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| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5911-1000 | Admin. | $6,029,262 | $13,102,349 | $12,780,909 | $12,799,349 |
| 5920-1000 | Regional Admin. | 48,683,630 | 52,316,518 | 53,853,237 | 53,490,519 |
| 5911-1210 | Worker Certificatn. | 1,544,650 | -- | -- | -- |
| 5911-2000 | Transport. | 25,049,926 | 13,782,367 | 13,882,296 | 13,882,269 |
| 5911-9999 | Insurance Assess.** | 9,535,105 | -- | -- | -- |
| 5920-2000 | Comm. Residences | 353,695,256 | 476,614,523 | 499,491,126 | 499,419,626 |
| 5920-2010 | State Residences | 99,998,330 | 113,269,640 | 119,978,807 | 119,556,581 |
| 5920-2020 | Boulet Wait List | -- | 70,000,000 | 85,614,227 | 85,614,227 |
| 5920-2025 | Day/Work Programs | 90,185,163 | 109,171,278 | 113,106,979 | 113,106,979 |
| 5920-3000 | Family Supports | 50,248,489 | 48,800,000 | 50,789,967 | 51,289,967 |
| 5920-3010 | Autism Division | -- | -- | -- | 1,000,000 |
| 5920-4050 | Waiting List | 35,838,105 | -- | -- | -- |
| 5920-5000 | Turning 22 | 6,950,000 | 6,467,670 | 6,467,670 | 6,467,670 |
| 5920-6000 | Older Unserved | 6,750,000 | -- | -- | -- |
| 5920-8000 | Child/Adolescent | 5,024,156 | -- | -- | -- |
| 5930-1000 | Facilities | 164,767,603 | 160,220,259 | 166,072,065 | 165,986,286 |
| 5982-1000 | Templeton Ret. Rev. | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| DMR | Totals | $904,399,678 | $1,063,844,604 | $1,122,137,256 | 1,122,713,473 |
| 5948-0012 | DMR/DOE | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 |
This chapter focuses on the House of Representatives’ FY06 budget recommendations for the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR). For additional information on the impacts of FY01– FY05 budget cuts and more details about program services, go to the People First website at www.mass.gov/mddc/peoplefirst/index.html and click on the DMR chapter in the Volume I table of contents.
HOUSE FOR FY06 OVERVIEW
Lawsuits, Turning 22, and the New Autism Division Funded
The House budget recommends $58,868,869 more than FY05 funding for DMR; this amount is just $576,217 more than in H1 for FY06. Both budgets represent a 5.5% increase and provide for the requirements of the Boulet and Rolland class action settlement agreements. Both also essentially level-fund Turning 22 (T22) services for young people who are graduating or aging out of special education services (see line item 5920-5000, below). Level funding is increasingly inadequate support because costs rise each year. Nearly $8.3 million of the increase in both budgets is to annualize the FY05 POS Salary Reserve initiative for the lowest-paid direct care workers, and close to $8.8 million is for Unit 2 collective bargaining increases for unionized workers’ salaries.
In contrast to H1 for FY06, however, the House budget creates a new line item, 5920-3010, for DMR’s new Autism Division and funds it at $1 million. Most of this funding appears to have been trimmed from DMR personnel salary accounts, due to a difference in calculating payroll maintenance needs. The House budget also provides $500,000 in restoration funding to the Flexible Family Supports account (for which advocates are seeking $4.5 million).
Neither the House budget nor H1 for FY06 funds any new service coordinator positions, nor do they restore the 18–20 service coordinator positions that were cut in FY05, despite expanding caseload.
Line Item Analysis
Account: Administration
Line Item: 5911-1000
The Administration account funds $4.5 million for central administration, payroll, and travel. It also provides $8.5 million for workers compensation, Medicaid, unemployment, and universal health (from FY03 forward, when line item 5911-1000 was consolidated with former line item 5911-9999 for insurance assessments). Finally, there is $99,000 in FY05 for a consultant to work on asset management and development related to reuse of Fernald Development Center’s land or property.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5911-1000 | Admin. | $6,029,262 | $13,102,349 | $12,780,909 | $12,799,349 |
| 5911-9999 | Insurance Assess.** | 9,535,105 | -- | -- | -- |
Totals: |
$15,564,367 | $13,102,349 | $12,780,909 | 12,799,349 | |
| ** These funds were consolidated into 5911-1000. | |||||
FY06 Needs
DMR has established the need for an additional $634,690 for this account in FY06, to cover“chargebacks” from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)—charges DMR must pay for human resources and other services which are centralized at EOHHS.
House Budget Recommendations
The House budget cuts this account by $303,000 (2.3%), while H1 for FY06 reduces this account by $321,440 (2.44%).
