Looking Ahead to Legislative Session

By Director Barbara Palmer

The Agency for Person with Disabilities (APD) is preparing for the legislative session, which begins tomorrow, March 2. We will be meeting with legislators to support the funding of Governor Ron DeSantis’ budget recommendations that will help APD and its customers next fiscal year. It is a tight fiscal year, so we hope to receive funding to sustain our iBudget Florida waiver and money to enroll those most in need onto the waiver. Below are the agency issues proposed by Gov. DeSantis to be funded in 2021-2022 for APD.

Serve Additional Clients on Waiting List

$15 million ($5.8 million GR and $9.2 million TF)
Expands the Home and Community-Based Services waiver by offering waiver enrollment to individuals with the greatest need on the waiver waiting list

APD iConnect (formerly Client Data Management System)

$3.8 million ($1.2 million GR and $2.6 million TF)
Request to continue implementation of the system
The system will provide centralized client records and an electronic visit verification component, which is critical for reducing billing errors and possible fraud

Individual Comprehensive Assessment

$320,000 ($160,000 GR and $160,000 TF)
Request to develop a methodology using the Individual Comprehensive Assessment (ICA) tool to determine an individual’s resource/budget needs
Request to complete the replication study

APD-managed facilities’ life safety code corrections

$1M ($1M GR)
Request for necessary repairs and maintenance to ensure life safety at APD-managed facilities, which include Sunland, Tacachale, DDDP, and other agency-operated buildings
An example of a life safety issue is to replace existing residential fire alarm systems to meet code requirements

APD-managed facilities’ critical repairs and maintenance

$18.5M ($18.5M GR)
Request for necessary repairs and maintenance for critical repairs and ensure ADA compliance at APD-managed facilities, which include Sunland, Tacachale, DDDP, and other agency-operated buildings