SB 360 - COMMITTEE LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION Co-chair Pearce directed attention to draft legislation proposed for introduction in the Senate. She explained that similar legislation was introduced in the House. That legislation has time constraints, hence need to introduce like legislation in the Senate for more expedient passage. In the FY 94 budget, the governor requested, and the legislature authorized, transfer of $1.6 million from the community developmental disabilities grant to medical assistance. Project Choice is a waiver program developed to finance care for individuals whose care was previously provided through DD grants. The transfer included authority, responsibility, and funding. However, implementation of Project Choice was substantially delayed. Only $400.0 of the $1.6 million has been used in FY 94. Representatives of the Key Campaign indicate that people have thus been caught without funding. The Dept. of Health and Social Services has only processed six waivers, and there is a waiting list of over 500. The proposed bill would move remaining moneys from medical assistance back to the DD grants to allow grantees to complete FY 94 operations. The legislation must be passed and signed by the governor before April 1 for grant funding to be available for the remainder of the fiscal year. Co-chair Pearce called for opposition. None was raised, and the bill was approved for introduction. It was subsequently numbered SB 360. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at approximately 12:20 p.m.