FY 1996 Appropriations Report

Department of Human Services

The total FY 1996 appropriation of $491,559,800 for the Department of Human Services is a 5.17 percent over appropriations for FY 1995. The General Fund increase is 15.6 percent. The large General Fund increase is due to the funding of the Office of Recovery Services from the General Fund rather than Dedicated Credits as was done in the past. The appropriations for the offices and divisions of the Department are outlined below.

Executive Director Operations

Executive Director Operations (EDO) include support functions that serve the several offices and divisions of the Department. EDO also includes some programs that are independent of other parts of the Department such as the federal food program management, the Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, and Special Projects. The Legislature appropriated $22,841,200 to EDO for FY 1996. The FY 1996 appropriation is .88 percent below revised appropriations for FY 1995.

The Legislature appropriated $200,100 to the Office of Liability Management for five FTEs to audit a sample of Child Protective Services cases in the Division of Family Services. This is to comply with House Bill 265 in the 1994 General Session of the Legislature. The Office of Licencing received an appropriation of $42,500 for one FTE to reduce the backlog of background checks for child care workers. Management Services received an appropriation increase of $892,900 for increased data processing cost. An appropriation of $100,000 was made to Special Projects to provide services for people with dual diagnosis of mental illness and mental retardation.The Office of Liability Management received a supplemental appropriation of $109,500 for FY 1995 to audit a sample of Child Protective Services Cases in the Division of Family Services. This is to comply with House Bill 265 in the 1994 General Session of the Legislature.

FY 1995 Beginning Non-Lapsing Balances in the Executive Director's Office was reduced by $250,000 and reappropriated to the Division of Family Services for out-of-home care.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Legislative Fiscal Analyst for Public Education, Health, Human Services, and the Courts will coordinate the preparation of the Families and Agencies Coming Together budget beginning with the FY 1997 budget.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Appropriations Subcommittee for Public Education, Health, Human Services, and the Courts will coordinate the process for legislative review and action on the Families and Agencies Coming Together budget beginning with the FY 1997 budget.

It is the intent of the Legislature that no additional vehicles be acquired by purchase, lease, or other means that would increase the vehicle total beyond the January 1, 1995 level. This does not include normal replacements for depreciated or damaged vehicles already in the inventory as of January 1, 1995.

Division of Mental Health

The Division of Mental Health is the State mental health authority. Under the direction of the State Board of Mental Health the Division develops and supervises Utah's mental health program. The Division operates the State Hospital. Except the hospital, mental health services are delivered through local mental health authorities. The Division distributes state and federal funds to the local mental health agencies. The Division of Mental Health received an appropriation for FY 1996 of $51,840,400. The FY 1996 appropriation is 1.94 percent above revised appropriations for FY 1995.

The State Office received an appropriation increase of $65,000 for forensic evaluations. A supplemental appropriation of $65,000 for forensic evaluations in FY 1995 was also received. Mental Health Centers received an appropriation of $632,100 to increase services to children. The Legislature appropriated $362,400 for provider cost of living adjustments. An appropriation of $300,000 was made to provide respite care for families with mentally ill children. The State Hospital received an appropriation of $68,000 to compensate for changes in the Medicaid match rate. A supplemental appropriation for FY 1995 of $136,600 was made to the Mental Health Centers for children mental health. A supplemental appropriation for FY 1995 of $153,500 was made to the State Hospital for a Medicaid cost settlement.The State Hospital received a supplemental appropriation for FY 1995 of $209,600 for additional nursing staff.

The FY 1995 General Fund appropriation for Community Services was reduced by $300,000 and reappropriated to the Division of Family Services for out of home care.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996.

It is the intent of the Legislature that during Fiscal Year 1996, the Department of Human Services shall make whatever preparations necessary so as not to contract as a provider of services in mental health or substance abuse in Fiscal Year 1997. It is the intent of the Legislature that the pass-through of funds to local mental health and substance abuse authorities will not be affected by the departments' withdrawal from direct service delivery.

