Action Alert #7 House Appropriations Votes on Budget

On Monday, April 13^th at 9 AM, the House Appropriations Committee will vote on the proposed Fiscal Year 27 budget (House Bill 1 or HB1). This budget would begin July 1^st.

Below are some disability-related issues that are not included in the current proposed budget:

• Funding to increase Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rates and Direct Support Worker (DSW) pay
• Restoring funding for Families Helping Families (FHF) Regional Resource Centers
• Additional funding for Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)

More details about these issues can be found after the “How to Take Action” part.

How to Take Action

If these topics matter to you, there are options below to tell the committee how these issues affect you and whether you think they should be funded or not.

Email or call the Chair and committee members before the April 13^th meeting. Contact information for members is listed at the end of this alert.

Email your comments and concerns to [email protected].

When sharing comments, it helps to include:

• Your name
• Your contact information
• The topic you are writing about (HCBS rates, DSW pay, FHF Centers, LRS, etc.)
• A short description of your experience or concerns

Attend Yellow Shirt Day in House Appropriations

• Monday, April 13th at 9 AM
• Louisiana State Capitol – House Committee Room 5
• Arrive early to get a seat

Contact your LaCAN Leader if you need help, want more information or need a ride to the Capitol.

Committee meetings can be watched live on the Louisiana Legislature’s website. A link will appear when the meeting begins.

More Information

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rates and Direct Support Worker (DSW) Pay

• HCBS help people with disabilities live in their homes and communities.
• Many services depend on DSWs who provide daily help and support.
• A recent rate study found about $53.6 million in state general funds would be needed to increase service rates and DSW pay.
• LDH told House Appropriations members they need more information and do not plan to address this issue until next year.
• Advocates thought the rate study would help lead to changes this year. They are concerned the delay may make the DSW shortage last longer and affect services.
• This issue in the budget is in Schedule 9 – Louisiana Department of Health.
• Click HERE for more information.

Families Helping Families (FHF) Regional Resource Centers

• The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council provides state funding to FHF Centers across the state.
• The proposed budget includes a $250,000 cut to this funding.
• This change can affect FHF services and operations.
• This issue in the budget is in Schedule 9 – Louisiana Department of Health.
• Click HERE for more information.

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)

• LRS helps people with disabilities prepare for work, find jobs and keep jobs.
• Louisiana does not provide enough state matching funds for LRS to access all available federal funding
• It was reported $72 – $74 million would be available next year
• We’ve missed out on $155 million in federal funds over the last five years.
• $6.8 million in state general funds would allow the state to access all federal funding
• This issue in the budget is in Schedule 14 – Louisiana Works.
• Click HERE for more information.

Committee Members are sorted by region. Find your region!

Committee Members are sorted by region. Find your region!

All Regions	Committee Chairman
Jack McFarland	[email protected]	(318) 259-4275
Region 1	New Orleans Area
Aimee Adatto Freeman	[email protected]	(504) 861-1614
Alonzo Knox	[email protected]	(504) 568-3101
Region 2	Baton Rouge/Capital Area
Roy Daryl Adams	[email protected]	(225) 634-7470
Barbara Carpenter	[email protected]	(225) 771-5674
Barbara Reich Freiberg	[email protected]	(225) 763-3500
Vanessa LaFleur	[email protected]	(225) 925-6880
Denise Marcelle	[email protected]	(225) 359 -9362
Region 3	Houma/Thibodaux Area
Beryl Amedee	[email protected]	(985) 858-2967
Jerome Zeringue	[email protected]	(985) 876-8823
Region 4	Lafayette/Acadiana Area
Rhonda Butler	[email protected]	(337) 363-3900
Region 5	Lake Charles/Southwest LA Area
Dewith Carrier	[email protected]	(318) 335-0206
Charles “Chuck” Owen	[email protected]	(337) 460-8726
Phillip Tarver	[email protected]	(337) 475-8186
Region 6	Alexandria/Central LA Area
Rhonda Butler	[email protected]	(337) 363-3900
Jason Dewitt	[email protected]	(318) 277-7475
Jack McFarland (Chair)	[email protected]	(318) 259-4275
Charles “Chuck” Owen	[email protected]	(337) 460-8726
Region 7	Shreveport/Northwest LA Area
Larry Bagley	[email protected]	(318) 925-9588
Dodie  Horton	[email protected]	(318) 949-2463
Jack McFarland (Chair)	[email protected]	(318) 259-4275
Region 8	Monroe/Northeast LA Area
Adrian Fisher	[email protected]	(318) 556-7001
Jack McFarland (Chair)	[email protected]	(318) 259-4275
Francis Thompson	[email protected]	(318) 878-9408
Region 9	Hammond/Northshore Area
Stephanie Hunter Berault	[email protected]	(985) 640-9795
Kimberly Landry Coates	[email protected]	(985) 551-1424
Shane Mack	[email protected]	(225) 686-7500
Region 10	Jefferson/New Orleans Area
John Illg, Jr.	[email protected]	(504) 737-0315
Timothy Kerner	[email protected]	(504) 689-7725
Rodney Lyons	[email protected]	(504) 510-5417

Confirm Your Action

• Email your LaCAN Leader after you take action
• Why confirm your action? This helps the Council know how effective we are reaching you with important information and engaging members across our state in advocacy for systems change.

Tips & Tools for Advocacy

Looking for tips and tools to help you in your advocacy? Check out the Council’s Advocacy 101 page. You can also find tips for:

• Writing/emailing your legislators
• Calling your legislators
• Writing your story