Legislative Committee Presentation VIRGINIA LEAGUE OF SOCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVES Board Meeting Wednesday, April 9 &Thursday, April 10, 2014 Legislative Committee Presentation VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor Session Overview The League had a very good 2014 Legislative Session. Both in the passing of legislation supported and amending legislation to meet the League’s criteria for supporting the proposals, and working to “defeat” bills felt not in line with the good interest of clients, agency goals for the community, or the state supervised, locally administered public social services system in Virginia. The Legislative Committee, working with the Executive Committee, well represented the interests of clients, customers, local agencies, communities, our local partners – public and private, providers/vendors, and our local governments’ interests. The focus of the overwhelming majority of proposed legislation this year was in the areas of child and family services and adult services; child protective services and child welfare oriented legislation; and budget items. The governor’s and General Assembly’s approach to the Comprehensive Services Act for At-Risk Youth and Families continues to be problematic for local departments of social services. VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Session Overview, Continued Virginia's fiscal decline, along with a failure of the state and local economies to grow, continues to keep appropriations in the social services and human services in a decline. Coupled with a continuing philosophical divide in Virginia over what should constitute the “public safety net,” the economy’s failure to grow has kept appropriations for local departments not only not growing enough to keep up with recognized need and permit the state to meet its recognized share of funding, but also continues to permit a decline in the state share of revenue due to inflation. Add to the mix a new Administration “learning the roles and responsibility” of state government, while in an environment polarized by the governor's top priority to expand Medicaid and a Republican dominated legislature that wants to reform the state’s Medicaid program before it will consider expanding Medicaid or a private insurance option - labeled “Marketplace Virginia.” The General Assembly currently continues to meet in a 2014 Special Session, to develop, pass and send to the governor a state budget for the 2014-2016 Biennium. VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Legislative Committee League Bill Review Process Reviews The VLSSE committee structure worked very well. Reviewing bills in a substantive and timely manner. Comment Process League committee Chairs and their committees Did an excellent job of reviewing, and Commenting on proposed legislation, and Recommending a League position on bills. When appropriate, the committee Chairs led the development of legislative talking points. VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

2014 Regular Session Virginia General Assembly Legislation VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor Legislation – 2014 Session The individual Standing Committees will report on specific legislation. A VLSSE Bill Tracking Chart listing the status, at the close of the regular session, of legislation that was tracked by the League Legislative Committee was distributed. Observations Child Protective Services We have a high possibility that legislation that the League worked to “defeat” or “amend” will return in its original or altered form in the 2015 session. There is a very strong feeling among General Assembly members that the CPS program is not working in the best interests of the children and families of Virginia. Child Welfare Services/Program There is wide spread feeling among members of the General Assembly that the state DSS and the local departments are not “in-sync” with the “child welfare advocates.” VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor Legislation – 2014 Session Observations Adult Services The approach of the General Assembly on issues of interest to the League with respect to adult services is fragmented. There is pressure to align policy There no single approach for the funding of adult services within state government Who is responsible for paying attention to cost, Medicaid reimbursement rates, employee compensation The General Assembly does not have a single agency head to turn to for accountability on Adult Services Policy is in the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Appropriations are under the Department of Social Services Adult services workers are local government employees VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

State Budget– 2014 Special Session The Appropriations Act The Legislative Committee, along with the Administrative Committee and supported by the Standing Committees, analyzed and monitored all state budget discussions. You were provided with a VLSSE Side-by-Side Analysis of the four current Appropriators Acts before the General Assembly 2014, Special Session 1. The Analysis contains a listing of budget items of interest to local departments of social services. As the budget discussion moves forward, the League Legislative Committee will continue to distribute a VLSSE Legislative Bulletin to keep you aware of the status of budget items of interest to local agencies. VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Social Services Programs What is Ahead Social Services Programs Administrative Funding Continued lean funding for local agency administration and programs Child & Family Services Continued examination of effectiveness and accountability of the child protective services program Continued push for effectiveness, greater accountability, and to provide enhanced and additional child welfare services at the community level Adult Services Continued push for additional adult services and adult protective services to meet the demand and need for aging services Child Day Care Continued underfunding of subsidized child care, and a lack of infant care VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Financial Services Programs What is Ahead Financial Services Programs Medicaid expansion/Marketplace VA Unknown impact on local agencies until General Assembly and governor come to an agreement on whether Virginia will provide health insurance to the uninsured Eligibility Determination Continue to be under-resourced TANF Recipients Continued efforts to required an expanded program of substance abuse testing Continue to lag behind in benefit levels, due to inflation VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Legislative Key Calendar Items April 2014 April 7 Senate Finance Committee Meeting, SB 5003 General Assembly Session April 8 Senate to take up SB 5003 – State Budget House to take up SBV 5003 – State Budget May 2014 General Election, Cities June 2014 June 10, Primary Election June 30 End of current Fiscal Year July 2014 July 1 Beginning of 2014-2016 Biennial Budget fiscal year VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Governor’s Administration What is Ahead General Assembly Educating Continuing need to inform members of the General Assembly and legislative staff about local departments of social services and the programs they administer. Making Friends Before You Need Them Continuing need to have local directors build and maintain a professional relationship with their members of the General Assembly. Staying Ahead of the Issues Continue to be involved with the General Assembly committees and agencies; and be actively involved with stakeholders and providers/vendors. Governor’s Administration Educating Continuing need to inform members of the governor’s staff, Cabinet and staff, along with affinity state agencies, about local departments of social services and the programs they administer. Staying Ahead of the Issues Continue to be involved with the governor's Administration and affinity state agencies; and be actively involved with Administration stakeholders and providers/vendors events, meetings, and their Board meetings. VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

Virginia League of Social Services Executives Legislative Committee Contacts   Virginia League of Social Services Executives Carl Ayers, President carl.ayers@dss.virginia.gov Anne Mitchell, Co-Chair VLSSE Legislative Committee amitchell@kingwilliamcounty.us Marsha Sharpe, Co-Chair SharpeM@chesterfield.gov Christopher J. Spanos, Legislative Government & Public Affairs Counselor Spanos Consulting Group LLC Office Telephone Direct Dial (804) 282-0278 ChrisSpanos@SpanosConsulting.com Ellen Zagorin Legislative, Government & Public Affairs Director Office/Mobile Telephone (804) 307-6743 ellen@spanosconsulting.com Alex Wyatt, Public Affairs Specialist, Spanos Consulting Group LLC, alex@SpanosConsulting.com VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counsellor