THANK YOU (!!!) for the many calls, emails, letters, and visits to Annapolis by self-advocates, family members, Board Members and staff during the recently concluded session of the Maryland General Assembly. We are pleased to report significant legislative victories and important funding has been secured to support the Developmental Disabilities community. 

 

The Arc Baltimore also wishes to thank and acknowledge the critical leadership from members of Governor O'Malley's administration and members of the General Assembly, and our partners from MACS, The Arc Maryland and the other members of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition.

 

The following report and update has been excerpted from session overviews provided by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS).

 

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION BUDGET

DDA FY 2015 Budget Expansion for July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015

(Includes General Funds, Special Funds & Matching Federal Funds (est.))

 

1. TRANSITIONING YOUTH

$5.1 million Total Funds -- ($2.9m General Funds + $2.2m in Federal Funds)

Approximately 596 young adults leaving school will receive employment/day services. This is about half the amount spent on TY in FY2013 for the same number of people. DDA reports that this is an accurate cost estimate.

 

2. WAITING LIST

$2.6 million Total Funds -- ($1.4m General Funds + $1.2m Federal Funds)

An estimated 99 people in the Crisis Resolution priority category will receive services and come off the waiting list. There are 7700 people on DDA's waiting list - 1400 in crisis priority categories.

 

3. WAITING LIST EQUITY FUND (WLEF)

$460,000 Total Funds -- ($287,000 Special Funds + $173,000 in Federal Funds)

Approximately 37 people on DDA's waiting list will receive community supports using funds from the WLEF, which prioritizes people with the oldest caregivers.

 

4. LOW INTENSITY SUPPORT SERVICES (LISS)

$4.5m General Funds

This is level funding from FY2014 and will be used to purchase services that are accessed by families through designated LISS agencies across the state); administrative costs are covered elsewhere in the budget. More than 2200 people will receive LISS.

 

5. EMERGENCIES

$1 million Total Funds

Approximately 60 people in emergency situations will receive services that often are needed when parents or other caregivers become seriously ill or die.  These funds are important to avoid tapping waiting list funding. It is less than half the amount allocated for emergencies in recent years.

 

6. RATE INCREASE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES

$18.3 million -- ($10.2m General Funds + $8.1 m in Federal Funds)

Mid-year 4% rate increase. Community service provider rates will increase 4% beginning January 1, 2015, halfway through the fiscal year.

 

On a related budget matter, The Arc Baltimore and all of the community providers were severely affected by the harsh winter and the number of closings and delayed openings that reduced attendance revenue and increased overtime costs. As a result, the following was included in the budget: DHMH must determine all cost savings realized due to nonpayment to community service providers for weather-related closures in FY 2014 and 2015 and implement a methodology to distribute funds from this cost savings to: 1) providers that experienced loss of revenue due to weather-related closures and 2) residential service providers that experienced weather-related costs including staff overtime, resident relocation, snow removal, or other costs necessary to ensure health and safety.

 

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION -
SELECTED/RELATED BILLS

 

1. HB 295: Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014 (passed)

 

Background -- Minimum Wage & DD Direct Support Staff:

During the summer and fall of 2013, there was a significant amount of attention around

the minimum wage in Maryland. Governor O'Malley, Senate President Miller and Speaker of the House Busch voiced support for increasing the minimum wage. Early in the legislative session, the Governor introduced HB#295/SB#331 Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014, which as originally drafted, would have raised the minimum wage in Maryland to $10.10 by 2016. After an extensive analysis, MACS determined that the DDA direct support wage factor in the reimbursement rate was $9.82 per hour, which was the amount available for wages for all direct support staff regardless of seniority. Advocates were deeply concerned that if the minimum wage increased without additional funding for direct support wages, then many direct support positions would become minimum wage jobs. This could make attracting and retaining quality staff much more difficult and could jeopardize the quality and stability of community supports for people with developmental disabilities.

 

Thankfully, due to the efforts of Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton and Delegate Guy Guzzone and amendments they introduced - and extensive communications with the Governor's Office, advocates were heard and the bill was passed with amendments that mandate increased funding for direct support staff wages.

 

The bill:  

Beginning in 2015, this bill raises Maryland's minimum wage incrementally until it reaches $10.10/hour in 2018. Concurrently, this bill mandates a 3.5% rate increase annually for DDA community services for fiscal years 2016-2019. The increase in funding over those four fiscal years is expected to total over $140 million. The rate increase is not limited to wages and benefits, but the most significant portion is earmarked to ensure that direct support staff continue to be paid above minimum wage given the importance of their roles and their responsibilities. The bill stipulates that the portion of the funds provided for a rate increase "may be allocated to address the impact of an increase in the state minimum wage on wages and benefits of direct support workers employed by community providers licensed by the developmental disabilities administration." A companion bill (HB 1238) includes provisions to ensure that service providers do, indeed, increase wages in a manner that continues to keep direct support professional wages ahead of the State's minimum wage.

 

NOTE: Due to the incredible work and significant leadership on the minimum wage issue, The Arc Baltimore is recognizing three very important people with our Public Service Award at our upcoming annual meeting. They are Senator Mac Middleton, Delegate Guy Guzzone, and Laura Howell, the executive director of MACS.

 

2. SB 418/HB 556: Developmental Disabilities Administration - Low Intensity Support Services (passed)

 

This bill lowers the annual funding cap for DDA Low Intensity Support Services from $3000 to $2000 per individual. This bill originated from a report issued by the MD DD Council: "Maximizing the Impact of DDA's LISS Program: Recommendations for Improvement." This change to LISS along with others that DDA is implementing should result in at least 500 additional people supported by the LISS program each year. In addition, the Council expects the changes will result in more people who have never accessed LISS funds before being served and LISS reaching more people from underserved communities.

 

To review the complete report provided by the MD DD Council, click here, and for the MACS report, click here.

 

MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUDGET

 

The vast majority of MSDE's budget was level funded in FY2015, including $10.4 million for the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program and approximately $12 million for the Autism Waiver program. There was no money appropriated for additional slots this year so the Autism Waiver program will continue to serve 1,000 children. Over 4,000 children with autism remain on the Autism Waiver registry, waiting for services.

 

The Division of Childhood Development's budget increased slightly due to the influx of state funds ($4.3 million) to expand access to prekindergarten for young children and federal funds ($10 million) for the child care subsidy program, which provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families.