Governor: Provide $ 22,000 GPR and -$65,900 PR annually for standard budget adjustments for: (a) removal of noncontinuing elements from the base (-$65,900 PR); (b) full funding of continuing salaries and fringe benefits ($21,300 GPR); (c) full funding of financial services charges ($700 GPR); and (d) minor off-setting transfers within the same appropriation.
2. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITH STATE AGENCIES
Funding Positions
PR $250,600 2.00
Governor: Authorize the Governor to enter into cooperative arrangements with any state agency under which the agency would assist the Governor in carrying out his or her responsibilities. State agencies to which this provision would apply are any office, department or independent agency in the executive branch, the Legislature and the courts. Establish a new, program revenue continuing appropriation under the Office into which state agencies could transfer funds under such cooperative arrangements for expenditure by the Governor's Office.
Provide expenditure authority of $105,000 in 1999-00 and $145,600 in 2000-00 and authorize 2.0 unclassified positions to staff unspecified special projects to be undertaken by the Governor through cooperative interagency agreements. The source of revenues for these expenditures is not identified. Although the Executive Budget Book indicates that the intent is that the new positions be authorized for a four-year period, under the budget the funding and associated position authority are provided on a permanent position basis.
[Bill Sections: 11, 474 and 593]
3. LITERACY INITIATIVES
Funding Positions
GPR - $50,000 - 0.30
PR 100,000 0.30
TOTAL $50,000 0.00
Governor: Partial Funding Conversion of Literacy Advocate Position. Shift $25,000 annually and 0.3 unclassified position from GPR to PR funding to reflect the partial funding conversion of the Office's existing literacy advocate position. The PR funding would derive from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant through a cooperative agreement between the Governor's Office and the Department of Workforce Development under which the literacy advocate would undertake literacy program activities targeted to TANF-eligible families. The PR funds are included in the new appropriation created under Item #2.
Literacy Aids to Libraries. Provide expenditure authority of $25,000 PR annually to support literacy aids to libraries. The PR funding would derive from the TANF block grant referenced above. Although this use of TANF funds by the Office of the Governor is not explicitly stated in the Executive Budget book, the State Budget Office indicates that this was the Governor's intent. The PR funds are included in the new appropriation created under Item #2.
[Bill Section: 474]
4. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND GRANTS
Governor: Authorize the Governor to accept gifts, grants and bequests and to expend such monies to carry out the purposes for which the funds are received. Modify the expenditure purposes of an existing PR continuing gifts and grants appropriation for the Office to authorize the use of such monies to carry out any purpose for which the funds are received. Under current law, the Governor may accept gifts, grants and bequests only to fund advocacy activities concerning problems of members of ethnic minority groups, women and the family, including family literacy advocacy. No increased expenditures are budgeted in this appropriation as a result of the proposed change.
[Bill Sections: 8 and 592]
HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
Budget Change Items
Departmentwide and Management and Technology
1. STANDARD BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
Funding Positions
GPR - $449,400 - 2.90
FED - 3,649,900 - 52.30
PR - 12,016,800 - 6.90
SEG 48,000 0.00
Total - $16,662,100 - 62.10
Governor: Provide -$169,000 GPR and -2.90 GPR positions, -$1,539,100 FED and -12.30 FED positions, -$6,254,900 PR and -4.90 PR positions and $24,000 SEG in 1999-00 and -$280,400 GPR and -2.90 GPR positions, -$2,110,700 FED and -52.30 FED positions, -$6,355,900 PR and -6.90 PR positions and $24,000 SEG in 2000-01 to adjust the Department’s base budget for: (a) turnover reduction (-$1,745,900 GPR, -$885,600 FED and -$2,575,100 PR annually); (b) removal of noncontinuing items (-$1,681,400 GPR and -2.90 GPR positions, -$3,171,500 FED and -12.30 FED positions, -$7,322,800 PR and -4.90 PR positions and -$400 SEG in 1999-2000 and -$1,690,900 GPR and -2.90 GPR positions, -$3,749,100 FED and -52.30 FED positions, -$7,424,200 PR and -6.90 PR positions and -$400 SEG in 2000-01); (c) full funding of salaries and fringe benefits ($1,143,800 GPR, $2,371,500 FED, -$1,7867,800 PR and $23,200 SEG in 1999-00 and $1,021,700 GPR, $2,371,500 FED, -$1,768,600 PR and $23,200 SEG in 2000-01); (d) full funding of financial services charges ($18,700 GPR, $30,300 FED, $31,800 PR and $1,200 SEG annually); (e) overtime ($1,095,700 GPR and $2,905,800 PR annually); (f) night and weekend salary differentials ($908,700 GPR, $8,000 FED and $2,431,900 PR annually); (g) fifth vacation week as cash for certain long-term employes ($52,100 GPR, $31,700 FED and $41,300 PR in 1999-00 and $53,500 GPR, $32,800 FED and $42,500 PR in 2000-01); and (h) full funding of lease costs and increases in space rentals due to relocations required by DOA ($39,300 GPR and $76,400 FED in 1999-00 and $58,100 GPR and $81,400 FED in 2000-01).
