[Nfbsatx] FW: [nfb-texas members] Fwd: DARS and other Legislative Session Update 4/13

Cindy Garcia ccgarcia2005 at yahoo.com
Wed Apr 20 04:10:51 UTC 2011


I thought i would pass this along just in case you have not received this.

Cindy Garcia
Chapter Secretary

----Forwarded Message----
From: ccgarcia2005 at yahoo.com
To: members at nfb-texas.org
Sent: Tue Apr 19th, 2011 2:56 PM CDT
Subject: [nfb-texas members] Fwd: DARS and other Legislative Session Update 4/13

Please see below for legislative updates.

...Gabe

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:14:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DARS and other Legislative Session Update 4/13

I just received this and thought I would share it.
Kim Cunningham



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Scott [mailto:JScott at afb.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 4:58 PM
To: bbrookshire at austin.rr.com; Mary Ann Siller
Subject: DARS and other Legislative Session Update 4/13

** We have permission to share as is.  Please distribute to your networks.
Judy

This afternoon DARS will be at a Senate Finance Committee (SFC) hearing
where the panel is expected to take up pending items and riders for health
and human services in the general appropriations bill.  During its most
recent action on DARS, Senate Finance Committee restored nearly all DARS
programs to current funding levels and restored 20 staff positions in the
Blind Children's Program.  The one exception is Early Childhood Intervention
(ECI), where proposed funding for FY2012-13 remains below current levels but
higher than in the introduced appropriations bill.

This represents significant support from the Senate and keeps DARS' programs
on the front burner during conference committee.  Before we get to
conference committee (where the House and Senate iron out their differences
on the budget) the full Senate has to consider the SFC's recommendations and
vote out its version of the appropriations bill.  That should happen
sometime later this month.  Once appointed, the conference committee will
likely work right up to the end of session, leaving just enough time to get
the bill to the floor of each chamber for a final vote.  There is a
possibility that the budget may not be completed before the end of session,
in which case legislators would have to meet in a special session this
summer.

On the House side, the full House took up and debated its version of the
appropriations bill from April1 through April 3.  There were hundreds of
amendments offered and DARS benefited in a number of ways.  We received an
additional $10 million each year (from the introduced appropriations bill)
for the ECI program, full funding of $3.3 million each year for the Autism
program and full restoration of $6.5 million each year for the Comprehensive
Rehabilitation Services program.   A separate amendment fully funds all
children's programs (ECI, Blind Children's Program, Autism Program) at DARS,
including caseload growth, contingent upon passage of legislation related to
an assessment on subscription video service providers.  We will watch this
legislation closely.

HB 3629 by Representative Shelton, the "DARS consolidation bill," is still
pending in committee and is not scheduled for a hearing at this time.  The
House has until May 9th to report bills from committee and until May 13th to
get bills out of the House and over to the Senate.  The Senate would have to
schedule a hearing of its own on the bill and also debate it on the floor.
The Senate has until May 27th to do so.  While there is still time to move
bills through the process, time is getting short.

I know many of you have questions about bills related to furloughs, changes
in health benefits, pay, and other human resources topics.  There are a
number of these bills we continue to watch and you may find a list along
with current status at the following link:
http://darsnetmoss.dars.txnet.state.tx.us/sites/cc/cpc/82Leg/Human%20Resourc
es%20HR%20Bills/Forms/AllItems.aspx
<http://darsnetmoss.dars.txnet.state.tx.us/sites/cc/cpc/82Leg/Human%20Resour
ces%20HR%20Bills/Forms/AllItems.aspx>

While I understand that some of these bills may be concerning to you,
please remember that a lot will happen before any of these proposals could
become final.

Overall, DARS is faring well this session.  It is clear to me that
legislators value our programs and are doing all they can to ensure our
consumers' needs are met within the constraints of the revenue environment.
And our stakeholders have been great partners in helping decision-makers
understand the importance of our programs and services.  Much will happen
between now and May 30th, so stay tuned.  I will update you again soon.

But most importantly, thank you for ensuring that the important work of the
agency continues as I focus my attention on the Session.  I do so knowing
that each of you is making sure that our consumers are getting the services
they rely on.

Thank you,

Debra

Debra Wanser
Interim Commissioner
Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services
512-377-0600








-- 
Gabriel M. Cazares,
2nd Vice President
Texas Association of Blind Students - TABS
(A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas)
www.nfb-texas.org/tabs.html
Phone: 713-581-0619
"Of course, loyalty to one's friends is an important principle. But so
is writing what you believe--otherwise, why bother to write at
all?"-Arianna Huffington





More information about the NFBSATX mailing list