Account: Regional Administration
Line Item: 5920-1000
The Regional Administration account funds the operational expenses of regional and area offices, including the positions of service coordinators.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-1000 | Regional Admin. | 48,683,630 | 52,316,518 | 53,853,237 | 53,490,519 |
FY06 Needs
DMR has anticipated needs totaling $4.352 million for FY06. These include: $1.15 million for 23 new service coordinator positions due to caseload increases; $1 million to restore the 18–20 service coordinators cut in FY05; $1 million for 20 additional needed administrative positions; $300,000 for 8 investigator positions (4 to backfill and 4 to annualize); and $200,000 for unfunded chargebacks (to pay for centralized services at EOHHS).
House Budget Recommendations
Both the House budget and H1 for FY06 improve funding for this account by $1,536,719 (2.9%). The funds will support neither new service coordinator positions nor restorations, according to DMR.
Account: Transportation
Line Item: 5911-2000
The Transportation account funds transportation of people with mental retardation to residential, day and employment programs. DMR transports roughly 6,000 adults to and from day, work, and residential programs daily.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5911-2000 | Transport. | 25,049,926 | 13,782,367 | 13,882,296 | 13,882,269 |
FY06 Needs
Unadjusted for inflation, the budget for transportation services is more than $8 million below FY89 funding. DMR has identified the need for an additional $99,201 in FY06 to cover unfunded chargebacks (to pay for centralized services at EOHHS).
House Budget Recommendations
The House budget and H1 for FY06 agree on an increase of $99,902 (.7%).
Account: Residential Community Programs
Line Item: 5920-2000
The Residential Community Programs account funds vendor-operated (i.e., privately run, not staterun) residential programs in the community.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-2000 | Comm. Residences | 353,695,256 | 476,614,523 | 499,491,126 | 499,419,626 |
| * This figure cannot be compared with subsequent years due to account restructuring. | |||||
FY06 Needs
The Rolland settlement requires an additional $13.25 million ($5 million for new placements and $8.25 million for annualization) for this line item in FY06. In addition, Turning 22 program participants will require an increase of $9.52 million for annualization funding.
House Budget Recommendations
Both the House budget and H1 for FY06 fully fund the Rolland settlement and Turning 22 annualization for FY06, as well as the FY05 salary reserve initiative for vendored direct care workers (at $5.7 million). The House budget recommends $71,500 less than does H1 for FY06, due to a difference in calculating payroll maintenance needs, according to DMR.
Account: Community-Based Residential Services
Line Item: 5920-2010
The Community-Based Residential Services account funds state-operated (i.e., run by DMR staff) residential programs in the community. In FY03 there were 987 state-operated community-based beds.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-2010 | State Residences | 99,998,330 | 113,269,640 | 119,978,807 | 119,556,581 |
FY06 Needs
DMR has identified the need for a $1.787 million increase to this account for FY06. Close to $1 million is for anticipated fuel increases and nearly $800,000 is for additional clinical staffing needs.
House Budget Recommendations
The House budget recommendation is $6,286,941 above FY05 funding. However, the House budget amount is still $422,226 below that in H1 for FY06, due to a difference in calculating payroll maintenance needs, according to DMR. Of the increase, $4.2 million is for collective bargaining salary increases for unionized state employees and $25,478 is to annualize the FY05 POS salary reserve initiative for the lowest-paid direct care workers.
Account: Boulet Waiting List
Line Item: 5920-2020
The Boulet Waiting List account funds the Boulet lawsuit settlement agreement (see People First Vol. I at www.mass.gov/mddc/peoplefirst/index.html for a full explanation of the Boulet agreement). Boulet requires new funds, in combination with some base resources, to eliminate the DMR waiting list problem for 2,225 members of this class action suit over 5 years.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-2020 | Boulet Wait List | -- | 70,000,000 | 85,614,227 | 85,614,227 |
FY06 Needs
The settlement agreement calls for total FY06 funding at $85 million ($15 million in new funds).
House Budget Recommendations
Both the House budget and H1 for FY06 would provide $15,614,227 above FY05 funding. This amount includes full funding for Boulet, $573,120 to annualize the FY05 POS Salary Reserve initiative, and $27,238 for collective bargaining increases for unionized state employees.
Account: Community Day/Work Programs
Line Item: 5920-2025
The Community Day/Work Programs account funds supported employment programs, sheltered workshops, and other day programs. DMR served 5,346 people with community day and work supports in FY03. In FY05, account language earmarks $2,720,000 for these young adults. The Community Day/Work Programs account grows each year due to Turning 22 annualization needs.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-2025 | Day/Work Programs | 90,185,163 | 109,171,278 | 113,106,979 | 113,106,979 |
FY06 Needs
Between FY03–FY04 (mostly in FY03), this account was cut by roughly $3.5 million, impacting more than 250 persons with disabilities. As the ongoing consequence of cuts, individuals receiving day support services increasingly receive only MassHealth-funded day habilitation services.
