MINUTES OF THE MCSSA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
MCSSA OFFICE
Those Participating County District
In Person:
Shelley Jipson-Lomax MCSSA
Bob Schneider House Fiscal Agency
By Phone:
Randy Barst
Cathy Merriman
I. Meeting
Called to Order at
II. Disposition
of Minutes of
Those in attendance in person and via telephone introduced themselves.
III. MCMCFC
Report –
Renee
provided a written report.
IV.
Fritz introduced Bob Schneider, Senior Fiscal Analyst with the House Fiscal Agency.
Fritz predicts that the budget will be completed by July 1.
Mr. Schneider distributed a summary of the FY 2009 Executive Budget recommendation as it relates to DHS.
Bob’s focus is the DHS budget. The goal is to report a budget bill out by spring break.
This budget recommendation allocates out the line item in this year’s budget for JET. Funds allocated to other departments previously would be brought back into DHS and would support 83 positions in DHS including some FIS.
The apparent reduction in FTEs in this analysis is because of a rebasing of FTEs and is not truly reflective of what is anticipated. The figure reflects elimination of the “empty” FTEs.
Hopefully the budget process this
year will be less painful. Former Senator Bob Emerson is very sympathetic to the
concerns of
We will want to push for our priorities. We are sending them to all legislators, staff, and key players within the next week or two. Mel and Fritz will have aggressive sit-down sessions with the key legislators. Having our priorities in this format makes them easy to refer to and read. Rep. Rick Shaffer keeps them in his drawer and refers to them often.
The budget hinges on the funding being available, of course. When the money is available it’s easy to “get along” and make decisions on how to spend the money, much more different when the money is tight.
A. Adult and Health Services –
Four bills have to do with the private
affiliate held by the Blues, The Accident Fund; and the language deals with the
Blues expanding their involvement in private business. The Senate is taking a
much more deliberate approach to consideration of these bills. Kay noted that
the committee is supportive of HBs 5282 and 5283 but
opposed to HBs 5284 and 5285.
Kay moved to oppose HBs 5284 and 5285. Seconded. Motion carried.
Further recommendation from the
committee was support for HB 5418 and
Fred commented that he heard on the news that
B. Child
and Family Services –
Steve noted how valuable the
assistance of committee member
Mel presented his letter and a draft of the priority brochure itself. If you have corrections please get them to Shelley by the end of the week. The newly drafted informational brochure on MCSSA will be included with the priorities when mailed to the legislators.
Fred commented that it would be interesting to know what other state’s are doing in terms of estate recovery, however, it’s all over the board.
VII. Meeting Adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie Cripe
MCSSA
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Agenda
I. Call
to order
II. Disposition
of February 12, 2008 minutes
A. Agenda Update
III. Legislative Consultant’s Report –
IV. MCMCFC
Report – Reneé Beniak
V. Committee
Reports
A.
B.
C. Standard of Living, Housing and Employment
Committee –
Liz
Jarzambek & Wayne Peterson
VI. Liaison
Reports
A. APHSA Liaison –
B. MAC Liaison –
C. NACo Liaison –
D. AARP Liaison –
VII. Unfinished Business
A. Estate Recovery Status –
VIII. Adjournment