Senate Journal: Page 1462: Wednesday, April 26, 2000

  May 17, 2000

  The Honorable Chester Culver
  Secretary of State
  State Capitol
  L O C A L

  Dear Mr. Secretary:

  I hereby transmit Senate File 2435, an act relating to appropriations for
  the
  Department of Human Services and including other provisions and
  appropriations
  involving human services and health care, providing effective dates, and
  providing for
  retroactive applicability.

  The human services appropriations bill is a vitally important measure for
  literally
  hundreds of thousands of Iowans.  For many of our neighbors, family members,
  and
  friends, it provides the services they most need to assist families, assure
  basic health
  care for children, nursing home care for senior citizens, treatment for
  those with
  mental illness, and assistance for those with mental retardation or
  developmental
  disabilities.

  I am grateful that we, legislators and myself, were able to work together in
  several
  areas to bring about funding for needed services.  This includes an
  additional $650,000
  to expand the number of school liaisons to an additional 25 schools and
  expand the
  family support subsidy program so that an additional 50 youngsters with
  mental
  retardation may remain in their own homes.  Senate File 2435 also includes
  the
  addition of $3.55 million to assist low income, working parents with child
  care and an
  additional $2.55 to community empowerment programs to assist communities
  with
  their efforts in child care and helping families reach self sufficiency.

  While I am supportive of some efforts this Legislature made, Senate File
  2435 also
  provides funding that is $3.6 million below the level that I recommended at
  the
  beginning of the session.  It also contains sections that are either flawed
  or negatively
  impact the Department of Human Services efforts to carry out its duties in
  an effective
  manner.  Therefore, I am unable to approve Senate File 2435 in its entirety.

  Senate File 2435 is, therefore, approved on this date with the following
  exceptions,
  which I hereby disapprove.

  I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 4, subsection 1f, in
  its
  entirety.  This language would put restrictions on implementing electronic
  benefit
  transfer in the most cost effective manner as required by federal
  regulations.

  I am unable to approve the designated portion of Section 8, subsection 11.
  This
  item purports to encourage the department to implement an adult mental
  health
  rehabilitation option under the medical assistance program.  While I am
  supportive of
  this effort, this language relates to scheduling meetings for the next
  session and may
  have the opposite effect of the intended language by slowing down the
  process.  For
  this reason, I am unable to support the designated portion of this item.

  I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 8, subsection 15, in
  its
  entirety.  This language proposes that the department pursue options to
  provide

© 2000 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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Last update: Tue Aug 29 13:35:00 CDT 2000
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