House Budget Recommendations
Both the House budget and H1 for FY06 recommend $3,935,701 above the FY05 funding level. Of that, $2,720,000 is for Turning 22 annualization and $1,215,701 is for annualization of the FY05 POS salary reserve initiative for vendored direct care workers.
Account: Flexible Family Supports and Autism Division
Line Item: 5920-3000 and 5920-3010
The Flexible Family Supports account funds respite and flexible family support services for individuals receiving DMR services and their families. Services may include providing an in-home caregiver while the primary caregiver is away, out-of-home care for periods as long as a weekend, funds for a family to learn sign language, or an alternative communication device for someone who cannot speak. DMR serves about 14,900 families through this program. The account grows by $1.36 million each year to meet Turning 22 annualization needs.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-3000 | Family Supports | 50,248,489 | 48,800,000 | 50,789,967 | 51,289,967 |
| 5920-3010 | Autism Division | -- | -- | -- | 1,000,000 |
| Totals | 50,248,489 | 48,800,000 | 50,789,967 | 52,289,967 | |
FY06 Needs
This program has received no increases in 8 years. Advocates are seeking an additional $4.5 million in FY06 to provide services for up to 1,000 more families, including many people with autism spectrum disorders. Advocates propose about $300,000 for administration of a new autism division at DMR. Advocates note that many families have young children who have aged out of Early Intervention services and that there continue to be adults living in families who require assistance.
House Budget Recommendations
The House budget recommends $500,000 in restoration funding for FY06, an amount that is $500,000 more than does H1 for FY06. In addition, the House budget creates a new line item (5920-3010) funded with $1 million for DMR’s new Autism Division, to provide contracted services for families with children who have autism spectrum disorders. Both budgets provide $1,360,000 for Turning 22 annualization and $629,967 for annualization of the FY05 POS salary reserve initiative for vendored direct care workers.
Account: Turning 22 (T22) Community Services
Line Item: 5920-5000
The Turning 22 (T22) Community Services account funds services to persons with mental retardation and related disabilities who turn 22 and therefore age out of special education services. An individual who begins to receive services through this account will be served for the remainder of the fiscal year in which she or he turned 22. The following year, annualization funds—earmarked and spread out among the service accounts—are needed to cover a full year of services.
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5920-5000 | Turning 22 | 6,950,000 | 6,467,670 | 6,467,670 | 6,467,670 |
FY06 Needs
Since FY02, this account has been under funded by $482,330, while the number of T22 students has grown to about 450 per year. DMR has absorbed cuts by delaying placements. DMR has established the need for $7.467 million in FY06, including $1.2 million for day and employment services.
House Budget Recommendations
Both the House budget and H1 for FY06 recommend level funding only.
Account: Facilities
Line Item: 5930-1000
The Facilities account funds the operation and management of the remaining
6 developmental centers, known archaically as state schools: Glavin;
Monson; Templeton; Hogan; Wrentham; and Fernald. So far the state has
closed 3 institutions: Belchertown (in 1992); Berry Rehabilitation Center
(in 1995); and Dever (in 2002). In FY05, 1,077 individuals remain in
the 6 institutions, down from a census of 2,643 in FY92. DMR allows a
handful of admissions each year, usually for residents from other institutions
or for patients requiring short-term care. In FY04, the governor called
for the closure of Fernald, sparking families to protest (see People
First Vol. I at www.mass.gov/mddc/peoplefirst/index.html for more information).
| Line Item | Description | FY01 | FY05 | H1 for FY06 | House Budget for FY06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5930-1000 | Facilities | 164,767,603 | 160,220,259 | 166,072,065 | 165,986,286 |
FY06 Needs
Most advocates for people with developmental disabilities support closure of the state facilities. They call for the money supporting each resident to follow that person into the community. Towards that end, advocates are calling for the creation of a housing disposition fund from a portion of revenue generated by the sale and development of state facilities and land. It would be a dedicated funding stream to create community-based housing for people with mental retardation, and would help the state to meet its obligations under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision.
House Budget Recommendations
The House budget recommends $85,779 less than does H1 for FY06, due to a difference in calculating payroll maintenance needs, according to DMR. The amount is $5,766,027 above the FY05 allocation. Of that increase, $4,526,455 is for collective bargaining increases for unionized state employees and $71,387 is to annualize the FY05 POS Salary Reserve initiative for the lowest-paid vendored direct care workers. The House budget calls for DMR to submit a plan by January 1, 2006 “regarding community transitions” from the state facilities (it avoids the language of “closure” with regards to the facilities). No language or outside section is included to create a housing disposition fund from the sale of state facilities or land.
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