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Information Alert - Governor Jindal Vetoes Funding for Programs Serving People with Developmental Disabilites!
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Yesterday, Governor Jindal vetoed funding in the main state budget bill (HB1) that the Legislature had included to support a number of services and programs for people with developmental disabilities. Specifically, Governor Jindal cut from the budget::
- $ 3.9 million for 200 additional NOW slots
- $ 794,000 for Children's Special Health Services Clinics
- $ 950,000 for the Individual and Family Support Program (in the Human Services Districts and Authorities budgets)
- $ 54,732 for Families Helping Families Resource Centers
- $ 250,000 for Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN)
In addition to the cuts made above the Department of Health and Hospitals announced additional cuts of $25.9 million in a press release yesterday. Read the DHH announcement of the planned cuts by clicking here. Some significant cuts in this announcement and services and programs impacted include approximately: - $ 1.9 million from the Office of Aging and Adult Services
- Reductions to direct care hours for adults with disabilities in the Supported Independent Living program
- $2.9 million from the Office of Behavioral Health
- $371,000 from the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
- $1 million from the Office of Public Health (interestingly these include reductions to Children's Special Health Services
- $ 3.9 million from the Human Services Districts and Authorities
- $ 3,600 to Families Helping Families Centers (in the DD Council budget)
- $ 14.4 million to Medicaid Provider cuts
Advocates have expressed the need to have adequate resources for vital home and community-based supports and services. Advocacy leaders across the state communicated to Council and LaCAN leadership a desire to avoid any perception of conflict of interest and ensure the Legislature, Governor Jindal and public clearly understand that the advocacy efforts for these programs and services did and will continue to be the voice of people with developmental disabilities and their family members. Therefore, LaCAN will respectfully not issue an action alert and allow a purely organic grassroots advocacy response and effort to these announcements of reductions to services and programs. |
