Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living 2005 Legislative Platform President— Elizabeth Howe 407-623-1070 Legislative Chair— Joe DiDomenico 813-375-3965 Executive Director— Martina Schmid 850-575-6004 cell 528-1084 Funding 1. Increase General Revenue Funding for CILs from $700,000 to $800,000. Centers for Independent Living provide core services that promote independence and pre-employment readiness for persons with all types of disabilities. According to the US Census bureau 19.3 percent of the population has a significant disability. This means there are approximately 3.8 million Floridians who have a significant disability. Support the current and growing population of persons with disabilities in Florida. 2. Create a separate line item for CIL funding in the Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation Budget. The line item should include the following proviso language that directs the Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation to use the CIL general revenue to draw down Federal match dollars. a. From the finds in Specific Appropriation _ S800,000 in General Revenue funding from the base allocation for the Centers for Independent Living shall be used as match for the Basic Support Program. Funding from the Social Security Reimbursements (program income) hi an amount up to $6,000,000 (S3,755,868) shall be allocated to the Centers for Independent Living, providing that the Social Security reimbursements are available 3. Support the Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation in their legislative budget request. The Florida Independent Living Council Support the Legislative Platform of the Florida Independent Living Council. Personal Care Attendant Program Support an amendment to Personal Care Attendant Pilot Programs. 413.402, F.S., that would allow persons with severe spinal cord injuries who are at risk of going into a nursing home to participate in the program. Medicaid Reform Senate Bill 0406, "An Act Relating to Medicaid Reform, sponsored by Senator Burl Saunders. As the Governor, state legislature and federal policymakers work to reform Medicaid it is important to protect the core elements of this vital program that provides health care services to nearly 12 million children, pregnant women, senior and persons with severe disabilities. Florida Legal Services, Inc. has developed the following principles that must be considered as Medicaid Reform is carried out: * Medicaid Reform should be done in the Sunshine * Maintain the guarantee of Medicaid coverage for consumers * Ensure Medicaid consumers' access to quality health care services and choice of providers * Maintain the open-ended federal commitment to sharing the cost of Medicaid * Maximize federal dollars available to Florida's Medicaid program * Prevent further reduction to current categories of eligibility and coverage and facilitate continued enrollment * Avoid federal caps or fixed allotments of federal Medicaid dollars * Give priority to implementing win-win Medicaid reform initiatives * Assure that no additional Floridians lose health care as a result of Medicaid Reform * A cost-benefit analysis must be applied to proposed changes Employment Medicaid Buy In Support legislation to allow persons with disabilities that are working and no longer qualify for Medicaid benefits to "buy in" to the Medicaid Program so that they can get the medical care they need. The new Agency for Persons with Disabilities In 2004 the Florida Legislature created a new agency, The Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living asks that the legislature create a Task Force to examine which state agencies and programs for persons with disabilities would best be housed within this new agency and how it would be funded and managed. In addition, FACIL is a cross disability association representing persons with all types of disabilities from all walks of life, and would request a seat on this task force.