Increase appropriation for the State Health Insurance Program

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation both years to support the projected increase in health care costs.

Establish Line of Duty Act (LODA) Program health benefits

Creates a new service area for the health benefits component of LODA. Chapter 677 of the Acts of Assembly of 2016 transfers the administration of health insurance benefits under LODA from the Department of Accounts Transfer Payments to the Department of Human Resource Management, effective July 1, 2017.

Increase appropriation for The Local Choice (TLC) Program

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation both years for the local health insurance plan. The additional appropriation is needed to support TLC's expenditures due to an increase in enrollment and health care costs.

Shared Savings Incentive Program

This amendment directs the Department of Human Resource Management to identify the requirements, costs and benefits of implementing a state employee shared savings incentive program and report on its findings to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, 2017.

Revert prior year balance

Reverts prior year general fund balances from the Legal Advice program.

Adjust NGF Appropriation for Revolving Trust Fund

This amendment adjusts funding for the Regulatory, Consumer Advocacy, Litigation, and Enforcement Revolving Trust Fund.

Report on Administrative Salary Actions Within the OAG

This amendment directs the Attorney General to prepare and submit to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees any administrative salary adjustments approved for the Department from fiscal year 2015 through fiscal year 2017; the fiscal impact of those actions; and the funding sources used to support the adjustments in the current biennium and future biennia.

Increase Non-General Fund Appropriation and Position Level

Aligns the agency's appropriation for federal program audits with the estimated cost.

Specifications for Audits of Political Subdivisions

This amendment requires the Auditor of Public Accounts to provide specific guidance as to how independent auditors should communicate significant findings when they are auditing political subdivisions.)

Funding to support security related services

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation to cover the cost of security related services during exams, hearings, and board meetings.

Increase appropriation for per diem and compensation rate changes

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation to cover compensation and per diem rate changes.

Fund New Full-Time Receptionist Position

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation and adds one support staff.

Fund Internal IT Audit

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation to cover the cost of audit compliance with information technology standards.

Retain Proceeds from Sale of Surplus Property

This amendment establishes that net proceeds from the public sale or auction of the surplus property associated with the General Assembly Building replacement project, less costs incurred by the Clerks of the House of Delegates, the Senate, and the Department of General Services, be deposited into a non-reverting fund on the books of the State Comptroller. The funds shall be transferred by the Capitol Square Preservation Council to the Virginia Capitol Preservation Foundation after entering into an agreement to use such funds to support the restoration and ongoing preservation of the Capitol and Capitol Square.

Adjust funding to agencies for information technology costs

Adjusts funding for information technology and telecommunications usage by state agencies. The funding reflects the latest utilization estimates provided by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency and updated rates for 2018.

Provide funding for personnel related legislative and regulatory changes

Reserves funding for the potential cost of legislative and/or regulatory changes that impact the personnel practices of state government.

Capture savings from reduced Cardinal billings

Captures savings as a result of lower Cardinal charges than originally anticipated. The Department of Accounts indicates that the statewide cost of the Cardinal financial system is lower than originally anticipated, resulting in decreased charges billed back to agencies.

Reverse credit card and interest restoration to higher education

Removes $1,750,000 (GF) each year of the biennium for the estimated total payment to individual institutions of higher education of the interest earned on tuition and fees and other nongeneral fund Educational and General revenues deposited to the state treasury. Also, eliminates $2,250,000 (GF) each year of the biennium for the payment to individual institutions of a pro rata amount of the rebate paid on credit card purchases not exceeding $5,000 during the previous year.

Provide funding for a government internship and training program

Provides funding to establish an internship and training program within state government for the purposes of improving the Commonwealth's succession planning capabilities.

Adjust the general fund cost of workers' compensation premiums

Captures the net general fund savings of workers' compensation premiums. The premiums have been updated to include a new actuarial valuation based on an additional year of payroll and claims data.

Adjust funding for Line of Duty Act premiums to reflect enrollment changes

Adjusts funding provided to state agencies to reflect the actual premium charged in 2017 and the estimated premium charged in 2018 for the Line of Duty Act Program.

Reduce operating support for the INOVA Global Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Institute

Reduces the funding that would be used for one-time incentive packages to attract high performing researchers with an history of commercialization.

Provide compensation actions for state employees and state-supported local employees

Provides funding for a one and one-half percent bonus for full-time state employees and state-supported local employees, effective December 1, 2017, and a compression pay adjustment for the Virginia State Police. Separate adjustments under Direct Aid to Public Education and the Compensation Board provide funding for a teacher bonus and compensation actions for Constitutional Officers, respectively.

Reflect the required reversal of funding for public employee salary increases

Reflects the required reversal of funding for public employee salary increases. The Appropriation Act directed the Governor to allocate this funding to offset any downward revisions in the general fund revenue forecast.

Provide funding for state personnel system

Provides funding to support the operation of the Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) and its subsystems. A companion amendment through the Department of Human Resource Management establishes PMIS and its subsystems as an internal service fund.

Fund inauguration and transition for statewide elected offices

Funds transition offices and inauguration costs associated with 2017 elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General.

Transfer appropriation between service areas

Transfers appropriation between the Adjustments to Employee Compensation and Adjustments to Employee Benefits service areas for proper accounting. This amendment is technical in nature and nets to zero.

Provide funding for potential litigation

Provides funding for the legal costs associated with potential litigation.

NGF Appropriation for Southwest VA Economic Development

This amendment provides funding of up to $500,000 from nongeneral fund revenues of the Coalfield Economic Development Authority the second year for economic development activities in Southwest Virginia. This represents the first of an anticipated three-year need totaling $1.5 million. Funding is intended to benefit the Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau Planning Districts with the expectation that marketing efforts will be conducted with collaboration from the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Authority and other regional stakeholders. Funding is contingent upon equal matching funds being awarded by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.

Include Legislative Departments in Retirement Through WTA Language

This amendment provides that agencies in the legislative branch will not be required to pay to the Virginia Retirement System the costs of certain enhanced retirement benefits for employees who are involuntarily separated if the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules certify that the separation is the result of budget reductions enacted in the Appropriation Act, an agency reorganization to increase efficiency of operations or improve service delivery, or an agency downsizing due to a loss of nongeneral fund revenue. A similar provision presently is included in the Appropriations Act, Chapter 780, for agencies in the executive branch of state government.

Additional Funding for Salary Increases in FY 2018

This amendment provides funding in fiscal year 2018 to provide a 3% salary increase for state employees, estimated at $64.7 million and a 2% salary increase for state supported local employees estimated at $15.6 million. A portion of the funding, $56.0 million, allocated in this amendment has been redirected from proposals in the introduced budget for a 1.5 bonus for state employees and state supported local employees. The amendment adds $24.3 million in additional funding to the funding included for the bonus to support the salary increase.

Remove Additional Funding for Unbudgeted Legal Defense

This amendment removes $1.2 million in additional funding included in the introduced budget for unbudgeted legal expenses.)

Restore Reduction to Research

This amendment restores the proposed reduction to the Global Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Institute.

Revenue Cash Reserve

This amendment establishes a Revenue Cash Reserve from one-time resources from any additional Tax Amnesty collections above the amounts assumed in House Bill 1500/Senate Bill 900 as introduced. The amount contained in this item is an estimate and any additional amnesty revenues will also be deposited into the fund.

Additional 2% Salary Increase for 9 High Turnover Positions

This amendment provides an additional 2% pay raise for nine job roles that continue to have high turnover.

2% Raise for Faculty; Additional 1% for Faculty at Select Institutions

This amendment provides $16,993,399 for a two percent salary adjustment for faculty at public institutions of higher education, effective July 10, 2017. The amendment also provides $1,421,437 for an additional one percent salary adjustment for faculty m embers at institutions that did not provide a compensation adjustment in fiscal year 2017. The additional one percent salary adjustment is in addition to the two percent salary adjustment provided to faculty at all public higher education institutions.

Funding for State Police Pay Increase

This amendment provides $14.3 million to provide an additional salary increase for sworn officers of the Department of State Police by $6,793. This will increase the starting salary for sworn officers from $36,207 to $43,000. The amendment adds $10.3 million from the general fund to the $4.0 million from the general fund included in the introduced budget for a pay action to fund the proposed increase.

Establish Joint Pilot Program for Internship and Management Training

This amendment modifies funding and language included in the budget related to a joint internship and management training program.

Capture savings based on updated health insurance enrollment and premiums

This amendment recognizes general fund savings in state health insurance programs based on updated 2016 enrollment figures and updated FY 2018 health insurance premiums for the COVA HealthAware, COVA High Deductible, and Kaiser Permanente health plans as identified in the plan's actuarial report. Premium savings are provided to the employee’s share of premiums where applicable.

Miscellaneous Reversion Clearing Account Item 109 Reductions

This amendment creates a central reversion clearing account for reductions to state agencies.

Richmond Tourism Project

This amendment authorizes the temporary reversion of $1.5 million from amounts available to the City of Richmond for the development of the Slavery and Freedom Heritage Site based on cash flow needs of the project. The amendment further authorizes the Governor to utilize up to $500,000 from the unappropriated balance should the reimbursement requests exceed the appropriation available, expresses the intent of the General Assembly to meet its full commitment, and requires the Governor to include in his budget submission the full amounts due to the City of Richmond in the next budget.

State Police - VITA Separation

This amendment authorizes the Department of State Police to assume full responsibility for procuring, developing, operating, and managing the cyber security and management tools required to protect the information technology used by the Department that is deemed not to be covered by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency pursuant to a written Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies. The amendment authorizes the Department to access unexpended balances of the information technology contingency fund established for State Police in Chapter 780 of the 2016 Session of the General Assembly. The amendment requires the Superintendent of State Police and Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to provide a report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees detailing the timelines and estimated costs of transitioning the Department of State Police to procuring, operating, and managing all information technology infrastructure and services independent of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency. The amendment also provides $2.9 million from the general fund the second year for projects necessary to begin transitioning information technology services pursuant to the report required by paragraph 4.a. being completed, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of State Police and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency detailing such projects.

Reduce Funding for Potential Legislative or Regulatory Changes

This amendment reduces funding included in the budget related to potential regulatory or legislative changes.

Miscellaneous Reversion Clearing Account

This amendment is a technical amendment that creates a central reversion clearing account for reductions to state agencies.

Fully Fund the Cost of the Inaugaration

This amendment provides an additional $125,000 from the general fund for the inauguration. This would increase funding from $367,638 to $492,638 to reflect all of the projected cost.

Provide General Fund Share of VITA Cost for 3.0 Percent Raise

This amendment provides the general fund share for increased internal service fund costs at VITA as a result of the 3.0 percent salary increase authorized in a separate amendment. A corresponding amendment provides additional internal service fund appropriation at VITA to pay for the 3.0 percent salary increase for state employees. It also increases the amount that the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer in the second year to state agencies and institutions of higher education to support the general fund costs associated with the salary increase.

Provide supplemental funding for 2014 Capital Pool

Provides supplemental funding for capital pool, established in Chapter 2, 2014 Special Session I Acts of Assembly, to enable additional needed work to be done on improvements for the Consolidated Lab, to enable the Department of Forestry to construct additional garages for its new firefighting equipment, to authorize upgrading of the Buckingham wastewater treatment plant operated by the Department of Corrections, to expand the project established to upgrade fire alarms systems in correctional institutions operated by the Department of Corrections, and to repair the exterior of Main Hall of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Provide funding for equipment for previously approved projects

Provides funding in central accounts to be disbursed to agencies and institutions of higher education for equipment purchases related to previously authorized capital projects

Provide supplemental funding for 2015 Capital Pool

Provides supplemental funding for capital pool for cost overruns in projects in the pool.

Increase Funding for Maintenance Reserve

Increases funding for maintenance reserve to enable the Department of Military Affairs to increase fire safety in readiness centers.

Provide supplemental funding for 2013 Capital Pool

Provides supplemental funding for capital pool, established in Chapter 806, 2013 Acts of Assembly, to cover an authorized increase in the costs of a project included in that pool.

Supplant Capital Projects

Authorizes the issuance of bonds by the Virginia College Building Authority with the proceeds to be used to supplant general fund appropriations in existing capital projects.

Authorize projects for detailed planning

Authorizes projects for which detailed planning can be conducted.

CO - Change CCAM/Centers of Excellence Language - Previous Bond Authorization

The language in this amendment changes previous stipulations related to the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing's ability to use $25.0 million in state bond proceeds related to receiving a matching federal grant for the purpose of the creation of Regional Centers of Excellence. This amendment allows the bond proceeds to be used to support existing and future Regional Centers of Excellence and allows the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to certify the allowance of in-kind contributions instead of a matching federal grant. In-kind donations shall not exceed more than 40 percent of the total required match.

Capitol Square Infrastructure

This amendment addresses safety and security issues resulting from the temporary move of legislative activities to the Pocahontas Building.

Increase maintenance reserve funding for Virginia Commonwealth University

This amendment provides additional maintenance reserve funding to Virginia Commonwealth University to address deteriorating conditions at the Scott House.

Revert Capital Outlay Balances

This amendment transfers capital outlay planning fund cash balances.

CO - Technical Amendment to Change Item to Reflect Other Changes

This amendment is a companion to other amendments that eliminate the new construction of the central office building and warehouse at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, provide for fire safety systems at Readiness Centers, provides for certain infrastructure repairs at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and provides for additional burial vaults at the Department of Veterans Services.

Remove Proposed New Initiative

This amendment removes proposed language providing for capital leases for third-party solar projects on state property.

Additional funding for War Memorial project

This amendment adds $1.5 million of Virginia Public Building Authority debt to the Virginia War Memorial capital project to cover an unanticipated cost overrun.

