From the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association

2006/07 State Budget Passes

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s 2006/07 state budget passed today. While more information will be forthcoming in the next week to 10 days, it appears that the legislature funded mental health/mental retardation (MH/MR) programs and services at the level recommended in the governor’s budget proposal: two percent.

The governor had recommended a zero percent increase for drug and alcohol (D&A) programs and services. The legislature also abided by this recommendation.

While these numbers are extremely disappointing to MH/MR/D&A programs and, most importantly, to the nearly one million Pennsylvanians the programs serve, the battle is not over. Decisions such as the funding levels for MH/MR/D&A in this budget are the best examples of why legislation such as the dedicated alcohol tax for D&A (House Bill 1649 and Senate Bill 727) and inflationary index for MH/MR (House Bill 1813 and Senate Bill 1006) are necessary.

The focal point for legislative meetings and efforts through November should be on the necessity of passage for dedicated alcohol tax and inflationary index legislation.

Again, a more detailed Legislative Alert will be provided in the future regarding actual program funding levels, any service changes, etc. In the meantime, please contact Melissa DiSanto Simmons, director of legislative affairs, or any policy specialist at the association with questions or concerns.