1. 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

2. 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

3. 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 Biennium.
VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

4. 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

5. 2014 Regular Session Virginia General Assembly
Legislation
VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 Biennial Budget fiscal year
VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counselor

12. 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

13. Virginia League of Social Services Executives Legislative Committee Contacts
Virginia League of Social Services Executives
Carl Ayers, President
Anne Mitchell, Co-Chair
VLSSE Legislative Committee
Marsha Sharpe, Co-Chair
Christopher J. Spanos, Legislative
Government & Public Affairs Counselor
Spanos Consulting Group LLC
Office Telephone Direct Dial (804)
Ellen Zagorin
Legislative, Government & Public Affairs Director
Office/Mobile Telephone (804)
Alex Wyatt, Public Affairs Specialist, Spanos Consulting Group LLC,
VLSSE Legislative Committee, Chris Spanos, Legislative Counsellor