CO - Eliminate New Detailed Planning Projects

This amendment eliminates four new detailed planning projects authorized in the introduced budget. In 2016, 21 new detailed planning projects were authorized as part of the bond package and will proceed starting on July 1 of this year.

Maintenance Reserve Adjustments

This amendment provides additional bond authority from the Virginia Public Building Authority and Virginia College Building Authority in lieu of general funds in fiscal year 2017 and addresses emergency repairs at the State Police Training Academy. This amendment also makes technical corrections to the budget as introduced.

Capital Outlay Pool

This amendment makes changes to the proposed capital outlay pool.

DGS / ABC - Plan New Warehouse & Admin Building

This amendment provides funding to plan for a new ABC warehouse and administrative office.

Fund increasing caseload and service costs

Funds the anticipated caseload and expenditure growth for services provided to youth through the Children's Services Act. The program is anticipated to grow at approximately 6 percent each year, with the majority of growth occurring in the area of private special education services, which are mandated by federal law.

Allocate undergraduate financial aid

Provides undergraduate financial aid in FY 2018 equal to the amount appropriated in FY 2017.

Recover nongeneral fund cost of Virginia Retirement System payment

Recovers the general fund equivalent of the nongeneral fund portion of the prepayment made to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) to reduce VRS rates per employee. The FY 2018 amount is a one-time adjustment.

Increase appropriation in auxiliary enterprise programs

Adjusts nongeneral fund appropriation in the auxiliary enterprise program to align with expenditures.

Increase nongeneral fund appropriation for student financial assistance

Adjusts appropriation to accommodate additional expenditures in student financial assistance.

Reduce state support

Reduces state support to Christopher Newport University by five percent.

Increase nongeneral fund appropriation for auxiliary debt service

Adjusts nongeneral fund appropriation for auxiliary debt service to allow Christopher Newport University to make debt service payments.

CNU - Redistribute Reductions

This amendment addresses the inequitable distribution of reductions to public colleges and universities and minimizes the overall impact on each institution's total educational and general (E & G) budget. The conference budget limits the impact on total E & G to 1.5 percent or less for all institutions not otherwise exempted from budget reductions.

CNU - Technical VRS Rate Savings

This amendment restores the proposed general fund reduction related to nongeneral savings associated with the prepayment made to the Virginia Retirement System in the 2016 Session. A companion amendment in Part 3 correctly reverts the nongeneral savings.

CNU - Yoder Barn

This language amendment allows Christopher Newport University to retain proceeds from the sale of a property that was a gift in 2007.

CNU - Construct and Renovate Fine Arts and Rehearsal Space (Technical)

This amendment corrects the scope of the Construct and Renovate Fine Arts and Rehearsal Space project to increase to 105,040 gross square feet, including 88,060 gross square feet of new construction and 16,980 gross square feet of renovation. The wrong scope was submitted by Christopher Newport University based on an error. The total project cost will not exceed the amount authorized in Chapter 759 of the 2016 General Assembly Session.

Increase Funding for Involuntary Mental Health Commitments

Transfers $34,920 of existing general fund appropriation from the Criminal Fund to cover the additional costs for mental health evaluation and care related to the involuntary commitment of indigent persons.

Adjust Funding - Commemoration of 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote

This amendment eliminates funding for the Commission for the Commemoration of the Centennial of the Women's Right to Vote to reflect the passage of House Bill 2348. Instead of creating a commission, House Bill 2348 directed the Virginia Historical Society to develop a plan to lead the Commonwealth in commemorating the centennial anniversary of women's right to vote in 2020. The bill does create a legislative task force to work with the Historical Society to plan the Commemoration. A companion amendment in Item 1 provides $12,500 from the general fund to fund the expenses for the task force.)

Remove funding for constitutional officer career development

Removes funding for career development that was contingent upon the revenue forecast.

Remove funding for sheriff salary compression

Removes funding for sheriff salary compression that was contingent upon the revenue forecast.

Provide funding for career development programs

Provide funding in the second year for career development programs for all qualified constitutional officers. Career development programs provide a salary incentive to elected constitutional officers, and employees who pursue certification and accreditation programs that lead to enhanced professionalism, higher levels of performance, stronger management, and consistency in the level of services provided to citizens across the Commonwealth. Funding is provided to expand the program for Treasurers ($93,144), Deputy Treasurers ($51,941), Commissioners of the Revenue ($112,780), Deputy Commissioners of the Revenue ($127,951), Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys ($638,181), Circuit Court Clerks ($311,292), Circuit Court Deputy Clerks ($307,525), Sheriffs ($28,552), and Master Deputies/Jail Officers ($2,234,469). This funding is targeted for those individuals who have already qualified but have been waiting to participate in career development programs due to insufficient funding.

Provide funding to address salary compression

Provides $8,719,289 in the second year from the general fund for the salary compression plan for sheriff's offices and regional jails. Sworn employees of sheriff's offices and regional jails who have three or more years of continuous service will receive $80 for each full year of service, up to a maximum of thirty years. Non-sworn employees who have three or more years of continuous services will receive $65 for each full year of service, up to a maximum of thirty years.

Provide funding and positions for expanded jail capacity

Provides funding to support staffing salary cost for the Chesapeake City jail expansion project.

Comm. Attny - Adjust Funding for CDP for August 1 Start Date

This amendment adjusts funding that was included in the introduced budget to increase participation in the career development program for the Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys to reflect an August 1, 2017 effective date.

Multi-Jurisdictional Commonwealth's Attorney Positions

This amendment provides $400,000 each year, beginning July 1, 2017, from the Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Fund to fund two multi-jurisdictional Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney positions that will be dedicated to prosecuting insurance fraud and related criminal activities.

Continue Workgroup Reviewing VARisk

This amendment amends the language regarding the workgroup reviewing the VARisk program, relating to its coverage for constitutional offices and regional jails. The amendment extends the workgroup another year and clarifies the issues for consideration.

Jail Mental Health Screening Instrument

This amendment requires the use of a standardized jail mental health screening instrument. The amendment also directs the Compensation Board to review its jail staffing standards and report on the cost of requiring every jail to conduct an assessment within 72 hours of the initial screening, by a qualified mental health professional, of all persons for whom the initial screening indicates they may have a mental illness.

Treasurers - Adjust Funding for CDP for August 1 Start Date

This amendment adjusts funding that was included in the introduced budget to increase participation in the career development program for Treasurers and Deputy Treasurers to reflect an August 1, 2017 effective date.

COR: Adjust Funding for CDP for August 1 Start Date

This amendment adjusts funding included in the introduced budget to increase participation in the career development program for the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Revenue to reflect an August 1, 2017 effective date.

Sheriffs - Adjust Funding for Compression and CDP for August 1 Start Date

This amendment adjusts funding included in the introduced budget for a salary compression adjustment for employees of sheriffs offices and regional jails and increased participation in the career development program to reflect an August 1, 2017 effective date.

Circuit Court Clerks - Adjust Funding for CDP for August 1 Start Date

This amendment adjusts funding included in the introduced budget to increase participation in the career development program for the circuit court clerks and their deputies to reflect an August 1, 2017 effective date.

Clarify Jail Management Cost Recovery Language (technical amendment)

This amendment clarifies language added during the 2016 General Assembly Session that was intended to reflect an additional recovery of $80,000 to cover the cost of liability insurance.

Capture savings associated with the closure of Peumansend Creek Regional Jail

This amendment reduces appropriation to account for the closure of Peumansend Creek Regional Jail on June 30, 2017.

Multi-Jurisdictional Commonwealth's Attorneys

This amendment makes a technical adjustment to the position table for Commonwealth's Attorneys. A companion amendment to Item 73 of this act authorizes the creation of two multi-jurisdictional Commonwealth's Attorney positions to prosecute insurance fraud.

Nottoway Reimbursement for VCBR Residents

This amendment makes technical changes to language directing the Compensation Board to reimburse Nottoway County for the costs of inmates held in Piedmont Regional Jail who have been referred from the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation for new offenses. The amendment requires the reimbursements be distributed on a quarterly basis, and reflect the demonstrated costs incurred by Nottoway County for incarceration of these individuals.

Capture administrative savings

Generates administrative savings by streamlining operations and reducing discretionary expenses.

Move Birmingham Green appropriation

Transfers funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to contract with Birmingham Green to provide residential services to low-income, disabled individuals. There is a companion amendment in DSS.

Expand ombudsman services to meet federal MLTSS requirements

Adds funding and positions to expand the state Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman to support Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program, known as Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus), when it is implemented in Virginia. The added staff will be focused exclusively on CCC Plus and will therefore be eligible for federal matching dollars.

Fund adult services and adult protective services case management system operations

Covers the on-going operating costs associated with replacing the current case management system being used by adult services and adult protective services (APS) workers. While the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) is leveraging federal grant funds to implement the new system, on-going general fund support is needed to cover licensing and support costs.

Move funding for adult protective services (APS) curriculum developer

Transfers funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to support a part-time adult protective services curriculum developer. There is a companion amendment in DSS.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Restore Pharmacy Connect Program

This amendment restores $145,834 in fiscal year 2017 from the general fund that was reduced in the introduced budget. The Pharmacy Connect Program is administered by Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. Last year, the program helped individuals access nearly $14 million in medications.

Restore Funding for Brain Injury Services

This amendment restores $375,000 from the general fund the first year to brain injury services that was reduced in the introduced budget. Without the restoration of this funding, brain injury services will be unable to provide the current level of services.

Technical: Remove Language Related to First Year Appropriation

This amendment removes language related to a first year appropriation that was not included in the introduced budget. This amendment is a technical correction.

Administrative Savings

This amendment captures $45,000 from the general fund the first year for administrative savings in the agency.

Restore Funds for Centers for Independent Living

This amendment restores $200,000 in fiscal year 2017 from the general fund for Centers for Independent Living that was reduced in the introduced budget. These funds will provide transition services and assistance for: (i) people who want to transition from nursing facilities and other institutions to community-based residences with supports, (ii) people with disabilities at risk of institutionalization so that they may remain in the community, and (iii) youth with significant disabilities who have completed their secondary education.

Restore Funds for Care Coordination for Older Virginians

This amendment provides $490,000 in fiscal year 2018 from the general fund for the Care Coordination for the Elderly Virginians Program. This program provides care coordination services for low-income older Virginians throughout the Commonwealth. Care coordination puts together the necessary and most appropriate array of services and supports to help ensure that elderly individuals can remain in the community. Language is added to clarify that in fiscal year 2018, the number of Area Agencies on Aging authorized to use the funding for the program shall increase from 18 to 25.

Eliminate Funding for Adult Services Case Management System Operations

This amendment eliminates $440,000 from the general fund the second year for case management system operations for adult services and adult protective services. Funding for this new initiative was eliminated by the 2016 General Assembly.

Restore Funds for Long-Term Employment Support Services

This amendment restores $200,000 in fiscal year 2017 from the general fund for the Long Term Employment Support Services (LTESS) program. LTESS provides a full array of employment support services to meet the needs of individuals with significant disabilities to maintain employment. LTESS funding was reduced in fiscal year 2017 in the introduced budget.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Continue to capture staff vacancy savings

Captures turnover and vacancy savings associated with delayed hirings in FY 2018.

Supplant general fund with vocational rehabilitation grant funds

Generates savings by charging valid expenditures, currently supported with general fund, to the federal vocational rehabilitation grant.

Adjust appropriation to reflect current services

Aligns the agency's budget to reflect current operations. Appropriation is moved between service areas to ensure that all agency employees and services are properly budgeted. In addition, nongeneral fund appropriation is increased to match the agency's estimated annual expenditures. Five workforce assistance and audit positions, that will be supported with existing revenue, are also added. Actions included in this technical amendment will limit the need for future administrative adjustments.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

Increase appropriation to cover anticipated operating costs for the Virginia Industries for the Blind

Provides the Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB) with additional nongeneral fund appropriation to cover one-time costs in FY 2017 and anticipated expenditures associated increased revenue from expanded business opportunities. This is a technical amendment that will limit the need for administrative budget actions.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Update preliminary working capital advance for payroll system replacement

Updates the preliminary working capital advance for the payroll system replacement to reflect the estimated total cost. The working capital advance is increased from $15.0 million to $42.0 million.

Recognize additional revenue from Small Purchase Charge Card Program rebates

Recognizes additional revenue as a result of a contract renegotiation for the Small Purchase Charge Card (SPCC) Program. The program is expected to generate additional cash rebates for the Commonwealth based on the new contract and agency utilization trends.

Appropriate constitutionally required deposit to Revenue Stabilization Fund

Increases the amount appropriated for the mandatory deposit to the Revenue Stabilization Fund ("Rainy Day Fund") for 2017. After this action, the amount appropriated will equal the amount certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts as the mandatory deposit for 2017.

Transfer administration of the Line of Duty Act Program

Transfers appropriation to the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) and the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) pursuant to Chapter 677 of the Acts of Assembly of 2016. Corresponding amendments at DHRM and VRS recognize those agencies' shares of this appropriation transfer.

Authorize withdrawal from Revenue Stabilization Fund

Authorizes the State Comptroller to withdraw funds from the Revenue Stabilization Fund ("Rainy Day Fund") and deposit those funds in the general fund. The withdrawal amounts are estimated at $294.7 million in 2017 and $272.5 million in 2018.

Reduce expenditures for information technology contractors

Captures savings generated through decreased expenditures for information technology contractors. The department has reduced its reliance on contractors by increasing the number of information technology positions within the agency. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Implement strategies to enhance produce safety using federal grant funding

Provides federal appropriation and nongeneral fund positions to implement the Produce Safety Rule. The program will help to ensure the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.

Eliminate specialty crop research funding

Eliminates funding for research, development, and the applied commercialization of specialty crops, or crops that are not currently available under widespread commercial production in Virginia.

