2015 Legislative Session Wrap-up Report

On June 23, Governor Rick Scott approved Senate Bill 2500-A General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2015-2016 and Senate Bill 2502-A Implementing the GAA. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities had a very successful 2015 Legislative Session with a total funding over $1.2 Billion.

Major GAA funding decisions:

The funding for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities totals over $1.2 billion.

Transition approximately 2,000 customers from the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waiver waiting list to the HCBS Medicaid waiver – $40.7 million total funds.

Support Coordinator rate increase (18%) in the HCBS waiver – $8.05 million total funds.

Personal Supports provider rate increase (2.5%) in the HCBS Waiver - $5.05 million total funds.

Client Data Management and Electronic Visit Verification System – $1,359,742 in Trust Funds. Additionally, Back of Bill item: $750,000 in nonrecurring General Revenue, $750,000 in nonrecurring Trust Fund, $1.5 million nonrecurring total funding.

Employment and Internships Program (IFS category) – $1 million total funds.

Actuarial Services to analyze provider rates for live-in waiver services - $400,000 nonrecurring total funds.

There are 4 special projects included in the agency’s appropriation:

$2 million in recurring General Revenue is provided for the Arc of Florida for dental services.

$150,000 in nonrecurring funds is provided for the MAC town Fitness and Wellness Center for services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

$125,000 ($100,000 in nonrecurring funds and $25,000 in recurring funds) is provided to the Arc of Florida to provide training resources for service providers to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

$250,000 in nonrecurring fixed capital outlay funds is provided to the Arc of Broward Culinary Program.

$1.60 million in Fixed Capital Outlay is provided for repairs and maintenance to state facilities. $840,000 is provided for Rish Park improvements and $760,000 is provided for general repairs and maintenance to state facilities.

Major GAA Implementing decisions:

The 2015 Legislation finalized an implementing bill, which identifies additional circumstances for when individuals can receive waiver funds above their algorithm amounts. The current law allows individuals with extraordinary needs, one-time needs, and significant changes in circumstances that impact health and safety to increase funds above algorithm amounts. The new law allows the Agency to also increase funds above the algorithm when an individual has significant need for transportation services to a waiver funded adult day training program or to waiver-funded supported employment where such need cannot be accommodated within the funding authorized by the client’s iBudget amount without affecting the health and safety of the client, where public transportation is not an option due to the unique needs of the client, and where no other transportation resources are reasonably available.

Implementing legislation clarifies the role of APD when serving individuals in the child welfare system, young adults aging out of the child welfare system, and young adults remaining in extended foster care. The legislation allows APD to assign the Waiting List Category 2 for children with developmental disabilities in the child welfare system upon their adoption or reunification to support their permanency or when they turn 18 and opt out of foster care. The legislation allows young adults who remain in extended foster care to be served by both the waiver and the child welfare system.

Implementing legislation provides for military families who are on the waiting list. Under this legislation, eligible individuals may receive home and community-based services in this state if the individual’s parent or legal guardian is an active-duty military service member and, at the time of the service member’s transfer to this state, the individual was receiving home and community-based services in another state.