Budget Bills Moving in State Legislature

The House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee passed today, December 13, 2011, their 2011-13 Supplemental Operating Budget bill, HB 2058.  Passing with amendatory language, neither the original legislation nor the amendments include fiscal changes to Boarding Home, Nursing Home, Adult Family Home or Adult Day Health funding.  This is the early savings plan only, a down payment on the approximate $2 billion shortfall still facing the state for the remainder of the biennium.  Budget cuts and a revenue package will take center stage in 2012, these being the spending reductions of great concern to recipients of social services and other programs, including those frail seniors whom our members serve with a broad range of services and supports.

For assistance, please contact Paul Montgomery.

The Senate Ways & Means Committee is also expected to move their own bill, SB 5883 (identical to HB 2058), out of committee 12/13/11. 

The full House is likely to take a floor vote on HB 2058 Tuesday night, 12/13/11, and as it is a companion, for now, to the Senate bill, HB 2058 would be eligible to move directly to the Senate floor for a vote by their full chamber.  The Senate vote, on their own bill or the House bill, could take place as early as Wednesday night, 12/14/11, with final adoption into law possible shortly thereafter.

Savings garnered through the bills are the result of fund transfers, capturing of dollars appropriated but not yet spent and certain spending cuts to such items as the state's Commute Trip Reduction program and state employee cell phone costs.

The legislature is likely to adjourn by week's end, only to reconvene January 9, 2012 for the 2012 regular Legislative Session.  At the risk of overemphasizing the point, the budget cuts on the table are grave; lives are at stake; Aging Services members' ability to continue their mission of serving our state's elderly are at risk.  In many respects, we will need to pull together to survive.

Thank you for your leadership.