Implement tiered fee structure for food establishment inspection program

Replaces the current $40 annual inspection fee that is paid by each business that processes, manufactures, stores, or sells food with a three-tiered fee structure. Based on the establishment's square footage, the fee structure will range from $40 to $575, with home-based operations remaining at the $40 fee level. Four general fund supported positions will be transferred to nongeneral fund support based on this revenue; the revenue will also support one new administrative employee.

Reduce deposit to the Farmland Preservation Fund

Decreases the general fund deposit to the Farmland Preservation Fund. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Eliminate funding for wildlife damage management program

Eliminates the general fund match provided to the United States Department of Agriculture Fish and Wildlife Services for the wildlife damage management program. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Increase deposit to the Wine Promotion Fund based on wine liter tax collections

Accounts for increased wine liter tax revenues attributed to the sale of Virginia wine by increasing the amount required for deposit to the Virginia Wine Promotion Fund. This deposit is required in the Code of Virginia.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Discontinue the Beehive Grant Program

Discontinues the Beehive Grant Program. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Transfer positions and operating costs to nongeneral fund resources

Transfers vacant, general fund positions in various Consumer Protection program areas to nongeneral fund programs. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Eliminate Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund position

Eliminates one of two new positions provided during the 2016 Session for administration of the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The position is vacant.

Reduce funding for international marketing and reverse trade missions

Decreases funding for targeted international marketing activities. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Replace Virginia Wine Distribution Company funding with nongeneral fund revenue

Replaces a portion of general fund appropriation for the Virginia Wine Distribution Company with nongeneral fund appropriation and revenue. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Reduce deposit to the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund

Reduces the general fund deposit to the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Capture rent savings from reduced space allocation

Captures savings by reducing the department's space allocation in the Oliver Hill Building. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Participate in the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Provides federal appropriation to allow the department to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program works to improve the health of elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious US Department of Agriculture foods. The department will distribute food and administrative funds through existing agreements with food banks associated with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks.

Development Grant Program

This amendment removes partial funding for a new initiative adopted by the 2016 Session of the General Assembly which provides small grants to assist with the marketing of agriculture. The amendment allows for the retention of one position associated with the program but eliminates funding for the grants.

Beehive Grant Requirements

This language-only amendment authorizes VDACS to stop accepting applications for Beehive grants when funding is not provided for such grants.

Encourage Focus on VA Grown Products at Farmer's Markets

This language amendment directs VDACS to assess requirements governing vendors at farmer's markets across the Commonwealth to ensure that preference is not being given to out-of-state vendors over Virginia vendors based on a mileage based perimeter rule, when there are no objections submitted by competing Virginia sellers.

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services

This amendment restores funding to provide technical assistance to livestock farmers in dealing with wildlife depredation from coyotes and black vultures. The proposed cut in the introduced budget would have eliminated the state match for this program, which would have meant an equal loss of dollars from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services to provide this service.

Reduce AFID Program

This amendment provides a second year base funding amount of $1.0 million from the general fund for the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The program currently has unallocated balances in excess of $2.3 million.

Eliminate Increase in Non-Restaurant Food Inspection Fee

This amendment eliminates a proposed increase in the annual inspection fee for non-restaurant food establishments and restores the general fund support for the program that House Bill 1500 assumed would be covered by revenues generated by the increased fee.

Organics Specialist

This amendment eliminates funding provided in Chapter 780 to fund the hiring of a new organics specialist at VDACS. The position has not been filled.

Increase appropriation for retail store staffing

Provides nongeneral fund appropriation and 25 positions to address workforce shortages.

Construct ABC Central Office & Warehouse Facility

Authorizes the issuance of bonds to construct or acquire a new central office and warehouse facility

ABC - New Warehouse

This amendment removes the proposed Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control project to construct a new warehouse and administrative offices. A companion amendment in Central Capital Outlay provides funding and policy to plan for these facilities consistent with current state policy.

Cost of Goods Sold

This amendment provides $1.1 million the first year and $2.1 million the second year from nongeneral funds for the anticipated increase in the cost of merchandise purchased for sale in agency stores. The source of the nongeneral funds is Enterprise Funds. A corresponding amendment to Part 3 increases the estimated profit transfer from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

ABC Regulatory and Licensing Fee Structure

This amendment directs the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to review its current regulatory and licensing fee structure.

ABC - Transfer Command Vehicle to VDEM

This amendment authorizes the transfer of ownership of the ABC mobile command vehicle.

Air Carrier Airport Audit Controls

This amendment enacts enhanced airport report requirements into existing DOAV reporting requirements.

Provide for geriatric statewide bed purchase

Provides funds to divert and discharge geriatric patients from state behavioral health facilities. Funds will be used to purchase private inpatient beds and create community-based service plans for those individuals who have been deemed ready for discharge.

Transfer NGRI general fund appropriation from Central Office to Grants to Localities

Transfers funds appropriated to support services in the community to those found not guilty by reason of insanity from agency 720 (Central Office) to agency 790 (Grants to Localities). This sum zero transfer will eliminate the need to transfer the funds administratively.

Modify licensure language to reflect current practice

Modifies language related to reporting on licensing applications to be consistent with the agency's technological capabilities.

Transfer adult outpatient restoration funding from Central Office to Grants to Localities

Transfers funds for restoration of competency services from agency 720 (Central Office) to agency 790 (Grants to Localities) where the funds will be expended by the Community Services Boards. This sum zero transfer has no fiscal impact and will eliminate the need to transfer funds administratively.

Modify peer support language to reflect current practice

Modifies language related to peer recovery specialists to properly reflect the position title in budget language.

Provide funds for coordination of medication assisted treatment programs

Adds one position responsible for the coordination of medication assisted treatment programs to assist individuals with substance use disorders.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Support for REVIVE! (Opioid Overdose Reversal Project)

Provides for the purchase and distribution of approximately 9,000 additional REVIVE! kits and 6,600 units of Narcan Nasal Spray. Each REVIVE! kit includes equipment to conduct two opioid overdose reversals.

Support Regional Individual and Family Support Program

Transfers funds from agency 790 (Grants to Localities) to agency 720 (Central Office) for the regional Individual and Family Support Program. This sum zero transfer has no fiscal impact and will eliminate the need to transfer the funds administratively.

Maintain FY 2017 reductions through the biennium

Accounts for the ongoing savings associated with reductions that were approved as part of the Governor's FY 2017 reduction plan.

Modify due date for training center expenditure report

Moves the fourth quarter reporting date to August 15th in order to provide staff adequate time to properly reflect all year-end expenditures and complete closeout activities.

Provide for children's statewide bed purchase

Provides funds to divert and discharge children from the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents. Funds will be used to purchase private inpatient beds and create community-based service plans for those children who have been deemed ready for discharge.

Provide for adult LIPOS and high acuity bed purchase

Provides funds to purchase inpatient psychiatric services for individuals, including those with high acuity, who would otherwise be referred to a state psychiatric hospital for admission.

Modify language related to the carry forward of unexpended year end special fund balances

Modifies language to clarify that the cap on nongeneral fund revenues that may be retained at year-end include only those funds which are deposited into the agency's special revenue fund.

Make infrastructure repairs to state facilities

Provides funds for the repair and/or replacement of deteriorating infrastructure, failing HVAC systems, and outdated security systems at facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

CO - DBHDS Project - Specific Infrastructure Repairs

This amendment provides $3.6 million in bond proceeds for infrastructure repairs to the storm and sanitary sewer systems at Central State and Eastern State Hospitals for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Fund Position for Permanent Supportive Housing Program

This amendment provides $100,000 the second year from the general fund to support one position to oversee the Permanent Supportive Housing program. A separate amendment adds $4.9 million from the general fund in additional funding in fiscal year 2018 to expand permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness. This amendment is a recommendation of the Senate Joint Resolution 47 Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Twenty-First Century.

DD Waiver Reporting Requirements

This amendment requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to report on implementation of the Developmentally Disabled (DD) Waiver programs and the management and characteristics of individuals on the waiting list for services through the DD Waiver programs. The agency is required to report on these items to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 15, 2017.

Supplant GF for Opioid Overdose Reversal Project with Federal Funds

This amendment supplants $200,000 from the general fund the second year with new federal grant funding from the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant, which was created by the 21st Century Cures Act, passed by Congress in December 2016. The new federal grant aims to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to treatment, reducing unmet treatment needs, and reducing opioid overdose related deaths. The introduced budget included general fund amounts for opioid overdose reversal kits and opioid antidotes.

Eliminate Authority for Licensing Fee for Adult Services

This amendment eliminates language in the introduced budget which authorizes the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to promulgate emergency regulations to establish a licensing fee per application for all adult behavioral health and developmental services licensed by the agency. A companion amendment in Item 313 eliminates the funding and one position to collect and process these fees. Revenue assumed from the fees is also eliminated in Item 0.

Licensing Process Transparency Requirements

This amendment restores the requirement that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services post all renewals and denials for an initial or renewal license in order to ensure transparency in the licensing process.

Eliminate Position for Processing Licensing Fees

This amendment eliminates funding and one position in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to collect and process new licensing fees for providers of adult services. A companion amendment in Item 311 eliminates the authority for the agency to establish this fee that was included in the introduced budget.

Enable the acquisition of land with nongeneral funds

Authorizes the department to acquire in-holdings and land contiguous to an existing state park to curb potential development and encourage land conservation. This amendment is language-only.

Eliminate four positions

Eliminates the Environmental Education Unit. This is a continuation of a strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Supplant general fund appropriation with nongeneral fund interest revenue

Supplants general fund support with nongeneral fund dollars. The department will utilize $30,138 from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund and $45,348 combined from the Water Quality Improvement Fund and Virginia Natural Resource Commitment Fund. The usage of interest earnings is authorized in statute and through budgetary language for these funds. The agency has sufficient nongeneral fund appropriation to support this shift of funding.

Reduce general fund deposit to Virginia Land Conservation Fund

Decreases funding for the Virginia Land Conservation Fund. With this reduction, $900,000 will be available for each of the four land conservation grant categories, and $900,000 will be available for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation's Open-Space Preservation Fund.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Acquisition of land for State Parks

Provides additional nongeneral fund appropriation to acquire state park land, primarily in-holding and adjoining properties to protect the continuity of various state parks.

Acquisition of land for Natural Area Preserves

Provides additional sources of nongeneral fund appropriation to acquire and preserve natural areas.

Natural Area Preserves

This amendment authorizes the use of Department of Conservation and Recreation nongeneral funds for the acquisition of in-holding and contiguous parcels at 10 existing Natural Area Preserves and authorizes the acceptance of donated property contiguous to an existing Natural Area Preserve.

CO - DCR - Parcel Acquisition Language

This amendment authorizes the use of Department of Conservation and Recreation nongeneral funds for the acquisition of in-holding parcels at nine state parks.

Language on DCR Land Acquisition

This amendment modifies language controlling the acceptance or purchase of property by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Two companion amendments in Capital Outlay provide express authorization for the acquisition of in-holdings or contiguous property at a list of enumerated State Parks and Natural Area Preserves.

Review Methods to Stabilize Ag BMP Funding

This amendment establishes a stakeholder working group to discuss potential methods to stabilize the flow of funding for Agricultural Best Management Practices to reduce the fluctuations and provide additional surety to the farm community while ensuring the flow of work for the Soil and Water Conservation Districts becomes more stable and predictable.

Appropriate WQIF Reserve for Ag BMPs

This amendment utilizes the dollars deposited in the Virginia Water Quality Reserve Fund for the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund and appropriates them for distribution in the second year for agricultural best management practices cost share program activities. Of the total, the amount reserved for technical assistance matches the share established in Chapter 780 for fiscal year 2017.

Additional Implementation of RMPs

This amendment directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convene a stakeholder group to examine the funding and resource needs for the implementation of Resource Management Plans and to make recommendations no later than October 1, 2017.

Partial Restoration of Funding for Swift Creek Trail

This amendment partially restores funding included in Chapter 780 for the construction of accessible mountain bike trails for disabled riders. Additional language clarifies the legislative intent of the funding is for trail construction and does not include additional structures.

VOF: Clarify Filing Fee Applies to Conveyancing Instruments

This amendment clarifies that the deed recordation fee established in § 58.1-817 applies to instruments and documents recorded in the deed books in the clerk's offices of the circuit courts covered by this provision of law. Current Code provisions require the fee only be imposed on deeds admitted to record.

Eliminate mothball funding for Mecklenburg Correctional Center

Eliminates funding provided for maintaining the Mecklenburg Correctional Center facility after it was closed. The facility has been demolished and the funding is no longer needed.

Sale of White Post property

Authorizes the Department of General Services to sell, or transfer to other state agencies or local entities, the properties formerly occupied by the Pulaski Correctional Center and the White Post Detention and Diversion Center.

Add staff for death investigations

Provides funding for positions to be assigned to investigate deaths at local and regional jails.

Delay opening Culpeper Correctional Center

Removes funding for opening the Culpeper Correctional Center for Women in the second year.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Provide funding for inmate medical costs

Provides funding for increased inmate medical expenses. The increases are the result of the overall increase in medical costs and an increase in the number of inmates with serious medical conditions.

Provide funding for legislation that create need for additional prison beds

Provides the "Woodrum" appropriation for legislation proposed by the Governor. State law requires that any legislation that would result in an increase in the prison population over the succeeding six years from its enactment be accompanied by an appropriation that would cover the increased costs in one year resulting from additional inmates. The six proposed bills, and the projected "Woodrum" impact for each, that fall into this category are: require background check for all firearms transfers and purchases ($50,000); add computer crimes to RICO statute ($50,000); prohibit possession of firearms by persons subject to any protective order ($50,000); expand prohibitions regarding proximity to children ($50,000); Omnibus firearms bill ($50,000); and prohibit the taking of contraband into the Virginia Center for Behavior Rehabilitation ($50,000).

