April 26, 2002
The Senate and House conference committee on Budgets came to
a consensus
early this morning. The bill now goes to the floor of both the Senate and
House for a vote. It must pass out of both Houses, or else it goes back to
conference committee.
Highlights include:
Department on Aging:
Added funding for the Senior Care Act to get them back to 2002 levels.
Senior Pharmacy Plus program is yet to be decided. They will discuss it in
Omnibus.
SRS:
MediKan and G.A go back to 24 months with a start date of July, 02, which
means you can remain on the programs for up to 24 months starting 7-1-02.
There will be a hardship clause, similar to Welfare to work.
Restored $1.5 million to DD Grants. (In order to get back to 2002 level they
needed $1,650,608.)
Restored $1 million to PD Waiver. ( Needed $1.145 to get back to 2002 level)
Added funding for CMHC's for grants for kids in rural areas, Community
grants.
No changes to Level of care scores or Protected income levels.
Next step is Omnibus. More to come on that next week. Congratulations on all
the hard work from all of you. We are not done yet, but we are a long way
from where we started.
Good night!
Gina