Fwd: Legislative Alert

[Guest guest]

This is just great. Not only didn't APD spend the money it has, now the Senate is not funding anything to remove more people from the waiting list. Do you think it may be that since APD didn't spend all the money it was given last year that the Senate said, well they can't spend what we gave them, so why try to take anymore off of the waiting list?

This is unbelievable. Please contact the list of senators and let your feelings be known about how terrible this is. I am in Tallahassee until tomorrow and I will do what I can, but the more calls and faxes and emails they get, the more likely it will get changed.

Regards, Ven Sequenzia, Jr. PresidentAutism Society of Florida, Inc.P.O. Box 970646Coconut Creek, FL 33097www.autismfl.com

Legislative Alert from Florida Developmental Disabilities Council's Public Policy & Advocacy Committee.

a.. No New Money for Waiver Services in the Senate Budget Recommendations

The Florida Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee have not included the Governor's recommendations for funding to serve additional individuals with developmental disabilities on the Home and Community Based and Family and Supported Living Waiver waitlist in their budget recommendations.

The Governor had recommended an additional $48,600,000 (for both waivers) to serve approximately 3,000 individuals; including children and the Senate did not include any additional funding.

Also, the Governor recommended the Phase-in of 500 Crisis cases at a cost of $7,565,945 and this was not included.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities projects 11,000 consumers will remain on the waitlist at the end of this fiscal year.

a.. Early Steps Part C Program needs more money

The Senate has recommended $3,467,000 in recurring funds as an increase for next year in the Early Steps Part C program. The program needs $10,000,000 in new recurring dollars to be implemented effectively.

The number of children that could benefit from the important early intervention services that this program offers has doubled in the last fifteen years while funding from the state has stayed the same overall.

Please contact the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. If you are a constituent of one of these Senators, call them first.

Here are the Senators' phone numbers, for your convenience:

Carlton (Chair)

Lesley , Jr. (Vice-Chair)

JD

Jeff Atwater

Skip

Charlie Clary

Victor Crist 850-487 5068

Mike Fasano

Jim King, Jr.

Alfred Lawson, Jr.

Gwen Margolis

Ken Pruitt

Burt Saunders

Rod

Villalobos

Please let them know:

1) That more money is necessary to serve individuals with developmental disabilities who are on the waitlist.

2) That more stable funding is needed for early intervention services for the Early Steps/ Part C program.

Margaret Hooper Determann, M.S.W.

Public Policy Coordinator

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.

124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203

Tallahassee, FL 32301-2981

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www.fddc.org

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