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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Trujillo

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/4/08

HB 437/aHCPAC

SHORT TITLE Chat Room For Persons With Disabilities

SB

ANALYST Haug

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$75.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HCPAC Amendment

The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Amendment directs the appropriation from

the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities to the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 437 appropriates $75.0 from the general fund to the Governor’s Commission on

Disability to establish a web site and chat room for persons with disabilities who have left high

school, and their families, in order to foster an exchange of information, needs and resources and

to reduce the isolation of and increase the social and recreational opportunities for persons with

disabilities and their families.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $75.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the

general fund.

House Bill 437/aHCPAC – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the DDPC this bill was erroneously assigned to the Governor Commission on

Disabilities. It was intended to be assigned to the Developmental Disability Planning Council.

DDPC Staff will oversee the development and maintenance of the website, as well as outreach

and public awareness under the guidance of an advisory board. The advisory board will consist

of person with disabilities, their families and advocacy organizations.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The DDPC proposes that the ‘governor’s commission on disability’ be replaced with

‘developmental disabilities planning council’ which would redirect the appropriation. See

significant issues above.

GH/mt:bb