ACTION ALERT

2.5.13

FY 13 Budget “Fix” Introduced by Speaker Madigan Passed Out of the Executive Committee Yesterday! You did a great job but it isn't over yet! HCA 1 of HB 190 contains both the language fix for Supportive Housing Projects and $12M for Mental Health Services

Late yesterday afternoon and early evening, the House Executive Committee debated the merits of HB190, HCA1. After much discussion, the bill and amendment passed out of committee. This morning, a second amendment to HB190 was filed. This Amendment also includes the vital language fix that has been needed since July of 2012 that would allow new supportive housing to finally access the service dollars they need and that are sitting in Fund 365 waiting to be used. House Committee Amendment 2 also includes a $12M appropriation for Mental Health Services. Things are very fluid at this moment so we need you to contact your State Representative in their Springfield office this morning and let them know that they need to make sure that whatever final supplemental bill comes to the House floor for a vote includes the language fix for supportive housing (see language below) and the $12M for mental health! We also need to continue to contact the new chair of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee, Representative Greg Harris, and ask that any supplemental bill that he negotiates and supports contain the three word language fix for supportive housing (the required language change is to Public Act 97-730, Article 9, Section 130, The sum of $34,450,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Health and Human Services Medicaid Trust Fund to the Department of Human Services for awards and grants to developmental disabilities or mental health programs.) and $12M in funding for Mental Health Services.

 Please make two phone calls to Springfield (even if you already did this yesterday):

• Find your Representatives contact information at http://www.ilga.gov/house/. Simply click on your Representatives name and their Springfield office information is available.
• Call your Representative and tell them that any supplemental appropriations bill that comes to the House floor for a vote needs to include the needed language fix for supportive housing for the current fiscal year (amending the FY 13 Appropriations Act (P.A. 97-730) permitting DHS to spend appropriated monies for supportive housing) and a supplemental appropriation of $12 million to restore mental health system funding inadvertently omitted from the FY 13 Appropriations Act, P.A. 97-730. Both HCA1 and HCA2 include this language.

AND

• Call Representative Greg Harris' Springfield office at (217) 782-3835 and leave him a message asking that as he negotiates what the final supplemental bill will look like, that he ensures that the language fix for supportive housing and $12M for Mental Health Services are included. (Representative Harris is the new Chair of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee.)
• Report back to Lore Baker at l.baker@shpa-il.org and Mike Bach at m.bach@shpa-il.org.

EVEN IF YOU DID THIS YESTERDAY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO IT AGAIN TODAY! Things change rapidly in the Capitol and we need to continue to let our Representatives know what we need. This is vitally important! Activate your networks, boards, staff, residents and friends! Make these two calls today!

You were successful in your advocacy push yesterday! HCA1 of HB190 was passed out of Executive Committee. Drink some Gatorade to replenish your electrolytes and get back out there! Make Your Calls!