The Division of Substance Abuse

The Division of Substance Abuse is the substance abuse authority for the State. The Division administers state and federal funds for the treatment and prevention of substance abuse. The Division provides technical, research and fiscal assistance to local substance abuse authorities. It is responsible for the establishment of abuse prevention programs in cooperation with education and other agencies.

The Division receives state and federal substance abuse funds and allocates them to local substance abuse authorities. The Division received an FY 1996 appropriation of $26,306,500 that is .78 below revised appropriations for FY 1995.

The Legislature appropriated $168,500 for provider cost of living increases.The Legislature reduced the appropriation for nonformula grants $205,800 below the FY 1995 level.The Division received a supplemental appropriation for FY 1995 of $23,000 to settle a Fair Labor Standards Act issue.The appropriation from the Fees on Fines Restricted Account for driving under the influence was increased by $175,000 in FY 1995.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996.

It is the intent of the Legislature that during Fiscal Year 1996, the Department of Human Services shall make whatever preparations necessary so as not to contract as a provider of services in mental health or substance abuse in Fiscal Year 1997. It is the intent of the Legislature that the pass through of funds to local mental health and substance abuse authorities will not be affected by the departments' withdrawal from direct service delivery.

The Office of Family Support

The Office of Family Support is responsible for the management of both the state and federal public assistance programs. The Office establishes and administers policy, determines eligibility, and issues assistance. The Office consists of a State Office and 42 local offices divided into four regions. The Office of Family Support received an appropriation for FY 1996 of $177,105,500. Because of declining caseloads, the FY 1995 appropriation was reduced by $4,143,100. The FY 1996 appropriation is 1.71 percent above revised FY 1995 appropriations.

The FY 1996 appropriation for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program is $973,600 below estimated expenditures for FY 1995, due to declining case loads. The appropriation for AFDC includes $1,203,200 for reductions in the federal match rate. The Legislature appropriated $1,470,000 for child care provider rate increases.An appropriation of $230,200 was made to offset declining federal match for child care. The FY 1995 General Fund appropriation for the Office of Family Support was reduced by $1,500,000 and reappropriated to the Division of Family Services for out-of-home care.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996.

It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the Office of Family Support, in coordination with the Division of Aging and Adult Services, to make regular visits to senior centers, senior housing units, and other gathering places of seniors for the purpose of Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries outreach and suggest the application and qualification for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries be accepted at these sites.

It is the intent of the Legislature that before October 1, 1995, the Office of Family Support submit a request to the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to amend the state AFDC plan. That amendment shall provide that with regards to resource standards, after initial eligibility has been determined, a resource standard may not be applied with regards to one automobile owned by the recipient.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Human Services may expend, not to exceed, $500,000 to provide for diversion funds to divert clients from applying for public assistance or to provide emergency welfare services.

It is the intent of the Legislature that employees of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health not advise or otherwise encourage applicants for any public assistance program to terminate employment or otherwise reduce their income for the purpose of qualifying for an assistance program. This is not meant to affect the spend down program for Medicaid or the Utah Medical Assistance program.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Division of Family Support shall apply for a waiver to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program which will allow a grant reduction of $25 per month for children who are not immunized and school age children who do not attend school 80 percent of the time. Children with serious medical illness are to be exempt from the school attendance sanction.

The Division of Services to People with Disabilities

The Division of Services to People with Disabilities is responsible for providing residential, day and support services. To receive services people must have severe chronic disabilities that cause substantial limitations in at least three areas of major life activities. The services provided range from limited family support to institutional services at the Utah State Developmental Center. The division received an appropriation for FY 1996 of $82,058,500, an increase of 11.62 percent over revised FY 1995 appropriations.

House Bill 98 appropriated $50,000 to contract with private providers to do outreach services.The Legislature appropriated $910,500 for provider cost of living adjustments. The Legislature appropriated $5,513,900 to provide services to people on waiting lists for services.An appropriation of $230,000 was funded to offset the cost of housing in residential programs. A supplemental appropriation of $280,000 was made for housing subsidies in FY 1995.The Legislature reduced the FY 1995 General Fund for the division by $400,000 and re appropriated it to the Division of Family Services for out-of-home care.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Division of Health Care Financing and the Division of Services to People with Disabilities will advise the Human Services Interim Committee (in September 1995) and the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee of their progress in implementing a combined funding stream for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR) and Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) for the disabled.

