Senate Bill S3197

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3197

SPONSOR: MANNION
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to requiring the
office for people with developmental disabilities to submit a detailed
report of proposed savings and investment initiatives within the execu-
tive budget

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to require the Division of Budget and Office
for the People with Developmental Disabilities to create a "scorecard"
of administrative and article VII proposals in the Executive Budget.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would require the Office for People with Develop-
mental Disabilities to provide a detailed report of proposed savings and
investment initiatives contained within the executive budget.

              

Section 2 of this bill would provide that the effective date shall take
effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Every year, the Governor puts forward an Executive Budget which often
includes changes to the Office for People with Developmental Disabili-
ties (OPWDD). The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is
charged by the State with ensuring individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities have access to the services they need to live
meaningful lives and within their communities.

For the Medicaid and Public Health budgets, the Division of Budget
provides a breakdown of proposed administrative actions and Article VII
proposals and a detailed breakdown of savings and investments into the
Medicaid and Public Health (DOH) portions of the budget. No such break-
down of investments and savings are provided for OPWDD. It is in the
interest of transparency for the public and Legislators who must vote to
approve the budget that such a "scorecard" of proposed changes to the
OPWDD budget exists. Self Advocates, parents and family members, and
providers need to understand how the Executive Budget proposal will
affect vital services. This legislation will ensure that information is
readily available to the public and Legislature within a reasonable time
after the publishing of the Executive Budget for the upcoming fiscal
year.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.6292 (Mannion) - Veto Memo 54.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.