Budget Amendment ID: FY2021-S4-272

EHS 272

Early Intervention

Mr. DiDomenico, Ms. Rausch, Mr. Moore, Ms. DiZoglio, Messrs. Eldridge, Timilty, O'Connor, Barrett and Cyr, Ms. Creem and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 4513-1020, by striking out the words:-  "provided further, that if the department determines that the available appropriation exceeds projected expenses, the department shall, to the extent allowable under federal law and regulations, stabilize payments to providers through policies that mitigate the impact of fluctuations in enrollment due to the 2019 novel coronavirus and address the operational costs of providing early intervention services; provided further, that said payments from the available appropriation shall be made on a proportional basis, calculated using the most recent early intervention child counts of the department of public health; and provided further, that not later than April 15, 2021, the commissioner of public health shall report to the joint committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the: (a) total funds expended to providers for payments from the available appropriation; (b) estimated need for financial support to sustain the early intervention delivery system in fiscal year 2022; and (c) impact of financial support on the rehiring, retention and furloughs of clinical staff across the early intervention delivery system" 

and by inserting in place thereof the following words:-

"provided further, that not less than $4,100,000, shall be expended from this item for stabilization payments necessary to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in service delivery due to the 2019 novel coronavirus and address the operational costs of providing early intervention services; provided further, the department of public health shall issue payment vouchers to all vendors of certified early intervention programs; provided further, that said payments shall be made on a proportional basis, calculated using the most recent early intervention child counts of the department of public health; and provided further, that not later than January 15, 2021, the commissioner of public health shall report to the joint committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the: (a) total funds expended to certified early intervention vendors from said appropriation; (b) estimated need for financial support to sustain the early intervention delivery system, including operational costs, in fiscal year 2022; and (c) impact of financial support on the rehiring, retention and furloughs of clinical staff across the early intervention delivery system".