The costs of this combined funding stream will not exceed the cost the State would have incurred absent this initiative.

The individual recipient must have the freedom of choice to decide the setting, i.e., ICF/MR or HCBS, in which he or she receives services.

The Division of Family Services

The statute that establishes the Division of Family Services defines their mission as:

...to aid persons in moving toward their optimum well-being and enable them to understand and use their own resources, to find and use existing resources, and to develop new community resources, and to contribute to positive social and institutional change. (62A-4-101 (7) Utah Code Annotated, 1953)

The statute lists 19 services that the division must provide families. Among the responsibilities assigned to the division are child welfare and domestic violence services. The division is responsible for the promotion and enforcement of all laws enacted for the protection of dependent, neglected and abused children and status offenders, and the provision of substitute care for dependent, neglected and abused children. The division is also required to provide financial assistance for subsidized adoptions. The division received an appropriation for FY 1996 of $75,863,600. The division received $10,904,600 in supplemental appropriations for FY 1995. The FY 1996 appropriation is 4.91 percent over the revised FY 1995 appropriation, but 23.5 percent over the original FY 1995 appropriation.

The Legislature passed Senate Bill 155 reauthorizing the Foster Care Citizens Review Board and appropriated $124,000 to fund the Board.The Legislature appropriated $5,028,000 for additional child protective workers and foster care staff. An appropriation of $446,900 was made to facilitate the recruitment of foster care homes. An appropriation of $287,900 to enhance the case review process in the division was funded.House Bill 7 passed in the First Special Session appropriated $443,100 to accelerate the hiring of staff funded in the FY 1996 appropriation into FY 1995. The appropriation also funds technology to reduce the time spent on paper work. The Legislature appropriated $561,600 to fund special workers in the division for the child permanency project. The project consists of a special juvenile court established for one year to establish permanency plans for children in custody of the state more than 18 months. The Legislature appropriated $2,693,600 for caseload increases in out of home care. Current trends suggest that this will leave a deficit of between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 in the out-of-home care budget. An appropriation of $358,400 was made for foster care rate increases and respite care for foster parents. The Legislature appropriated $3,437,900 for mental health services for children in custody. Appropriations totaling $288,000 were made to fund increased services for domestic violence provided for in House Bills 314 and 363.The division received a supplemental appropriation for FY 1996 of $4,438,300 for a management information system.A supplemental appropriation for FY 1995 of $1,426,200 was made for out-of-home care.

The Division of Aging and Adult Services

The Division of Aging and Adult Services plans, develops and funds services for adult and elderly people in Utah. The division provides adult protective services. The division also administers programs under the Federal Older American's Act, and the State's Home and Community-based Waiver. Most services are provided through local area agencies on aging. The Division of Aging received an appropriation of $15,078,100 for FY 1996, an increase of 5.12 percent over revised FY 1995 appropriations.

The Legislature appropriated $108,500 for provider cost of living adjustments. An appropriation of $150,000 was made to increase the number of people served under the home and community-based waiver.The Legislature appropriated $100,000 to increase in home services.An appropriation of $100,000 was made to area agencies for transportation.

The Legislature placed the following intent language in the Appropriations Act for FY 1996

It is the intent of the Legislature that in establishing eligibility and program policy for respite care services, the Board and Division of Aging and Adult Services target eligibility of care givers of adults who are suffering chronic long-term illnesses or conditions where the intensity of such care giving responsibilities creates extreme stress and other sources of informal relief are not sufficient. It is further the intent that respite service eligibility not be limited to eligibility for other more intensive in-home services programs such as the Alternatives Program and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver and that the preponderance of the funding be directed to care givers or care-receivers who are over the age of 60 providing the building block is adopted.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the subcontracts to the local Area Agencies on Aging which are local government entities or local government associations, may purchase or lease vehicles from the motor pool on behalf of their local Area Agencies on Aging.

Table 24 Department of Human Services

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