Technology in Corrections

This amendment directs the Department of Corrections to review the current and future use of technology to improve security and employee productivity, and to achieve long-term cost savings.

Corrections Special Reserve Fund

This amendment authorizes the required deposit into the Corrections Special Reserve Fund, pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, for sentencing legislation which has been adopted during the 2017 Session of the General Assembly. These sentencing bills, as referenced in the accompanying language, increase the number of state-responsible prison beds that will be required over the next six years. This amendment makes no change in the amount provided in the budget as introduced for deposit into the fund. This amendment is contingent upon final passage of the legislation as cited in this amendment.

Jail Reimbursement Policy Clarification

This amendment clarifies that all jail capital projects approved by the Governor on or after July 1, 2017, may be reimbursed by the Commonwealth up to 25 percent of the approved project costs, consistent with Senate Bill 1313 of the 2017 General Assembly.

DOC Medical High-Cost Inmates

This amendment directs the Department of Corrections to review the small number of inmates who account for a large proportion of total inpatient and outpatient medical care costs, along with strategies for controlling those costs in the long term.

Board of Corrections Position

This amendment eliminates $100,000 the second year from the general fund and one of two new positions to support the Board of Corrections, which were included in the budget as introduced. An expansion of the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Corrections related to the investigation of deaths in jails is included in Senate Bill 1063, as amended, but the bill directs the Board to seek the assistance of the Office of the State Inspector General in such investigations. Accordingly, one of the two proposed positions is not needed.

Transfer FTE to VSP

Provide grants for mental health screening and assessment in jails

Provides funding and positions to support mental health screening and assessment in local and regional jails. The number of persons adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity in a locality or region would be one of the factors used in evaluating grant applications.

Decrease availability of general fund for Victim/Witness Grant awards

Decreases the amount available from the general fund for Victim/Witness Grant awards.

Decrease funding for new pre-trial programs

Reduces the amount of funding for pre-trial programs.

Develop training for community policing

Provides funding and additional staff support to develop new training standards and curricula for community policing.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Reduce administrative staff

Eliminates two positions.

Model Addiction Recovery Programs

This amendment provides $153,600 the second year from the general fund for the Department of Criminal Justice Services to award grants for up to four pilot sites administering model addiction recovery programs in local or regional jails, pursuant to House Bill 1845. The sites are to be selected in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

DARE Program Funding to DCJS

This amendment provides a grant of $85,000 from the general fund the second year for statewide administration of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and requires an evaluation of the program. A companion amendment to Item 423 transfers these funds from the Department of State Police for this purpose.

Community Engaged Policing

This amendment reduces the appropriation for the Department of Criminal Justice Services by $500,000 the second year from the general fund, and removes one position which was included in the introduced budget. The associated bill, House Bill 1894, concerning community-engaged policing, was not passed.

Virginia Firearms Safety and Training for Sexual and Domestic Violence Victims Fund

This amendment provides $10,000 from the general fund the second year for the Virginia Firearms Safety and Training for Sexual and Domestic Violence Victims Fund, as authorized by House Bill 1853.

Community Corrections and Pretrial Services

This amendment removes $1.5 million from the general fund the second year included in the introduced budget to fund new local community corrections and pre-trial services programs in localities where they have not already been established.

Jail Screening and Assessment Grants

This amendment eliminates $4,200,000 the second year from the general fund and two positions for grants for jail mental health screening and assessments. These funds have been redirected to improved mental health services within the overall mental health package which was included in the budget as introduced. A companion amendment to the Compensation Board in Item 70 requires the use of a standard screening instrument by all jails.

Sexual and Domestic Violence Program Funding

This amendment provides $1.5 million the second year from the general fund to match federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. VOCA funds support local victim/witness programs, sexual and domestic violence victim assistance programs, and efforts to combat human trafficking.

Law Enforcement Training Standards

This amendment directs the Board and the Department of Criminal Justice Services to review, and if necessary, update the compulsory minimum training standards for law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth. Law enforcement training standards were last updated in 1998 and jail training standards regarding mental health were last updated in 2008. The amendment requires the Board and the Department to complete the updates by October 1, 2019.

Reduce eMedia funding

Reduces new funding provided for eMediaVA, the platform used by the Department of Education to offer online courses. The Department of Education will modify its eMediaVA contract to reduce deliverables commensurate with the reduction in funding.

Increase funding for the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT)

Repurposes appropriation from Item 138.G.3 of Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly, to fund administration of the Algebra Readiness Diagnostic Test (ARDT), which will allow the state to continue offering a required algebra diagnostic test at no cost to localities.

Eliminate a Professional Development Position

Eliminates one of two professional development positions funded in Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly. This position is not yet filled.

Consolidate Technology Innovation and IT Management Positions

Combines the responsibilities of Technology Innovation and Information Technology Management into one position by eliminating a vacant position.

Eliminate a School Improvement Position

Eliminates one of two school improvement positions funded in Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly. This position is not yet filled.

Transfer administration of federal food programs from the Department of Health to the Department of Education

Transfers administration of the Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program from the Virginia Department of Health to the Virginia Department of Education.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Eliminate a Facilities Efficiency position

Eliminates one full-time equivalent position and partial funding provided for a facilities and pupil transportation efficiency position in Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly. The Department of Education will assign the facilities efficiency duties to current staff and retain funding for a wage pupil transportation efficiency position.

Change funding source for a State Operated Programs position

Changes the support of a State Operated Programs position from general fund to nongeneral funds.

Change funding source for a Finance Division position

Changes the support for a finance position from general fund to nongeneral funds.

Provide continued support for the Student Growth Model

Continues funding in the second year for a student growth model pilot program to provide personalized instructional and academic planning for students, facilitate data-driven school improvement efforts, and support the state's accountability and accreditation systems.

Increase funding for Instructional Improvement System (formerly Educational Information Management System)

Provides additional funding to support statewide access to the Department of Education's Instructional Improvement System at no cost to local school divisions.

Reduce teacher evaluation training funding

Removes half of the Department of Education's appropriation to provide performance evaluation training to teachers, principals, division superintendents, and other affected school division personnel in support of the transition from continuing employment contracts to annual employment contracts for teachers and principals. This program has been in effect for several years, and funding for the program has declined over the years given a reduced need for services.

Reduce training funding

Reduces funding for principal professional development in under-performing schools given fewer principals left to train. Also reduces funding to establish criteria for local school divisions requesting teacher and principal professional development of issues related to high-needs students. This is centralized, Department of Education-coordinated training, with assistance from higher education providers.

Reduce funding for enhancements to the School Performance Report Card

Reduces the Department of Education's (DOE) school performance report card appropriation from $250,000 to $100,000. DOE's development of the school quality profile, an enhancement of the school performance report card, will occur over several years at a slower rate or with a more limited scope.

Reduce kindergarten readiness assessment funding

Reduces from $1.0 million to $900,000 support for developing and implementing a new assessment tool of children to determine kindergarten readiness. The Department of Education will modify its agreement with the University of Virginia to reduce the scope of services commensurate with the reduction in funding.

Reduce Information Technology Academy funding

Decreases from $1.5 million to $1.3 million the Department of Education's (DOE) Information Technology Academy appropriation by reducing the professional development component for teachers and certain instructional materials for students, but retaining full credentialing services to students. DOE will offset the reduction where possible with existing agency resources.

Modify savings strategy for Teacher and Principal Professional Development

This amendment shifts $150,000 each year from principal training to assistance for teacher professional development on the subject of issues related to high-needs students.

Reduce introduced funding for the Instructional Improvement System

This amendment provides an additional $300,000 for the instructional improvement system, which provides teacher-level and longitudinal student-level data, and other data for integration with local student information systems and DOE access to division-level data, for use by local school divisions. The Governor's introduced budget provided an additional $1,553,479 for this purpose.

Transfer of Dept of Health Food Programs

This amendment eliminates the proposed transfer of two food programs (Adult and Child Care Food and the Summer Food Service Programs) from the Department of Health to the Department of Education. The Department of Health will continue to administer these programs with the same level of funding and positions. There is a companion amendment that restores the federal funds to the Department of Health in Item 294.

Provide start-up funds for Parental Choice Education Savings Accounts (HB 1605)

This amendment provides $380,000 the second year from the general fund to the Department of Education for estimated start-up costs in DOE that would be needed to administer the Parental Choice Education Savings Account (ESA) program. Should House Bill 1605 not become enacted into law, then the Director of Planning and Budget shall unallot the $380,000 from the ESA program and shall allot the $380,000 to the personalized instructional and academic planning initiative. There is a companion amendment that allots the $380,000 to the personalized instructional and academic planning initiative should House Bill 1605 not become enacted into law.

Provide funds for Teacher License Revocation Review

This amendment provides funding for a one-time file review of teachers who have been convicted of child abuse to make certain that their teacher's license has been revoked.

Reduce introduced funding for the Student Growth Model Planning Pilot

This amendment provides $120,000 from the general fund in new funding in the second year for the personalized instructional and academic planning initiative (student growth model planning) pilot. The Governor's introduced budget included $500,000 for this purpose. Should House Bill 1605 not become enacted into law, the Director of Planning and Budget shall unallot the $380,000 from the Parental Choice Education Savings Account program in this Item and shall allot the $380,000 to the personalized instructional and academic planning initiative. There is a companion amendment that unallots $380,000 from the Parental Choice Education Savings Account to the personalized instructional and academic planning initiative (student growth model planning) should House Bill 1605 not become enacted into law.

Continue federally funded activities

Continues to fund activities supported through the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). This amendment allows the agency to continue its operations without disrupting services provided to the public, including the operation of the Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS), the state's voter registration system.

Capture vacancy savings

Continues the savings strategy included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Fund printing costs of voter registration and absentee ballot applications

Provides one-time general fund support to print additional voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the November 2017 election. The agency is required to provide voter registration applications to registration agencies under § 24.2-411.2, Code of Virginia, and third party registration groups under the Federal National Voter Registration Act.

Improve local access to voter registration system

Implements measures to improve local access to the voter registration system, Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS), using a two-factor authentication system. This amendment also includes funding for one full-time equivalent position.

Maintain online services for military and overseas voters

Provides general fund support for a ballot delivery system to enable military and overseas voters to receive their ballot electronically. The ballot delivery system was previously funded through the Department of Defense's Federal Voting Assistance Program. The federal grant expired on October 31, 2016.

Reduce printing of election materials

Provides forms and envelopes in an electronic format. Localities will be able to download and print these materials as needed.

Ensure access for voter registration

Prioritizes enhancements to the voter registration system, Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS). The additional funding will make VERIS more efficient for localities, ensure uniformity of operations, and be scalable during peak periods of demand.

Assist voters with statewide election inquiries

Provides one-time funding for a call center for the November 2017 election. The call center will address questions received from the public regarding voting locations, voter registration status, and voter eligibility.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Manage state election applications

Converts information technology contractors who are funded through the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to classified state employees. The savings to convert contractors to classified state employees are captured in a separate amendment to continue activities funded through HAVA.

Remove funding for call center

This amendment removes funding included in the budget for a call center for the November 2017 election.

Partially remove funding for continuation of HAVA-related activities

This amendment reduces funding to support the continuation of elections activities supported by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant.

Remove funding for printing additional voter registration and absentee ballot applications

This amendment removes funding included in the budget for printing additional voter registration and absentee ballot applications.

Restore state funding for election activities

This amendment restores one-time general fund support in the second year of $105,000 for a call center and $50,000 to print voter registration and absentee ballot applications for the November 2017 elections. This amendment also restores $500,000 general fund support in the second year to continue services currently funded through the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Grant of 2002. These federal funds are expected to be depleted before the end of fiscal year 2018.

Increase Maximum Employment Level for nongeneral fund positions

Increases the agency's nongeneral fund maximum employment level.

Reduce discretionary spending

Captures savings resulting from operational efficiencies.

Utilize alternative fund sources to support the Virginia Title V air program

Updates budgetary language to authorize the use of the Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund to support the Virginia program under Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act. Title V of the Federal Clean Air Act requires each state to have an approved program for major stationary sources of air pollution.

Remove language prioritizing use of nutrient offsets

Strikes language in the Appropriation Act that places priority on nutrient offsets produced from facilities that generate electricity from animal waste when the Nutrient Offset Fund is used to purchase nutrient credits.

Transfer cash from the Hazardous Waste Permit Fund

Transfers unobligated cash from the Hazardous Waste Permit Fund to the general fund.

Supplant general fund support with Waste Tire funds for the Land Program

Replaces general fund appropriation in the agency's land protection program with revenue from the Waste Tire Fund.

Supplant general fund support with Vehicle Emissions Inspection Fund resources for the Air Program

Replaces general fund appropriation for the agency's air programs with Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program Fund resources.

Extend Date for Use of Appomattox Water Authority Bonds

This amendment provides an additional year for the Appomattox Regional Water Authority to determine whether it intends to utilize bonds authorized by the 2013 General Assembly. In light of the financial stresses facing the Authority, which includes as a member the City of Petersburg, additional time is required to finalize plans for the envisioned project.

HRSD Extensometer

This amendment provides $1.35 million from the general fund in the second year to the Department of Environmental Quality to support the Hampton Roads Sanitation District to fund an extensometer to measure land subsidence. This action is in support of the HRSD's Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) project, which is a program to inject treated wastewater into the subsurface to raise groundwater pressures and thus expand and make more sustainable the aquifer system.

Supplant agency administrative cost with nongeneral fund

Supplant general fund with nongeneral fund appropriation for agency administrative costs.

Supplant agency administrative cost with nongeneral fund

Supplants general fund with nongeneral fund appropriation for agency administrative costs.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Create new service area to reflect DFS reorganization

Realigns general fund appropriation to support a new service area.

