. Sen. Haridopolos
emphasized that the proposal, if passed, would place
Florida at a tremendous disadvantage.
The TBRC is scheduled to meet again April
24 and 25 in Tallahassee. While the TABOR proposal is
not listed on the agenda for either day, mounting
pressure to "do something" on property taxes, combined
with waning support for CP 02, could tempt commissioners
to take another look at passing some form of TABOR. The
FCSC will continue to monitor this
closely. |
|
House
Considering Hybrid of Senate Health
Plan
Without
debate, the Senate unanimously passed Gov. Crist's
affordable health insurance plan this week. The measure
(SB 2534),
by Sen. Durell Peaden (R-Okaloosa), was referred to the
House, which has been working on a different proposal --
HB 7081 by
the Healthcare Council and Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Nassau).
On Thursday, the House accepted the Senate plan, but
with amendments. The House
added language that would allow insurance companies to
come up with other no-frills insurance programs that may
not cover everything Crist's plan would, and wouldn't
have as much state oversight. The House also is
pushing for changes, including placing the state Office
of Insurance Regulation in charge of regulating insurers
participating, and letting families with a child in
KidCare take that money and buy into private insurance
plans offered through their employers. Generally, the
bill would lift state mandates requiring insurers to
offer a wide benefit package so they can offer
stripped-down plans that could cost the insured as
little as $150 a month. Under the plan, insurers would
negotiate with the state and offer two types of plans:
One with catastrophic coverage and one without. Insurers
can cap services, limit coverage, require co-pays and
offer prescription drug
coverage. |
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CHILDREN'S
HEALTH
KidCare
A number of
proposed KidCare bills have stalled in their respective
committees. With only two weeks left in the Legislative
Session, the bills must continue to be heard quickly and
moved to the floor in order for KidCare legislation to
survive. Existing bills include:
-
SB
888 by Sen. Mandy
Dawson (D-Broward).
- HB 1275 by Rep.
Loranne Ausley (D-Leon) and companion bill, SB 2472 by Sen.
Nan Rich (D-Broward).
- HB
1457 by Rep. Rene
Garcia (R-Miami-Dade) and companion bill, SB 2032 by Sen.
Mike Fasano (R-Pasco).
TAKE ACTION:
Call
legislators and urge them to pass a KidCare bill that
removes enrollment and retention barriers, and
creates
a seamless system to make it easier for eligible
children to remain in the program and help newly
eligible children
enroll.
Medicaid
HB
5085 by Rep. Ray Sansom
(R-Okaloosa) and the Policy and Budget Council passed
the House floor with a vote of 74-41 on Thursday last
week. The bill passed on the Senate floor Wednesday with
a vote of 26-14. Among several other provisions, the
bill provides for the expansion of the Medicaid managed
care pilot program in 2010 to Hardee, Highlands,
Hillsborough, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco,
Pinellas and Polk counties. The bill now heads to
conference committee with members that have been
appointed by the House and Senate.
Childcare
HB 1271 by Rep.
Nick Thompson (R-Lee) was approved by the Policy &
Budget Council and heard on the House floor. Referred to
as the "Zahid Jones Give Grandparents and Relatives a
Voice Act," the bill provides that relatives can request
notification of all proceedings and hearings regarding a
child's care. It gives access to DCF records and gives
investigator's contact information to a child's treating
physician within 24 hours of an investigator being
assigned. It also establishes the first Sunday after
Labor Day as "Grandparents and Family Caregivers Day" in
Florida. Senate version, SB 2644, by Sen.
Ronda Storms (R-Hillsborough) is in
Judiciary.
Autism
SB
2654 by Sen. Steve Geller
(D-Broward) is on Special Order Calendar. The bill,
titled "Window of Opportunity Act," requires health
insurance plans to provide coverage for screening,
diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of autism
spectrum disorders in children. The House version,
HB 1291 by Rep.
Ari Porth (D-Broward), remains in the Healthcare
Council. |
|
Juvenile
Justice
SB 700 by
Sen. Victor Crist (R-Hillsborough) awaits review in
Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations. The bill
includes substantive legislation advancing the
recommendations of the Blueprint Commission. The House
version, HB 7087 by Rep. Mitch Needleman
(R-Brevard) was reported favorably by the Policy &
Budget Council on Tuesday.
SB 792
relating to Juvenile Justice by Sen. Carey Baker
(R-Lake) has been added on the Senate Judiciary
Committee agenda for April 21. The House companion, HB 273 by
Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Seminole) had its second reading on
the House floor on Wednesday.
|
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INDEPENDENT
LIVING/FOSTER CARE
Foster Care
SB 2762 by Sen.
Paula Dockery (R-Polk) is now in Governmental Operations
after being reported favorably as a committee substitute
by the Judiciary Committee last week.
SB 2750 by Sen.
Ronda Storms (R-Hillsborough) awaits review in Judiciary
Committee. The bill provides conditions for court
appointment of a surrogate parent for educational
decision-making for a child who has a disability and
provides access to free public education for certain
children in foster care. Companion bill, HB 769 by Rep.
Kurt Kelly (R-Marion) was read for the second time on
the House floor.
Adoption
SB
1084 by Sen. Nan Rich
(D-Broward) which revises various provisions of the
Florida Adoption Act was passed by Criminal and Civil
Justice Appropriations this week and was placed on the
Senate Calendar for first reading. House version
HB 663 by Rep.
