2/11 Rally in Tally

[Guest guest]

-----Original Message-----

From: Goldstein

Please distribute this response

Thank you for your interest and your e-mail.

Next week is the start of the budget committee hearings. It is not the

legislative session!!

The Senate budget hearings are very crucial because the Senate takes the

lead on the budget this year. The appropriations chair of the Senate,

Senator Pruitt is aware of our rapid growth and has invited us to be seen

and heard during this process, when the budget decisions are made. This

process occurs before the general legislative session.

The tentative senate budget hearings are as follows, (this is the organized

meeting with the senators that make the decisions on the budgets):

TUESDAY

February 11, 2003

9:00-5:00pm – Group VII

Appropriations 412K

Article V 309C

Crim.Justice 42S

Education 412K

Gen.Gov. 301C

Health/Hum.Svc. 110S

Trans/Econ.Dev. 117K

Finance & Tax 37S

Since the Senatate is hosting the Budget this year we must have parents'

testimony in the committees for health and human services and education,

especially to fund new and increase existing programs for children and

adults with autism. We must also focus on the waiting list for the waiver,

services that have been denied to those already on the waiver, DOE speech/ot

intervention and behavioral services required by our children, and I can go

on.

We also have an autism insurance bill filed by Senator Geller, SB #48 and

sponsored in the House by Rep. Nan Rich, a HHS appropriations committee

member in the House. HB#tba.

There are many issues that we must focus on and we must be present with our

children in the first row at these committee meetings. Please know that all

the legislators may not be in Tallahassee if they are not on an

appropriations committee.

However, we will all sign up to give testimony in these committees and let

them know that we need increases in services and more importantly that we

are unique in our needs and are square pegs that they are trying to fit into

round holes.

We need autism specific services and funding. Higher rates for providers of

services to children with autism and more intense educational provisions.

That is why I asked that everyone prepare a short one page (3 minute) story

that relates to their personal hardships and circumstances.

I want them written by those that cannot attend as well and we will bind and

copy them for distribution to the committee members. They will hear in

person those that come to Tallahassee. If you know of anyone that can write

their story please have them fax it to me at 954 306-0879.

We will have some speakers during lunch and we will continue through the

afternoon in the committees.

We will have T-shirts and lunch in the courtyard. There is a skeleton crew

during the preliminary committee hearings in Tallahassee. But I must

emphasize again, this is when most of the decisions on the budget are made.

Please try and attend, and let me know if you have any other questions.

Goldstein