Restore partial overtime funding

Restores a portion of the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan for overtime pay for staff to reduce case turnaround time for court mandated activities.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Utilize federal funds

Replaces general fund appropriation with federal grant funds that have overlapping objectives.

Eliminate positions

Eliminates four positions within the agency, and consolidates two of the department's work areas. There are four layoffs associated with this action.

Continue development of accounts receivable system

Authorizes, through budgetary language, the continued development of an accounts receivable system critical to the Reforestation of Timberlands program and the Nurseries program.

Establish water quality notification fee

Establishes a $100 water quality notification fee for enforcement of the silvicultural water quality law for the protection of water quality in the Commonwealth. Currently, these services are provided to landowners and logging operators at no cost. The anticipated revenue will be used to offset a portion of the cost of administering this activity.

Reduce Reforestation of Timberlands funding

Reduces Reforestation of Timberlands funding. With this reduction, $1.53 million will remain available in FY 2018 to match revenue generated by the forest products tax to assist landowners reforest pine trees.

Increase nongeneral fund appropriation

Aligns the budget to reflect actual expenditure patterns and increases transparency by reducing the need for administrative appropriation adjustments.

Authorize the sale of properties and timber

Authorizes the sale of five department owned properties and timber. The net proceeds of the sales will be deposited to the Nurseries Fund and the State Forest Land Fund to offset transfers from these two funds to the general fund. This language amendment supports a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Eliminate vacant telecommunications specialist position

Eliminates support for a vacant telecommunications specialist position funded during the 2016 Session. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Reforestation of Timberlands

This amendment restores the 100 percent state match to the revenue generated by the forest products severance tax.

Provide GF to Support Forestry AR System

This amendment removes language authorizing use of $113,360 from the Reforestation of Timberlands (RT) program to replace the accounting system used by the Department of Forestry and provides a like amount of general fund appropriation to cover this share of the costs. In the 2014-16 biennium, the General Assembly authorized use of up to $147,500 from RT funds for this purpose. The contract with the vendor failed, and the Commonwealth recovered the funding but did not restore them to the RT program.

Sale of Forestry Lands

This amendment directs the proceeds from the sale of Department of Forestry property assumed in House Bill 1500, as introduced, to the general fund. The Governor had proposed allowing these funds to be retained by the Department of Forestry to offset other reductions.

Eliminate New Silvicultural Inspection Fee

This amendment eliminates the proposed notification fee contained in HB 1500, as introduced, and replaces $500,000 in fee revenue with a like amount of general fund support for the Department of Forestry's silvicultural protection activities. Under §10.1-1181.2, Code of Virginia, a logger is required to notify the Department of Forestry within three days of starting a timber harvest. There is no fee associated with this notice.

Transfer testing of sexually transmitted diseases to the Department of Health

Transfers responsibility for the testing of sexually transmitted diseases from the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services to the Department of Health.

Capture savings from vacant position in the Director's Office

Continues the savings strategy included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Fund ongoing cost to maintain federal food safety laboratory testing standards

Supports ongoing costs of maintaining compliance with federal standards for food safety testing at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services following the expiration of a federal grant.

Utilize alternative laboratory testing method

Reflects ongoing savings from a strategy included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan, which adopts pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in place of conventional and molecular methods for Salmonella serotyping. PFGE is already performed on all Salmonella for DNA fingerprinting and has recently shown to be a serotyping tool for most serotypes of Salmonella, eliminating the need for conventional and molecular serotyping.

Provide appropriation for public procurement professional development programs

Provides additional nongeneral fund appropriation to reflect projected expenditure and revenue levels for public procurement professional development activities of the Division of Purchases and Supply. Increased expenditures and revenues are the result of a new Virginia Contracting Master Program and increased participation in the annual Public Procurement Forum.

Reduce discretionary spending and realize turnover and vacancy savings

Reduces or delays discretionary spending items and manages hiring actions in order to realize savings from turnover and vacancies among general fund programs.

Adjust internal service fund appropriation for the Division of Real Estate Services

Provides appropriation to reflect expenditure and revenue levels driven primarily by increased lease payment obligations and implementation of a new state property management system.

Shift Emergency Preparedness Officer position to nongeneral fund

Transfers costs of an Emergency Preparedness Officer position to the internal service fund of the Statewide Building Management Program. The duties of this position fully support the program, which is funded from fees assessed for the rental and management of state office space and other facilities.

Align contract managers and support staff cost with appropriate funding source

Shifts three contract managers and two support staff positions from the general fund to the proper nongeneral fund source. The positions primarily support the Virginia Strategic Sourcing Initiative and will be funded from its nongeneral fund revenue sources.

Increase appropriation for newborn screening and laboratory certification services

Provides nongeneral fund appropriation for the Consolidated Laboratory Services enterprise fund to reflect projected expenditure and revenue levels for newborn screening and laboratory certification services provided by the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.

Capture savings from vacant entry level position in the Director's Office

Defers filling an entry level position in the Director's Office.

Increase drinking water laboratory testing fees

Adjusts the drinking water testing fee schedule of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services to fully recover testing costs. Drinking water testing services are offered to public water supply systems for testing required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Allocate laboratory media services costs to appropriate funding sources

Allocates costs of the media services section of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) to appropriate nongeneral fund revenue sources. The media services section is responsible for preparing and maintaining a supply of high-quality media and reagents for use by scientists throughout DCLS.

Defer special projects at the Executive Mansion

Defers projects at the Executive Mansion.

Repair the exterior envelope of Main Street Centre

Addresses deficiencies identified in the exterior envelope of the Main Street Centre Building.

Environmental Site Assessment at Central Virginia Training Center

This amendment provides $260,000 the second year from the general fund for the Department of General Services to conduct an environmental site assessment at the Central Virginia Training Center to determine remediation activities and associated costs for the site.

Promote the Use of Energy Efficient Lighting

This amendment directs the Director of the Department of General Services and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and other agencies to collaborate to maximize the use of energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting when new or replacement lighting is installed in state agency facilities, where cost effective, and to report on efforts and projected cost savings to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 15, 2017.

Require meningococcal vaccine prior to entering the sixth grade

Adds a requirement for one dose of meningococcal conjugate (MCV4) vaccine prior to entering the 6th grade. MCV4 vaccine was added to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule in 2006.

Consolidate and de-commission agency server hardware

Consolidates current servers and storage from standalone servers with direct access storage devices to a storage area network (SAN). SAN's are more efficient and effective technologies that can be upgraded more easily than direct access storage devices.

Capture administrative reorganization savings

Captures savings associated with a reorganization of administrative functions as a result of agency positions being vacant for a long period of time.

Increase restaurant inspection fee

Increases restaurant inspection fees to cover approximately one-third of the program costs and generate approximately $5.4 million for the agency and the locally administered health districts. Of that amount, $3.1 million GF represents the state share and $2.2 million represents the amount credited to the localities' share of the cooperative budget. The two locally administered health districts would generate an additional $1.1 million; since they collect their own revenue there is no balancing entry required as part of the cooperative budget.

Assume responsibility for sexually transmitted disease testing

Transfers responsibility for sexually transmitted disease testing from the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) to the Department of Health (VDH). Testing is currently provided by DCLS for VDH's testing program. New grant requirements make it fiscally advantageous to the Commonwealth for VDH to contract for these services with the private sector.

Modify Environmental Health's soil scientist services contract

Modifies an existing memorandum of understanding between the agency and Virginia Tech for the use of soil scientists to perform evaluations. The agency will shift to performing evaluations on a needs basis rather than the current practice of contracting for services from a certain number of soil scientists.

Rename Fan Free Clinic to the Health Brigade

Updates the name of the Fan Free Clinic to the Health Brigade.

Increase education and expand access to women’s reproductive health

Increases federal support for education and expanded access to women's reproductive health. The goal of this intervention is to remove barriers such as the financial and limited availability of Long Acting Reversible Contraception in order to increase access to and utilization of highly effective methods of contraception using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding.

Transfer responsibility for federal food programs to Department of Education

Transfers both federal food programs to the Department of Education (DOE). This amendment would also continue to fund the partially funded positions that would remain at the Department of Health (VDH) after the programs are transferred to DOE in their entirety.

Revert nongeneral fund cash

Transfers nongeneral fund cash balances from various funds. The agency has identified eight funds from which the transfers will occur.

Transfer appropriation to the correct program

Realigns nongeneral fund resources from Health Research, Planning and Coordination to Administrative and Support Services, to account for where spending will occur. The transfer will align the appropriation to the correct program and is a net-sum zero transfer.

Strike Paragraph Related to the VA Student Loan Repayment Program

Removes language directing the agency to contract with the Virginia Health Care Foundation to support the Virginia Loan Repayment Program. The language was added to the incorrect item in the budget. Also, funding for the program has been eliminated and without this amendment the agency would be directed to spend general fund dollars in the incorrect program area.

Eliminate general fund appropriation for the Virginia Student Loan Repayment Program

Eliminates the general fund appropriation for the Virginia Student Loan Repayment Program. The program does not have the proper funding level to provide services compared to the scope of need.

Establish fee for shellfish facility inspections

Establishes a fee for shellfish facility inspections to defray five percent of inspection service costs. The proposed fee for each type of facility is based on the minimum number of times per year that they are required to conduct inspections.

Eliminate unspent match for federal grant

Captures savings from a general fund match requirement for a federal grant. Due to the grant's limited focus, the agency has historically had trouble finding interested sub-grantees.

Modify language pertaining to the sale of birth, marriage, and divorce records in the health districts

Improves the accessibility of the vital records, (birth, marriage, divorces) to citizens of the Commonwealth by providing them at the local health districts. Currently the districts only provide death records to the public. This amendment would also direct a 35 percent distribution of new vital record revenues collected in the local health districts to the central Division of Vital Records to maintain operations.

Reduce the pass-through appropriation to Hampton Roads Proton Beam Institute

Reduces the pass-through appropriation to Hampton Roads Proton Beam Institute by 7.5 percent in FY 18. This reduction was identified after careful consideration of each pass-through and their public health impact.

Update language addressing consolidation of CHIP of VA

Updates language to allow CHIP of VA or its successor to continue receiving general fund dollars as appropriated in the appropriation act.

Revert savings from consolidation of administration and management functions

Consolidates the management and administration functions of the agency's Environmental Health Hazards Control and Drinking Water Improvement programs. This strategy would remove funding for a vacant director position and would share a business manager. Both programs will still provide the same level of services after consolidation.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Eliminate New Funding for Meningococcal Vaccine Legislation - Local

This amendment eliminates $128,057 from nongeneral funds in fiscal year 2018 contained in the introduced budget to require the meningococcal vaccine for children entering the sixth grade. Proposed legislation requiring the vaccine was not approved.

Restore Funding for Federal Food Programs

This amendment restores funding for federal food programs that was transferred to the Department of Education in the introduced budget. Funding that was added in the introduced budget to backfill the loss of administrative funding in the Department of Health is removed since there will be no change to the existing program.

Update Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium language

This amendment eliminates language in the Appropriation Act that states the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium (GMEC) is a program of the University of Virginia (UVA) at Wise. GMEC is becoming an independent entity and is terminating its formal relationship with UVA at Wise.

Support Local Health Department Rent and Renovations

This amendment provides funding to support the rent and renovation costs for two local health departments.

Eliminate Licensing Fee for Shellfish Facilities

This amendment adds $116,000 from the general fund and eliminates $116,000 in nongeneral funds from a new fee for shellfish facility inspections proposed in the introduced budget. Language authorizing the Department of Health to implement the fee is eliminated.

Support Perinatal Quality Collaborative

This amendment provides $124,470 from the general fund and $82,980 from nongeneral funds the second year for the Virginia Department of Health to establish and administer a Perinatal Quality Collaborative. The Perinatal Quality Collaborative shall work to improve pregnancy outcomes for women and newborns by advancing evidence-based clinical practices and processes through continuous quality improvement.

Eliminate New Funding for Meningococcal Vaccine Legislation

This amendment eliminates $482,505 from the general fund and $1.3 million from nongeneral funds in fiscal year 2018 contained in the introduced budget to require the meningococcal vaccine for children entering the sixth grade. Proposed legislation requiring the vaccine was not approved, so the appropriation is unnecessary.

Eliminate Use of TANF for Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives

This amendment eliminates $6.0 million the second year from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant for developing a pilot program increasing education about reproductive choices and expanding access to long acting reversible contraception that was included in the introduced budget.

Recover Administrative Savings

This amendment reduces $150,000 each year from the general fund to capture administrative savings in the Virginia Department of Health. Language is provided allowing the Virginia Department of Health to spread the reduction for administrative savings across programs within the agency's budget.

Implement Electronic Death Registration System Requirements

This amendment requires the state teaching hospitals to work with the Department of Health and Division of Vital Records to fully implement use of the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) for all deaths occurring within any Virginia state teaching hospital's facilities. Full implementation shall occur and be reported, by the Division of Vital Records, to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by April 15, 2018, in alignment with Vital Records plans to promulgate and market the EDRS.

Eliminate Increase in Restaurant Inspection Fee

This amendment adds $4.3 million from the general fund and reduces $3.2 million from nongeneral funds from a proposed increase in the restaurant inspection fee contained in the introduced budget. Language is modified to return the fee to $40 from the proposed fee of $285. Language directs the Department of Health to examine the adequacy of cost recovery from larger establishments and report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by December 15, 2017.

Support Emergency Department Care Coordination System

This amendment adds $370,000 from the general fund and $3.3 million from nongeneral funds the second year to develop and implement a single, statewide technology solution that connects all the emergency departments in the Commonwealth to enable real time communication and collaboration between physicians, providers and other clinical or care management personnel for patients receiving services in hospital emergency departments for the purpose of improving the quality of patient care services, and lowering costs. The general fund for implementing this program would be matched with $3.3 million in federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act funds for a total budget in fiscal year 2018 of $3.7 million. Implementation of this program is contingent upon the receipt of federal HITECH Act funds.

