FY 2002-03 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation. . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;. . . . . . . . . . 

$4,037,164,400

Changes from FY 2002-03 Year-to-Date:

Items Included by the Senate and House

 1.       Budget Savings. The budget includes reductions associated with the hiring freeze, and two early retirement programs and two executive orders and offset by additional funds for related early retirement payouts.

(75,164,300)

 2.       Child Support. The budget includes additional funds for legal support contracts and the distribution computer system.

13,116,600

 3.       Children and Youth Services. The budget includes a 1,046 Title IV-E Foster Care caseload reduction, a 500 Adoption Subsidy caseload increase, and a net savings associated with a detention services reduction and decreased use of the boot camp program.

(5,091,000)

 4.       Economic Adjustments.

111,000

 5.       Other Adjustments. The State Disability Assistance caseload is increased by 500 cases and Homestead Property Tax Credit and the Transitional Work Support funds are eliminated.

(53,598,800)

Conference Agreement on Items of Difference

 6.       Child Care Fund (CCF). The Senate does not concur with the Governor to increase the county reimbursement for in-home services from 50% to 75% and transfer less funds to Enhanced Child Care Fund reimbursement for community programs. The House concurs with the Governor and increased the transfer from CCF by 2% above the Senate transfer amount. The Conference Committee does not concur and transfers all funds back to the CCF and maintains county reimbursement at 50% and TANF funds are reduced by $24.4 million.

25,637,900

 7.       Excess Maxey Property. Pending the sale of the excess property, the assumed proceeds of $5 million are appropriated for Salaries and Wages and Contractual Services, Supplies, and Materials in the Executive Operations Unit.

(5,000,000)

 8.       Family Independence Program. The Senate includes the Kinship Care Program at a 20% reduction and adds $25 per child to the Clothing Allowance. The House includes a 15% reduction in the Kinship Care program and concurs with the Senate $50 per school age child Clothing Allowance. The Conference Committee adds $31.4 million for caseload, restores the Kinship Care Program at a 10% reduction and includes a $40 per child Clothing Allowance.

(7,000,000)

 9.       Day Care Services. The Senate includes the Before-and After-School Programs (B & A) at a 10.5% reduction and concurs with the Governor’s 1,300 case increase to 66,300. The House includes B and A at a 10% reduction and increases the caseload to 66,304 average cases. The Conference Committee concurs with House’s B & A Programs and adds $9.4 million for caseload.

43,918,000

10.      Target Agreement. The Senate includes the Fatherhood and Marriage Initiatives, and Teenage Parent Counseling at a reduced rate. The House concurs at a lower rate and includes Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and Welfare to Career Work Innovation Grants. The Conference Committee concurs in the Initiatives and Teenage Parent Counseling and the House programs, and makes adjustments to reach GF target agreement, including adding funds for SDA caseload.

(13,299,600)

Total Changes. . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .& #160;. . . . . . . . . . . .&# 160;. . . . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;

($76,370,200)

FY 2003-04 Conference Report Gross Appropriation. . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;. . . . .

 $3,960,794,200

Amount Over/(Under) GF/GP Target: $0

FY 2003-04 FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY BUDGET - BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2002-03 Year-to-Date:

Items Included by the Senate and House

 1.       Hiring Freeze. The Governor provides for all positions to be included in the freeze. The Senate and House concur. (Sec. 205)

 2.       Prevention Services. The Governor does not include an annual status report. The Senate and House include a status report on prevention services for children. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate and House. (Sec. 524)

Conference Agreement on Items of Difference

 3.       Faith-based Organization Contracts. The House changed “ecclesiastical” to “religious” in this section that provides assurances for contract participation. The Conference Committee concurs with the House. (Sec. 220)

 4        Local Office Consolidations. The Senate includes current year language. The House amends the section with a consolidation plan mandate for local field offices that have more than 10 offices. The Conference committee concurs with the House for a $2 million savings. (Sec. 261)

 5.       Policy Changes Report. The Senate provides for an annual report on policy changes. The House does not concur. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate and includes policy changes on child support and adult and child safety. (Sec. 273)

 6.       style="font-weight: bold">Billboard Advertising. The Senate includes a restriction on billboard advertising. The House eliminates “billboards” from language. The Conference Committee provides no funds for billboard advertising unless required by State or Federal law. (Sec. 275)

 7.       Penalty Refund. The Senate includes various program enhancements. The House provides a $10.2 million appropriation for FY 2003-04 (Sec. 413) and a revised FY 2002-03 appropriation of $16.1 million and repeals the section. The Conference Committee includes a compromise to Section 413 enhancements and concurs with the House on the repealers. (Secs. 1001 and 1002)

 8.       Community Action. The House permits 3.75% of Community Services Block Grant funds for a Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity and a Commission on Community Action and Social Opportunity to advocate for low-income State residents. The Conference Committee concurs with the House. (Sec. 417)

 9.       Employment Support. The House provides $40,000 in TANF funds for Welfare Career Innovative Grants in 4 counties across the State. The Conference Committee concurs with the House. (Sec. 420)

10.      Teenage Parent Counseling. The House amends the language with a 10% match provision for program contractors. (Sec. 523)

11.      Foster Care Services. The Senate language mandates case to worker ratio not to exceed the department’s ratio, if providers are to receive the first opportunity for service provision. The House concurs and adds other government agencies ratio to be considered. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate. (Sec. 537)

12.      Child Care Fund Incentives. The Senate provides grants to private providers. The House concurs with the Executive on county incentives and the Senate to reduce need for out-of-home services. The Conference Committee does not include the language. (Sec. 540)

13.      Criminal Sexual Conduct. The House provides for education and training planning to reduce under age youth conduct and mandates a report on the plan. The Conference Committee concurs. (Sec. 543)

14.      Five-year Assistance Limit. The Senate permits welfare payments past the Federal 5-year limit. The House mandates continued payments. The Conference Committee concurs with the Senate. (Sec. 648)

15.      Excess Maxey Property. The House includes pursuit of property sale. The Conference Committee includes proceeds from the sale to be used for salaries and wages and other administrative costs. (Sec. 716)