In addition, transfer funds within various DHFS appropriations such that the (all funds) net effect would be to: (a) reduce permanent position salaries by $1,000 in 1999-00 and $40,300 in 2000-01; (b) increase project position salaries by $39,200 in 2000-01; (c) increase supplies and services funding by $14,600 in 1999-00 and $14,700 in 2000-01; and (d) reduce permanent position salaries by $13,600 annually.
2. DEBT SERVICE REESTIMATE
GPR $1,886,300
Governor: Provide $492,600 in 1999-00 and $1,393,700 in 2000-01 to reflect anticipated changes in debt service costs associated with facilities operated by the Division of Care and Treatment Facilities ($493,100 in 1999-00 and $1,395,300 in 2000-01) and the workshop for the blind (-$500 in 1999-00 and -$1,600 in 2000-01).
3. GPR STATE OPERATIONS REDUCTIONS
Funding Positions
GPR - $2,581,000 - 5.61
FED 221,200 1.00
PR 536,600 2.61
Total - $1,823,200 - 2.00
Governor: Provide -$1,290,500 GPR and -5.61 GPR positions, $110,600 FED and 1.00 FED position and $268,300 PR and 2.61 PR positions annually to make permanent GPR state operations funding reductions required under 1997 Wisconsin Act 27. The Governor recommends that these annual funding reductions be allocated as follows:
Division of Public Health. Delete 0.50 GPR physician position (-$75,700 GPR and –0.50 GPR position).
Division of Health Care Financing. Reduce funding for the administration of the medical assistance (MA) program by $402,200 GPR to reflect: (a) the completion of work needed to prepare the long-term care redesign proposal in 1998-99 (-$261,800 GPR); (b) reduced costs of the peer review contract (-$75,000 GPR); (c) a reduction in funding required to support incentives for counties to report health insurance coverage of MA recipients (-$50,000 GPR); and (d) reduced costs to reimburse insurers for production of insurance files (-$15,400 GPR).
Division of Children and Family Services. Reduce funding by $81,600 GPR to reflect savings associated with consolidating the state adoption center contract into the state adoption information exchange contract (-$25,000 GPR and $25,000 FED), assessing a new fee for sending out start-up materials for new family or group child care providers (-$20,000 GPR and $20,000 PR), substituting drug abuse program improvement surcharge revenues for GPR to support substance abuse activities in the Bureau of Community and Family Development (-$12,000 GPR and $12,000 PR) and reducing funding for supplies and services (-$24,600 GPR).
Division of Supportive Living. Provide $75,000 PR from TANF funds transferred from DWD and $47,600 FED in MA administration funds and reduce funding by $355,000 GPR to reduce support for the administration of the SSI caretaker supplement, to reflect that the SSI caretaker supplement is funded primarily with TANF funds and to claim federal MA costs for determining eligibility for state-only SSI recipients.
In addition, transfer support for : (a) 1.61 GPR surveyor positions in the Bureau of Quality Assurance from GPR to health facility license fee revenue (-$95,600 GPR and $95,600 PR); and (b) 1.0 GPR position in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services from GPR to drug abuse improvement surcharge revenue (-$65,700 GPR and $65,700 PR). Finally, reduce funding by $27,300 GPR and delete 0.50 GPR position.
Departmentwide Services. Reduce funding for DHFS general administration by $187,400 GPR and increase funding by $38,000 FED to: (a) delete 1.0 equal opportunity officer position (-$47,500 GPR and –1.0 GPR position); (b) reduce supplies and services funding for the Division of Management and Technology (-$80,900 GPR); (c) transfer support for a position in the billings and collections unit from 100% GPR to 40% GPR (-$13,500 GPR); (d) convert two .0.5 GPR positions from GPR to FED (-$38,000 GPR and –1.0 GPR position and $38,000 FED and 1.0 FED position); and (e) reduce supplies and services funding for the Office of Program Review and Audit (-$7,500 GPR).
4. CAREGIVER BACKGROUND CHECKS
Funding Positions
PR-REV $192,000
GPR $143,300 1.71
FED 125,100 1.06
PR 899,000 3.82
Total $1,167,400 6.59
Governor: Provide $62,300 GPR, $55,800 FED, and $509,800 PR in 1999-00 and $81,000 GPR, $69,300 FED, and $389,200 PR in 2000-01 and 1.71 GPR positions, 1.06 FED positions and 3.82 PR positions, beginning in 1999-00, to implement caregiver background check requirements established in 1997 Wisconsin Act 27.
The requested funding would support: (a) processing background checks for new child care and health care providers licensed by DHFS and non-client residents of the facility, if any; (b) conducting rehabilitation reviews and appeals when a person contests a license denial or employment bar as a result of a negative finding from a background check; and (c) ongoing maintenance costs and enhancements for the linked computer system that searches state databases to conduct background checks. DHFS would establish an electronic reporting system to accept information from counties on foster care license denials and day care certification denials and maintain a data base of that information ($121,600 all funds).