Eliminate RSAF Set-Aside for 12-Lead EKG Monitors

This amendment eliminates language in the budget requiring that $400,000 in nongeneral funds from the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) be set aside for the purchase of 12-lead EKG monitors. The RSAF currently approves grants in excess of $1.0 million for the purchase of these monitors. The RSAF will continue to approve grants for the 12-lead monitors as they are presented but stakeholders feel that budgetary language requiring this use of the fund is no longer necessary. This amount of funding will remain in the RSAF but not be designated expressly for the 12-lead program.

Authorize transfer of nutrition program

This amendment adds language that authorizes the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, to move the associated appropriation and authorized positions supporting the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the federal At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program (AR) from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to the Department of Education (DOE). Transferring the SFSP and AR to DOE is intended to increase program capacity, efficiency, and save state resources by housing similar nutrition programs together.

Support Special Olympics Healthy Athlete Program

This amendment adds $10,000 from the general fund the second year for the Special Olympics Healthy Athlete exam and treatment program. The program provides health exams to its athletes and other individuals with intellectual disability and links individuals to health care services. The program also trains health care professionals and students to treat individuals with intellectual disability. Funding will allow the program to serve more disabled individuals at the Special Olympics games, including athletes and other individuals with intellectual disability residing in the community who have unmet health care needs.

Restore Funds for Physician Loan Repayment Program

This amendment adds $300,000 from the general fund the second year to restore funding for the Virginia State Loan Repayment Program that was eliminated in the Governor's FY 2017 Savings Plan and House Bill 1500, as introduced. Funding for the program is matched by the federal government to provide student loan repayment on behalf of qualified medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmaceutical (pharmacists) professionals who practice at an eligible site in one of the federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas in Virginia. There are currently 16 individuals on the waiting list for this program.

Add Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome as Reportable Disease

This amendment adds $52,000 from the general fund the second year for the fiscal impact of House Bill 1467 and Senate Bill 1323 (2017 Session) which add Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome to the list of diseases that are required to be reported by the Board of Health.

Appropriation increase for additional space

Increases the agency's nongeneral fund appropriation to acquire additional space within the current building. The additional space will allow the agency to enhance customer service, expand and improve its call center operation, and mitigate the security risk associated with receiving onsite payments.

Registration of peer recovery specialists and qualified mental health professionals

Authorizes registration of peer recovery specialists and qualified mental health professionals by the Board of Counseling who meet the qualifications set forth in regulations to be promulgated within 280 days of enactment. It would also add registered practitioners to the list of professionals who are required as mental health providers to protect third parties and notify clients about the right to report to the department any unethical, fraudulent or unprofessional conduct.

Increase appropriation for previously approved positions

Increases the agency's nongeneral fund appropriation associated with six positions approved in the 2016 Appropriation Act. The initial bill did not include the corresponding appropriation.

Add Positions in Dept. of Health Professions

This amendment adds 12 positions in the Department of Health Professions to manage the increases in workload across the Health Regulatory Boards that license health professionals, enforce standards of practice, and provide information to health care practitioners and the public.

Implement Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Demonstration

This amendment adds $250,000 from nongeneral funds the second year and language directing the agency to develop and implement a real time prescription drug monitoring demonstration program with Medicaid prescribers. The source of nongeneral funds is from prescription drug monitoring funds matched with enhanced federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act funds. Language requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to apply for up to $225,000 in federal HITECH Act funds. Language requires the Department of Health Professions to report on increased use of the PMP by prescribers in the demonstration program by July 1, 2018. Language makes the program contingent on the receipt of federal HITECH funds.

Reduce funding for the Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund

Decreases the general fund deposit to the Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund. This grant program is discretionary and awards are subject to appropriation. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Preserve historical African-American graves and cemeteries

Provides general fund support for the preservation of historical African-American graves and cemeteries.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Restore Battlefields Preservation Funding

This amendment fully restores second year funding for the Battlefields Preservation Fund appropriated by the 2016 General Assembly in Chapter 780.

Eliminate support for the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research

Eliminates pass-through funding for the Integrated Systems Test facility at the Center for Advanced Engineering and Research. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Provide additional federal appropriation for Resiliency Grant

Establishes additional federal appropriation to offset anticipated expenditures for the National Disaster Resilience Competition grant awarded to the department. The multi-year grant, totaling $120.5 million, will support approved resiliency-related investments in Hampton Roads and other areas of the Commonwealth.

Reduce appropriation for Enterprise Zone grants

Decreases funding for the Enterprise Zone Grant Program. After this reduction, $12.3 million will be available in FY 2018 for grants to businesses making real property improvements in enterprise zones. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Repeal enactment clauses pertaining to Go Virginia

Repeals Enactments 4 and 5 of Chapters 778 and 779, 2016 Acts of Assembly, as well as Enactment 2 of Chapters 776 and 777, 2016 Acts of Assembly. The repeal of these enactments, through budgetary language in the General Provisions section of the Appropriation Act, will allow for the expenditure of grants by the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board. Additionally, the language provides that the creation of the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Foundation to support the Board satisfies the intent of Enactment 4 of Chapters 778 and 779 of the 2016 Acts of Assembly.

Reduce funding for GO Virginia

Reduces funding for grants awarded through the GO Virginia initiative. This strategy reduces the FY 2017 appropriation to $900,000, which will provide $100,000 for one-time gap analysis for each of the nine regions identified by the GO Virginia Board. Budget language is included to exempt these funds from the statutorily required match. For FY 2018, the capacity building grant appropriation is reduced to $1.35 million. The per capita funding is reduced to $6.1 million, with a requirement of local match. Funding for the statewide competitive grants is reduced to $12.2 million, with a requirement of local match.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Housing Strategies for Mental Illness

This language amendment directs the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to develop and implement strategies for housing individuals with serious mental illness in collaboration with other agencies including the Virginia Housing Development Authority, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Medical Assistance Services, and Department of Social Services. DHCD is also directed to work with stakeholders whose constituents have an interest in expanding supportive housing for people with serious mental illness, and to produce an annual report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. This is a recommendation from the Joint Subcommittee Studying Mental Health Services in the Commonwealth in the 21st Century.

DHCD Restore Item 109

This amendment is a technical amendment that restores funding to Item 109 and reflects the reductions in a central reversion account.

Restore Funding for Enterprise Zone Program

This amendment restores $1.0 million from the general fund of the $1.8 million from the general fund reduction proposed in the Governor's introduced budget. The Enterprise Zone Program is consistently oversubscribed with qualified recipients receiving prorated grant awards. The Real Property Improvement Grants portion of the Enterprise Zone Program was prorated at 69 percent in fiscal year 2014 and 67 percent in fiscal year 2015 (the most recent annual report available). This action mitigates the need to prorate grant awards and is consistent with the recommendations of the Enterprise Zone Program study just completed at the request of the General Assembly by the VCU Center for Urban and Regional Analysis.

Administer Line of Duty Act (LODA) Program health benefits

Provides staff to administer the health benefits coverage of LODA. Effective July 1, 2017, the department will administer health insurance coverage for disabled persons, eligible spouses, and eligible dependents, including survivors of deceased employees and volunteers covered under LODA.

Implement internal reorganization

Eliminates three full-time equivalent positions supporting antiquated software scheduled to be decommissioned in the first year.

Fund internal service fund staff

Funds three full-time equivalent positions through the Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) internal service fund. Supplementary information technology staff are needed to support the system once it is operating on the new Windows SQL server environment.

Increase health benefits appropriation

Increases nongeneral fund appropriation in the Office of Health Benefits. The additional appropriation supports the costs of adding The Local Choice (TLC) members in the health benefits system.

Convert personnel system to an internal service fund

Establishes the Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) and its subsystems as an internal service fund. A companion amendment in Central Appropriations provides executive branch agencies with their general fund share of the system's operating costs.

Administer human resource training and succession planning pursuant to the passage of HB 1555

This amendment provides $140,000 from the general fund and 1.0 FTE for the Department of Human Resource Management pursuant to the passage of House Bill 1555 of the 2017 General Assembly Session.

Reallocate funding provided for the Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform initiatives

This amendment adjusts the funding provided to DHRM to support the Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform and directs a portion of the remaining funding be used to develop an employee exit survey and a subscription to services that provide a total compensation database consistent with the recommendations of the Commission. The original appropriation of $150,000 from the general fund each year was provided in the 2016 Appropriation Act. This amendment reduces the funding to $95,000 in the first year and $117,485 in the second year.

Provide staffing for new local option health insurance plan

This amendment provides the Department of Human Resources Management with 5 FTEs in fiscal year 2018 to support the development and implementation of the new Local Option Health Insurance Plan created pursuant to the passage of Senate Bill 364 of the 2016 General Assembly session. The funding to support the positions will come from the premiums charged to the plan participants. The budget also provides a line of credit to support the program's implementation and start-up costs.

Provide positions to support the Line of Duty Act Program health benefits

This amendment provides 2.0 FTEs in fiscal year 2017 to support the implementation of the DHRM administered health insurance program for individuals eligible for the Line of Duty benefit. The program is scheduled to go live at the start of fiscal year 2018 and the introduced budget provided the FTEs in fiscal year 2018, but the positions are needed in fiscal year 2017 to work on implementation.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Eliminate vacant human resources analyst position

Captures personnel savings by eliminating a vacant human resources analyst position.

Provide protection to Virginia workers and businesses

Provides additional general fund appropriation to fill vacant positions in the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health program, Voluntary Protection Program, and Consultative Services to allow the agency to maintain an adequate number of safety positions and enhance programs that encourage employers to operate a safe work environment.

Capture personnel savings

Captures personnel savings primarily from restructuring the apprenticeship program.

Reduce New Spending in Department of Labor and Industry

This amendment reduces the proposed increase of $1.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2018 and instead provides an increase of $650,000 from the general fund to fund three positions in the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Voluntary Protection Program and three positions in the VOSH Office of Consultation Services at the Department of Labor and Industry.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Provide same-day access to evaluation services at community services boards

Funds the Medicaid costs associated with providing assessment and evaluation services to individuals through local community services boards and behavioral health authorities as a result of the implementation of the same-day access initiative. An accompanying amendment in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services accounts for the non-Medicaid population served as a result of this initiative.

Enhance estate recovery efforts

Increases the size of the estate recovery program from two positions to five. The department maintains that the additional positions will enhance the efforts of the Medicaid recovery unit to improve collections by an estimated $1.0 million total funds.

Capture turnover and vacancy savings

Accounts for savings associated with agency positions being vacant for longer periods of time.

Assume a higher federal match rate for software licenses

Captures general fund savings associated with a higher federal match rate. Change in federal policy with respect to match rates for certain information technology expenses will allow the agency to reduce the state share of a large license cost from 50 percent to 25 percent.

Restore inflation for nursing facilities

Funds the full value of inflation, an adjustment of 2.5 percent, for nursing facilities in fiscal year 2018. Chapter 780 assumes an inflation adjustment of 1.25 percent in fiscal year 2018.

Fund Medicaid utilization and inflation

Provides funding for the cost of Medicaid utilization and inflation as estimated in the most recent forecast expenditures.

Adjust Medicaid forecast to account for revised Medicare premiums

Accounts for Medicare premium rates that were finalized after the consensus Medicaid forecast was completed. During the development of the Medicaid forecast, due November 1, the Departments of Planning and Budget and Medical Assistance Services had to use preliminary assumptions on Medicare premium rates. Since the forecast was finalized, the federal government has released actual Medicare Part A, B, and D rates for FY 2017. The changes will allow the forecast to be lowered by $47.2 million total funds (over the biennium); thereby reducing the general fund need by $25.5 million.

Adjust appropriation to reflect current services

Adjusts the agency's base budget to reflect current operations. The amendment adds $8.0 million of federal appropriation in each year that was omitted in last year's budget. In addition, $20.0 million is reduced annually to reflect expected expenditures in the federal provider incentive payment program as more providers complete their payment cycles. This technical action makes the Appropriation Act more transparent and limits the need for administrative transactions.

Comply with federal access requirements

Provides funding to comply with new federal requirements to conduct service access analysis. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promulgated a new rule in November 2015 for the purpose of ensuring that states comply with access standards in the Social Security Act and regulations.

Perform federally required substance abuse (ARTS) waiver evaluation

Provides funding to conduct an independent evaluation of the new Addiction and Recovery Treatment (ARTS) benefit, as required by the federal government. During waiver negotiations in summer 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informed the department that the Commonwealth must contract with external academic researchers to conduct an independent evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the state’s ARTS training and the impact of the ARTS benefit and waiver on members’ health outcomes, service utilization and health care costs.

Adjust institutional rate setting/auditing scope of work consistent with payment methodology changes

Transitions to more price-based (less cost-based) payment systems has reduced the need to audit costs, so the agency can revise the scope of institutional provider rate setting and auditing.

Reduce funding for contract reprocurements for fiscal year 2018

Captures funding associated with delayed reprocurements. Chapter 780 provided $800,000 general fund in FY 2018 for the agency to cover contract reprocurement costs. The anticipated procurements will now occur one year later than previously assumed; therefore only half of the funding for FY 2018 is necessary. All FY 2017 funding was captured as part of the 2017 savings plan.

Conduct readiness reviews for new managed care organizations

Provides funding to conduct readiness reviews for new managed care organizations (MCO). The new organizations would operate as part of the re-procured Medallion (4.0) program, which currently serves more than 700,000 individuals. A readiness review is an impartial assessment to assess a health plan’s preparedness to operate as a Medicaid MCO.

Fund medical services for involuntary mental commitments

Increases funding for the cost of hospital and physician services for persons subject to an involuntary mental commitment. The most recent forecast of expenditures projects higher FY 2018 costs than previously estimated.