Dean Cannon (R-Orange) already passed the House floor on
April
2. |
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OTHER
ISSUES
Children's
Zones
HB
3 by Rep. Dorothy
Bendross-Mindingall (D-Miami-Dade) and the Healthcare
Council passed the House unanimously on Wednesday and
was sent to the Senate. Companion bill, SB
500 by Sen. Larcenia
Bullard (D-Monroe), was pulled from committees of
reference and is on the agenda for Health and Human
Services Appropriations.
Following
the defeat of the highly controversial Taxpayer Bill of
Rights proposal in the Taxation and Budget Reform
Commission meeting Monday, a flurry of property tax
bills have been moving through the House this
week.
HJR
949 by Carlos
Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami-Dade) is a rendition of House
Speaker Marco Rubio's property tax proposal asking
voters to amend the state Constitution so that all real
property (residential, commercial, rental) will not
exceed 1.35 percent of the highest taxable value of a
property. The bill passed the Policy & Budget
Council this week and is on second reading on the House
floor. A similar bill in the Senate, SJR
2190 by Sen. Mike Bennett
(R-Manatee), was reported favorably in Community Affairs on April 9. It is now
in Finance and Tax.
HJR
7125 is a proposed
Constitutional amendment by the Policy & Budget
Council, Government Efficiency & Accountability
Council and Rep. Frank Attkisson (R-Osceola) that would
give the legislature authority to place caps on revenues
collected by the state, as well as counties, cities,
school boards and special districts. The legislature
also would have authority to determine how excess
revenues may be used. The bill was approved by the
Policy & Budget Council along party lines at the end
of a marathon session that lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Additionally, the bill revises the current limitation on
revenues from a growth factor using personal income to a
growth factor based on population and inflation, plus
one percent. The base year is updated to FY 2007-08.
There is no Senate
companion. |
Congressional Action on
Medicaid
House bill
H.R. 5613, titled
Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008, now has
164 co-sponsors. It went to the House Energy and
Commerce committee this week following its approval by
that committee's health subcommittee. Republican members
of the subcommittee supported it after provisions were
added regarding asset verification and additional
funding for efforts against Medicaid fraud. Rep. Joe
Barton (R-TX) said he thought the White House would not
veto it after those measures were added. Rep. Dingell is
the committee chairman, a sponsor, and likely to gavel
the bill through the committee soon. Prospects for H.R.
5613 are quite good at this point. The bill seeks to
preserve critical health care programs and services by
extending a moratorium on several Medicaid regulations.
The regulations are estimated to strip $20 billion over
five years from the Medicaid program.
Federal bill
S. 2819, cited as
the Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008, was
introduced April 3. The Senate Finance Committee hasn't
held any hearings on it yet, nor have there been any
subcommittee hearings. There are just 12 cosponsors at
this point. Unlike
the House bill, it contains $12 billion in additional
assistance to states in 2008-2009, including $6 billion
in Medicaid FMAP increases for 38 states. Those
additional expenditures could be a problem because
savings must be found in other programs to stay within
the budget resolution. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-KS), the
ranking Republican and former chairman of the committee,
has expressed comments to the effect that he considers a
moratorium to be passing the buck and seems at odds with
chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) who favors the moratorium.
The bill seeks to preserve access to Medicaid and the
SCHIP in times of an economic downturn. The act extends
moratoriums for seven controversial Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services rules that would affect states'
eligibility criteria for SCHIP.
In other federal news, Dennis
Smith, director of CMS' Center for Medicaid and State
Operations, resigned last week. Smith has been criticized for
proposing Medicaid regulations that state governors and
some lawmakers believe will reduce health care funding
for low-income residents. He also received criticism
regarding regulations that limit how states may expand
coverage under
SCHIP. | |
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In Other News
Children's
Board Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Last
night, the Children's Board of Hillsborough County (CBHC)
celebrated its 20th anniversary with a dinner and
ceremony to recognize the leaders and youth who have
contributed to CBHC's success. Board members and community
leaders gathered to celebrate passage of the 1988 referendum
that started it all. Congratulations to the CBHC and its
community partners for working to improve the lives of
children and families.
Hard
times put kids at risk, as well as programs to serve
them
Read the recent Miami Herald article,
which provides a substantive report on the impacts of state
budget cuts to several children's programs. Read
article.
Advocates: Budget
cuts would hit abused children, foster kids,
adoptions
The Palm Beach Post
reports on what child advocates are saying about budget cuts
to key programs. Read article.
A Vision for the
Reauthorization of Child Care
Leading advocacy
organizations have recently come to agreement on "A Vision for
the Reauthorization of Child Care." The vision offers a
blueprint for the reauthorization of the Child Care and
Development Block Grant and strengthening of the Dependent
Care Tax Credit. It focuses on four key national agenda
items:
The Vision is supported by the National
Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, the
National Women's Law Center, the Center for Law and Social
Policy, the National Association for the Education of Young
Children, the National Association for Family Child Care, the
Early Care and Education Consortium, the Children's Project,
and the National Council of La Raza.
Early Bird
Registration for Infant Mental Health Conference
Extended
The North Florida
Chapter of the Florida Infant Mental Health Association and
the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health are hosting
the 8th Annual Conference, titled "Building Our
Future" May 15-16 in Jacksonville. Early Bird Registration has
been extended to Friday, April 18. With a focus on
infant-toddler development and mental health, the conference
will feature the latest research and best practices to enhance
social emotional development in infants, toddlers, and young
children. For more information visit the Infant Mental Health web
site.
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Capitol
Connection is also available online at the FCSC
web
site.
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