Program revenue funds would include: (a) $126,900 in 1999-00 and $47,000 in 2000-01 from the current annual bed fees assessed to nursing homes and hospitals; and (b) revenue from new fees for background checks and rehabilitation reviews created in the bill.
Statutory Changes. Authorize DHFS to charge facilities a fee for any requested background check for an employe or contractor which would be paid in addition to the current fee of $2 to $13 charged by DOJ for checking state criminal records. Authorize DHFS to charge a fee for persons who request a rehabilitation review. Specify that these fees could not exceed the reasonable cost of obtaining the information. DHFS plans to charge a fee of $2.50 for each background check and $50 for each rehabilitation review. DHFS estimates that revenue from the proposed fees would generate an estimated $91,600 in 1999-00 and $100,400 in 2000-01. Finally, specify that all revenue from background checks would be credited to the Division of Supportive Living's licensing and support services appropriation.
Modify provisions for the application of the required background checks related to employes and contractors by only requiring background checks for those persons that would provide direct care to clients that is more intensive than negligible care in quantity or quality or in the amount of time required to provide the care. Under current law, any employe or contractor that would have access to clients would be subject to the background checks. This change would not affect the current law requirement that any non-client resident with access to the entity's clients would be subject to the background check requirements. This change for employes and contractors applies both to children's facilities and health care facilities.
[Bill Sections: 445, 1161, 1163 thru 1165, 1167, 1168, 1172, 1178, 1181, 1516 thru 1522 and 9423(9)]
5. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT REDUCTIONS -- STATE OPERATIONS
Funding Positions
GPR - $14,400 - 0.11
FED - 3,661,600 34.49
PR 3,264,100 33.10
Total - $411,900 - 1.50
Governor: Provide -$3,000 GPR, -$1,624,200 FED and -32.10 FED positions and $1,600,000 PR and 32.10 PR positions in 1999-00 and -$11,400 GPR, -0.11 GPR position, -$2,037,400 FED and -34.49 FED positions and $1,664,100 PR and 33.10 PR position in 2000-01 to reflect reductions in the amount of federal social services block grant (SSBG) budgeted for state operations. These changes are based on a 17% reduction in the SSBG effective in federal fiscal year 1998-99 and an anticipated 10.5% reduction in federal fiscal year 2000-01. PR funding would be available from federal TANF block grant funds transferred from DWD.
Day Care Licensing Positions. Provide -$3,000 GPR, -$1,631,300 FED and $1,600,000 PR in 1999-00 to convert 32.10 FED positions to PR positions supported by TANF funds transferred from DWD. These positions are currently funded from GPR, the SSBG and childcare licensing fees.
Supplies and Services Reduction. Increase supplies and services funding in the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Division of Supportive Living (DSL) and the Division of Management and Technology (DMT) by $80,700 FED in 1999-00 and reduce funding for this purpose by $171,400 FED in 2000-01.
Staff Vacancies. Reduce salary funding for DCFS, DSL and DMT by $73,600 FED in 1999-00 and $102,400 FED in 2000-01. Divisions would absorb these reductions by keeping positions vacant as they occur.
Miscellaneous Position Changes. Provide -$8,400 GPR and -0.11 GPR position, -$132,300 FED and -2.39 FED positions and $64,100 PR and 1.0 PR position in 2000-01 for DCFS. These changes include funding 1.0 position in the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare with TANF funds transferred from DWD and claiming federal Title IV-E funds for 1.0 position that is currently funded entirely with GPR funds and using the GPR from this position to support a portion of the costs of another position currently funded with SSBG funds.
6. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- COMPLIANCE WITH HIPPA HEALTH DATA STANDARDS
FED $4,583,800
PR 1,322,600
Total $5,906,400
Governor: Provide $930,200 FED and $305,600 PR in 1999-00 and $3,653,600 FED and $1,017,000 PR in 2000-01 to implement changes in DHFS computer systems to comply with new standards for the electronic transmission of health data for certain administrative and financial transactions published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA).
Under HIPPA, all health plans, health care clearinghouses and health care providers that conduct specified transactions electronically must comply with standards published by DHHS within two years (or, for small health plans, within three years) of their adoption. DHHS has published standards for: (a) certain standardized uniform transactions and data elements; (b) unique identifiers for health providers; and (c) code sets and classification systems for data elements of specified transactions. DHHS will publish additional standards for data security, procedures for the electronic transmission and authentication of signatures relating to specified transactions and unique identifiers for individuals, employers and health plans. This funding would be used to modify computer systems to comply with the three sets of published standards.
The following table identifies how this funding would be allocated within DHFS and the sources of funding that would be used to support modifications to DHFS computer systems.
1999-00 2000-01
Appropriation and Revenue Source FED PR FED PR