Ensure all appropriated Virginia Health Care Fund cash is available for expenditure

Provides the agency with a $15.0 million line of credit to ensure that all cash deposited into the Virginia Health Care Fund is available to expend in the fiscal year in which it was appropriated.

Capture administrative savings

Accounts for savings associated with improved agency operations and efficiencies initiated by the Office of Medical Director.

Reduce contract costs for the Cover Virginia Call Center and Central Processing Unit

Generates savings by reducing the cost of the contracts associated with the Cover Virginia Call Center and Central Processing Unit.

Clarify Commonwealth Coordinated Care (CCC) reporting requirements

Modifies the reporting requirement for the Commonwealth Coordinated Care (CCC) program to clarify that the report is due 30 days after the end of each quarter. Current language makes this report due at the end of the quarter, which is technically the day after the quarter ends. However, the data required to complete the report is not available until after the quarter ends. This language amendment allows the agency to be in compliance with Act requirements.

Allow consumer-directed attendants to receive overtime pay for up to 56 hours

Authorizes the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to pay overtime compensation to attendants who are providing care under the consumer-directed service option in the Medicaid waivers. This amendment replaces current language prohibiting overtime hours being worked by consumer-directed attendants with language that allows DMAS to pay time and a half for up to 56 hours for a single attendant who works more than 40 hours per week.

Adjust Health Care Fund appropriation

Modifies the appropriation for the Virginia Health Care Fund to reflect the latest revenue estimates. Tobacco taxes are projected to decrease by $2.8 million in FY 2017 and $4.4 million in FY 2018 based on the Department of Taxation's revised forecast. Conversely, Medicaid recoveries are expected to increase by $10.6 million in FY 2017 and $13.6 million in FY 2018. The estimates also account for a $44.3 million prior year cash balance carried over from FY 2016. Since the fund is used as state match for Medicaid, any change in revenue to the fund impacts general fund support for Medicaid.

Conduct audits of "DRG" payments using agency staff

Captures savings associated with performing audits with agency staff. The shift to managed care reduces fee-for-service business, lowers the volume of services DMAS needs to audit, and makes it possible for the agency to complete hospital diagnosis related group (DRG) payment audits without an outside contractor.

Assume higher nongeneral fund share of information technology staff costs

Captures general fund dollars associated with certain DMAS staff who now qualify for a higher federal match rate (75 percent or 90 percent) than currently assumed (50 percent).

Correct fund split for prior action related to the MLTSS initiative

Adds general fund dollars to fully fund the oversight costs of implementing the Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) initiative. The funding provided in Chapter 780 over-appropriates the federal share while shorting the general fund need. This technical amendment corrects the fund split used in last year's MLTSS budget amendment.

Fund medical assistance services for low-income children utilization and inflation

Adjusts funding for the Commonwealth's Medicaid Children's Health Insurance Program to reflect the latest expenditure forecast. Children between the ages of 6 and 19, with family income from 100 to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, are eligible for this program. The costs are largely attributable to increased managed care rates and higher utilization of services.

Fund Family Access to Medical Insurance Security utilization and inflation

Adjusts funding for the FAMIS program to reflect the latest forecast of expenditures. The costs are primarily a result of higher than expected managed care rates and an increase in service utilization.

Conduct audits of "DME" and pharmacy services with agency staff

Assumes that more durable medical equipment (DME) and pharmacy audits will be performed using agency staff. The shift to managed care reduces fee-for-service business, lowers the volume of services DMAS needs to audit, and makes it possible for the agency to complete more audits using agency staff and a reduced number of contracts with vendors.

Administrative Costs Related to GAP Expansion

This amendment adds $111,521 from the general fund and $280,052 in enhanced federal Medicaid matching funds for the administrative costs associated with expanding the Medicaid demonstration waiver program for adults with serious mental illness (GAP) from 80 percent to 100 percent of the federal poverty level effective October 1, 2017. Funding will be used for additional mental health screenings, eligibility processing and other related administrative costs. A companion amendment in Item 306 provides funding for the GAP expansion.

Medicaid Forecast Adjustment

This amendment reduces funding by $3.7 million from the general fund and $3.7 million in nongeneral funds the first year and $3.6 million from the general fund and $3.6 million in nongeneral funds the second year based on an analysis of expenditures year-to-date in fiscal year 2017. The most recent Medicaid forecast of expenditures was completed in November 2016 and the additional months of data since then indicate that expenditures are tracking slightly behind the forecast.

Add 144 Family & Individual Support Waiver Slots

This amendment adds 144 Medicaid Family and Individual Support Waiver slots in the second year. Funding is contained in the introduced budget to provide funding for these slots. Projections of utilization of the newly designed Building Independence, Family and Individual Supports and Community Living Waivers programs have resulted in the ability to serve more individuals than originally anticipated. Language in the introduced budget is eliminated which would have delayed access to additional waiver slots in fiscal year 2018.

Maximize Intermediate Care Provider Assessment

This amendment captures $500,000 in general fund savings by increasing the provider assessment on Intermediate Care Facilities for the Intellectually Disabled (ICF-ID). The current assessment is set at 5.5 percent but federal law allows a maximum of 6.0 percent. This amendment increases the assessment to 6.0 percent. The assessment on ICF-IDs generates additional state dollars used as matching funds to draw down federal Medicaid funds and applies to both private and state providers. The assessment increases the costs of ICF-IDs which can then be reimbursed by Medicaid keeping revenues for the facility whole.

Administrative Savings

This amendment captures $250,000 from the general fund and $250,000 in federal funds the first year in administrative savings.)

HB 2304 Long-Term Care Requirements of DMAS

This amendment adds $478,394 from the general fund and $478,394 from matching federal Medicaid funds and seven positions in the Department of Medical Assistance Services to implement the provisions of House Bill 2304 which reflects the JLARC recommendations related to improving spending in the Medicaid program.

Capture Unsubscribed Funds for New Medicaid Medical Residencies

This amendment captures $500,000 from the general fund in savings from unsubscribed funds for the Medicaid medical residency program for fiscal year 2018. The 2016 General Assembly provided funding for a new program to fund 25 medical residency slots effective July 1, 2017, of which 13 were for primary care residencies and 12 for high-need specialty residencies. Currently, 15 residency slots have been awarded to hospitals for fiscal year 2018. Typically institutional decisions about medical residencies are made in early fall and awarded to students the following spring, consequently, funding for the unsubscribed slots will not be used in fiscal year 2018. In addition, language specifies the hospitals for which supplemental payments will be made to fund residencies, based on the decisions made in the fall of 2016. Language reserves any unused funding for Medicaid residency slots to be used for future costs of the residency program and requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to adjust the 2018-20 Medicaid forecast to include funding for the 25 residency slots approved by the 2016 General Assembly.

Allow Customized Rates for Sponsored Residential Services

This amendment adds sponsored residential services to the list of services that are eligible to receive customized rates in Medicaid for providing services to individuals with high needs. While the rate structure is designed to provide higher reimbursement for high-need individuals there are exceptions in which a special rate is needed to help care for individuals with extremely high levels of need.

Developmental Disability Waivers Workgroup

This amendment adds language directing the Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Services, in cooperation with the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to convene an annual stakeholders workgroup on issues related to the developmental disability waiver programs. Specifically, the workgroup will examine issues related to the tools to assess individual support needs, the assigned payment levels for providers, and the communication of these matters to individuals, families, case managers, providers and others.

Supplemental Medicaid Payments to Certain Teaching Hospitals

This amendment adds language providing the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) with the authority to implement supplemental Medicaid payments to teaching hospitals affiliated with an accredited medical school in Planning District 23 and Planning District 5 based on the department's reimbursement methodology established for such payments and/or its contracts with managed care organizations. The state's share of funding for the supplemental payments shall be provided by the accredited medical schools, Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Companion amendments in Item 247 and 4-5.03 b.3. authorize the transfer of funds from these schools to DMAS for this purpose.

Revise IME Payments for CHKD

This amendment adds language related to indirect medical education (IME) payments to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD) to ensure that CHKD continues to receive Medicaid payments up to the uncompensated care cost limit as authorized by the General Assembly. The 2013 General Assembly authorized the use of indirect medical education payments to CHKD in view of expected declines in the state's allocation of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments by the federal government. This amendment ensures that in light of recent federal action by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid related to the calculation of DSH, CHKD will continue to receive total payments consistent with the intent of the General Assembly. Language is added to ensure that the formula used for indirect medical education for inpatient hospital services reimbursed by Medicaid managed care providers is identical to that used for the state's two teaching hospitals.

Increase Nursing Facility Payments

This amendment adds $3.3 million from the general fund and $3.3 million from matching federal Medicaid funds to increase payments for nursing homes effective July 1, 2017. Language changes the price percentages for direct and indirect care. The change will help mitigate the effect of rebasing nursing facility rates utilizing base year costs that reflect multiple years of artificially constrained payments due to budgetary constraints. By increasing the price percentages as designated, the Commonwealth will promote a more equitable reimbursement policy to ensure long-term availability of nursing facility services for Medicaid recipients for whom such care is appropriate.

Restore Prohibition on Personal Attendant Overtime

This amendment restores language contained in Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly which prohibits Medicaid payment of overtime for consumer-directed personal assistance, respite and companion services. In addition, language authorizing overtime beginning July 1, 2017 is eliminated along with funding of $8.5 million from the general fund and $8.5 million from nongeneral funds.

Implement Electronic Visit Verification

This amendment adds language directing the agency to implement an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system for use by aides providing Medicaid consumer-directed personal care, respite care and companion services. In addition, it provides that for agency care the agency should work with stakeholders to develop standards for EVV systems that meet federal requirements. The federal 21st Century Cures Act requires states to use EVV for these services by January 1, 2019.

Notice of MCO Rate Setting and Impact

This amendment requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to notify the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees prior to any change in the rates for Medicaid managed care companies, and to provide an estimate of the impact any such change would have on the state budget.

Medicaid Recoveries

This amendment reduces Medicaid expenditures in the second year by $1.0 million from the general fund and increases nongeneral funds in the Virginia Health Care Fund (VHCF) by $1.0 million from expanded estate recovery efforts. The introduced budget provides funding for three additional positions for the estate recovery program. Under Medicaid law, following the death of the Medicaid recipient a state must attempt to recover from his or her estate whatever long-term care benefits it paid for the recipient's care. Recoveries are deposited into the VHCF and used to offset the general fund spending for the Medicaid Program.

Medicaid MCO Reports on Pharmacy Claims

This amendment adds $76,427 from the general fund and $76,427 from matching federal Medicaid funds, one position and language directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to include language in all its managed care contracts requiring quarterly reports on details related to pharmacy claims. Language requires DMAS to provide a report using aggregate data to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committee on the implementation of this initiative and impact on program expenditures by December 1, 2017. Language is added to ensure the confidentiality and prohibit disclosure of proprietary information related to the report.

Managed Care Requirements and Oversight

This amendment includes budget language directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services to implement various Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee recommendations related to oversight of the Medicaid managed care programs. In addition, $357,502 from the general fund and a like amount of federal matching funds is provided for the costs associated (i.e. actuarial costs) with implementing the provisions.

Modify Supplemental Payment Methodology for Public Nursing Homes

This amendment adds language related to supplemental Medicaid payments for local government-owned nursing homes. Currently five local-government owned nursing homes provide the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) with funding to draw down matching federal funds for reimbursement for services provided to Medicaid recipients. A portion of the matching federal funds are retained by DMAS as Certified Public Expenditure Revenues. New federal regulations prevent Medicaid from making supplemental payments to these facilities when DMAS implements its managed long-term care services and supports program (CCC Plus) on August 1, 2017. This language would exempt residents admitted to these facilities from the CCC Plus program, similar to how DMAS treats Virginia's veteran nursing facilities, unless the department has secured federal approval to use a minimum fee schedule for these facilities. Language would prohibit CCC Plus contracted health plans from limiting Medicaid recipients from choosing to receive nursing home services from these facilities.

Impact of Waiver Changes on Sponsored Residential Services

This amendment modifies language in the introduced budget approved by the 2016 General Assembly to have the Department of Medical Assistance Services, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, collect information and feedback related to payments to family homes and the impact of changes to the rates on family homes statewide from sponsored residential providers and family home providers. Language extends collaborative efforts to collect information and feedback to other provider groups and specifies additional data elements to review. Language also requires a report on the findings of this analysis to the Governor and the Chairmen of the money committees.

Modify Peer Group Assignment for Danville, Pittsylvania Nursing Facilities

This amendment adds funding and language to correct the unintended consequence of changing the designation of the Danville and Pittsylvania County peer group for purposes of calculating Medicaid nursing home reimbursement for nursing facilities located in these localities from a Metropolitan Statistical Area to a Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Department of Medical Assistance Services made this change in 2013 when it implemented the Medicaid Price-Based Payment System for nursing facilities. However, the consequences of this change was not fully understood until the agency began analyzing nursing facility data in preparation of nursing facility rebasing.

Restore Language Prohibiting Medicaid Expansion

This amendment restores language contained in Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly which conditions the expansion of Medicaid, pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), upon an appropriation by the General Assembly. Language is eliminated which provides authority to expand Medicaid pursuant to the PPACA on or after October 1, 2017. A companion amendment in Part 4 eliminates any language changes which would allow for such an expansion without an appropriation by the General Assembly.

Expand GAP Eligibility to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level & Increase Services

This amendment adds $2.0 million from the general fund and $2.0 million in federal matching Medicaid funds the second year to modify the income eligibility criteria for the Medicaid demonstration waiver program for adults with serious mental illness in Medicaid from 80 to 100 percent of the federal poverty level effective October 1, 2017. The waiver provides primary care, outpatient medical services, and prescription drugs, along with a robust set of behavioral health services to adults with serious mental illness. In addition, language adds addiction recovery and treatment services, including partial day hospitalization and residential treatment to those services already provided through the waiver. A companion amendment in Item 310 provides additional funding for the GAP expansion for mental health screenings and attendant administrative costs.

Nursing Facility Payments in Managed Care

This amendment adds language directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the managed care regulations to reflect that payments for nursing facilities and specialized care services are no less than the established per diem amounts set by the department's reimbursement methodologies. The language does not change the current contracts for long term care supports and services, but requires the managed care regulations to reflect current practice.

Restore FY 18 Inflation for CHKD Medicaid Payments

This amendment adds $1.4 million from the general fund and $1.4 million from matching federal Medicaid funds the second year and strikes language which would have prohibited the payment of an inflation adjustment in inpatient hospital payments to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD) in fiscal year 2018. Language contained in the budget would have effectively reduced CHKD's inpatient hospital payments as well as Disproportionate Share Hospital, graduate medical education and indirect medical education payments.

Strike supplemental payment language

This amendment removes language requiring the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to make supplemental payments to certain private hospitals. In order to offset some portion of the added cost of these payments, state agencies not associated with the Medicaid program would be required to transfer funds currently budgeted for safety net and other human services into the Medicaid program. While it may be speculated that private hospitals may voluntarily work with the impacted programs to preserve these services, there is not and cannot be any assurance that this will occur without violating federal rules. Should the federal government determine any arrangements exists between enhanced payments and services being provided by the hospitals on behalf of the state, the associated Medicaid payments would be deemed improper, leading to disallowances and thereby creating a financial liability for the Commonwealth. Further, it is not appropriate to create the expectation among these private hospitals that the Commonwealth will be able to provide these supplemental payments. The budget as enrolled does not provide any funding specifically for these; instead, it relies on the transfer of funds currently appropriated for ongoing services.

Increase Availability of Agency Data to the Public

This amendment requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to create a web-based interface for the public to easily access agency data.

HB 2417 Medicaid Fraud Prevention & Prepayment Analytics

This amendment adds $371,000 from the general fund and $3.0 million from matching federal Medicaid funds for the fiscal impact of House Bill 2417 which directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to establish a program using prepayment analytics to mitigate the risk of improper payments to providers of services furnished under the state plan for medical assistance who commit fraud, abuse, or errors.

Medicaid Improvements in Long-Term Services and Supports Screening

This amendment adds $687,500 from the general fund and a like amount of matching federal Medicaid funds the second year, four positions and language to implement recommendations from a recent review of the Virginia Medicaid Program by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to improve the reliability of Medicaid screening for long-term services and supports.

Medicaid Appeals

This amendment adds language regarding the Medicaid appeals process to: (i) amend regulations to clarify that the informal appeals agent shall have the ability to close an informal appeal based on settlement between the parties up to $250,000; (ii) direct the agency to convene a workgroup to develop a plan to avoid or adjust retractions of Medicaid payments for non-material breaches of the Provider Participation Agreement when the provider has substantially complied with it; and (iii) require the agency to report on the status of the plan to avoid retractions to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.

Medicaid Pharmacy Liaison Committee Meetings and Input

This amendment adds language directing the agency to meet with the Pharmacy Liaison Committee at least semi-annually and solicit input regarding pharmacy provisions in the development and enforcement of all managed care contracts.

Supplemental Hospital Payments Program

This amendment authorizes agencies within the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources to transfer funds to the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to be used to pay the state share of Medicaid supplemental payments to qualifying hospitals. These Medicaid supplemental payments reimburse qualifying hospitals for their uncompensated costs for Medicaid services they have already provided. Language requires that 10 percent of the funding transferred shall be unalloted and revert to the general fund at the end of the year. Language directs the participating hospitals to report to DMAS on the services and programs provided and directs the department to report on the program by December 1 annually. It also clarifies that if federal laws, regulations or polices no longer allow such supplemental payments, that the Commonwealth is not obligated to continue such payments. Finally, language requires DMAS to monitor the capacity under the federal Upper Payment Limit for all hospital supplemental payment programs and adjust payments when the cap is reached by reducing or eliminating payments as necessary to stay within the cap with the newest payments impacted first.

Adjust funding for operations and maintenance

Reduces funding for operations and maintenance.

Acquire Land for Readiness Centers

Provides bond authorization and appropriation for acquisition of land for Readiness Centers.

Renovate Roanoke Field Maintenance Shop

Authorizes a capital project to renovate a building at the Botetourt complex to serve as a field maintenance shop for the Roanoke region.

DMA - Fire Safety Systems, Phase I

This amendment provides financing through the Virginia Public Building Authority for the first phase of replacing and installing fire safety systems in readiness centers across the state.

DMA - Surplus Property

This amendment directs the Departments of Military Affairs and General Services to develop a plan for the use, sale or disposal of property that is surplus to the Department of Military Affairs' current or proposed needs.

DMA - Capital Outlay Process Improvements

This amendment directs the Departments of Military Affairs, General Services, and Planning and Budget to identify steps to improve the ability to leverage federal funds for capital projects.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Implement a four-day work week

Mandates a four-day work week for the department's offices located in Big Stone Gap and Lebanon. The department currently utilizes this strategy in its Charlottesville office. The savings associated with this action will be in reduced gasoline and energy expenses.

Provide funding to support the development of solar energy in the Commonwealth

Supports development of the solar industry by deploying two low-interest loan strategies. The two strategies are a low-interest revolving loan program and a loan loss reserve fund.

Capture personnel savings

Captures savings across divisions by eliminating nonessential vacant positions, filing positions vacated by senior staff with junior staff, and where possible using nongeneral fund dollars. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Transfer remaining cash in the Biofuels Production Fund to the general fund

Transfers cash from the Biofuels Production Fund to the general fund. The Code of Virginia repeals the program effective July 1, 2017.

Ensure continued growth of the energy performance contracting program

Through budgetary language, allows public bodies to utilize cooperative procurement for the execution of energy-efficiency projects. Energy performance contracting (EPC) qualifies as construction as that term is defined in the Virginia Public Procurement Act. EPC has long successfully utilized cooperative procurement with public bodies across the Commonwealth.

Supplant general fund support with nongeneral funds

Replaces a portion of general fund support in the Coal Environmental Protection and Land Reclamation Program with nongeneral funds generated by permit fees. The agency has sufficient nongeneral fund appropriation in this program to absorb the increase in expenditures.

Reduce discretionary expenses

Eliminates employee stipends for home internet, agency usage of personal cell phones and for carpooling. Also, captures savings by reducing travel expenditures for all divisions.

Solar Energy Initiative

This amendment eliminates $1.0 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2018 funding for a new solar initiative.

Distribute Cardinal system charges

Provides authority to distribute Cardinal charges. Since the majority of the agency's Cardinal transactions involve revenue passed through to another entity, the agency may distribute attributable charges through to the benefiting agency.

Reduce appropriation for E-Z Pass

Eliminates unnecessary appropriation for the processing of E-Z Pass transactions.

Provide Virginia's share of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission cost increase

Increases appropriation required for Virginia to meet its obligations under the agreement with Washington D.C. and Maryland for enforcement of operating authority laws of vans, taxis, and certain sedan and limousine businesses.

Distribute Statewide Indirect Cost Allocation charges

Provides authority for the Department of Motor Vehicles to distribute a portion of its indirect cost allocation charge to another state agency when the charge is related to revenue collected and transferred by the agency to the state agency.

Partial Year Motor Vehicle Registration Refunds

This amendment removes the requirement that partially used motor vehicle registrations be refunded, if fewer than six months remain in the registration period.

Administrative actions related to toll violations

This amendment establishes stricter parameters for when the Department of Motor Vehicles can refuse to issue or renew a vehicle registration or license plate to an individual identified with toll violations. It is anticipated this language will help discourage toll facility operators from charging exorbitant fees on toll violators.

Property TNC Technical

This amendment authorizes DMV to continue temporary licensure of property carriers for 130 days subsequent to the close of the 2017 Session to conform with the delayed enactment of legislation permanently providing such authority to DMV effective January 1, 2018.

Organ Donation Brochures

This amendment removes an unnecessary provision that requires informational brochures be included with driver's license mailings. The Department of Motor Vehicles has confirmed with Donate Life that the brochures are no longer needed.

Continue contractual obligations of the Council on Virginia's Future

Provides funding for contracts currently supported by the council. Pursuant to § 2.2-2684, Code of Virginia, the council will sunset on July 1, 2017; however, the services provided by the council's contracts need to continue as part of Virginia's Performance Reporting Scorecard.

Shift costs to internal service fund

Shifts expenses currently borne by the general fund to the Performance Budgeting System internal service fund. The savings strategy will not impact operations or the internal service fund appropriation within the Department of Accounts as this appropriation is a sum sufficient and derived from estimates of internal services charges to state agencies.

Increase percentage of administrative funds

Allows the Commonwealth Transportation Board to allocate up to seven percent of the revenues available each year in the Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund to support the costs of project development, project administration and project compliance for the Atlantic Gateway project.

Adjust appropriation to reflect agency payroll

Reclassifies appropriation to adjust payroll to the correct amount in total by program and fund.

Align budget with anticipated activities

Aligns the agency's budget with its anticipated FY 2018 operating plan.

Review of Potential Phase 2 EIS HR Rail

This amendment directs DRPT to work with the Hampton Roads stakeholders to evaluate the costs of, and identify potential funding sources for, a Tier 2 Environmental Impact Study for high speed rail between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

Limits on Use of Rail Funds for Admin Costs

This amendment authorizes an increase in the portion of rail funds that can be used for administrative and project development purposes from 3.5% to 5% and provides 4 of the 6 new positions requested in HB 1500, as introduced.

Atlantic Gateway Project Bridge Upgrades

This amendment directs DRPT, Fairfax County and VDOT to work together to develop a cost-effective method to make improvements as part of the Atlantic Gateway project.

VDOT Loan to Offset FTA Withholding

This amendment directs VDOT to provide a loan to DRPT to address any shortfall in transit funding due to FTA's withholding of Virginia's transit allocations because the Metro Safety Commission has not been enacted by all of the signatory parties. The amounts would be repaid once FTA releases Virginia's allocations.

Eliminate vacant position in administrative services

Captures savings by eliminating a vacant procurement and office support position. The additional workload can be absorbed by current staff. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Eliminate a vacant position in the Business Information Services program

Eliminates a vacant position in the agency's Business Information Center. The additional workload can be absorbed by existing staff. This is a continuation of a savings strategy included in the FY 2017 Savings Plan released in October 2016.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Reduce funding for the Small Business Investment Grant Fund

Decreases the general fund deposit to the Small Business Investment Grant Fund from $1.0 million to $819,753 in FY 2018.

Utilize nongeneral fund cash to support the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund

Removes the general fund appropriation provided for deposit to the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund and authorizes the use of nongeneral fund appropriation to support the program. Sufficient, unobligated cash exists in the fund to support the appropriation.

Reduce Authorized Positions in DSBSD

This amendment reduces the number of authorized positions in the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to more closely match funding levels.

Period of Certification for SWaM-certified Businesses

This language-only amendment extends the period of certification for small, women-owned, or minority-owned (SWaM) businesses from three years to five years.

Reduce NGF Appropriation from Small Business Jobs Grant Fund

This amendment reduces the nongeneral fund appropriation from the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund from $629,981 to $500,000 to more closely align with expected grant payments.

Invest in mobility software for the child welfare information system as part of mandated reinvestment in child welfare services

Funds updates to the current child welfare information system in order to make it mobile.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Move Birmingham Green appropriation to the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Transfers the general fund appropriation for contractual services at Birmingham Green from the Department of Social Services to the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Birmingham Green is an assisted living facility that provides residential services to low-income, disabled individuals.

Capture anticipated surplus in the auxiliary grant program

Removes $0.5 million of general fund savings in the auxiliary grant (AG) program based on the latest spending projections. The auxiliary grant program is appropriated at $21.9 million general fund. Due to fewer individuals participating in the auxiliary grant program, it is estimated that the program will only spend $21.4 million annually. This strategy will have no impact on clients or services.

Fund the child welfare forecast

Adds funding to cover the cost of providing foster care and adoption subsidy payments. Based on recent expenditure trends and the impact of child welfare policy changes, this amendment adjusts appropriation to cover the necessary costs of providing payments to foster care and adoptive families.

Transfer general fund to align with organizational structure

Moves appropriation between funds to align the program budget with anticipated expenditures. This action nets to zero.

Fund foster care costs for substance exposed infants

Funds a projected increase in foster care placements involving substance exposed infants.

Transfer support of Northern Virginia Family Services to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant

Transfers support of Northern Virginia Family Services from the general fund to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant.

Fund the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits forecast

Updates appropriation to properly account for the anticipated cost of providing mandated TANF benefits. Benefits include cash assistance payments, employment services and child care.

Transfer support of child advocacy centers to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant

Transfers support of child advocacy centers from the general fund to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grants.

Capture anticipated surplus in the unemployed parents program

Removes $0.5 million of general fund savings in the unemployed parents (UP) program based on the latest spending projections. The UP program is appropriated at $7 million general fund. Due to fewer people participating in the program, it is estimated that the program will only spend $6.5 million annually. This strategy will have no impact on clients or services.

Modify reporting frequency requirement for the report on adoption of children in foster care

Reduces the frequency with which the Department of Social Services is required to report on the adoption of children in foster care from quarterly to annually.

Eliminate general fund support of Youth for Tomorrow

Eliminates state support of the Youth for Tomorrow program.

Appropriate additional Child Care and Development Fund grant award

Appropriates additional federal grant funds awarded to the agency by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The goal of this federally funded program is to provide financial assistance for child care and to improve the quality of care and programs provided.

Transfer funding to Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services for adult protective services curriculum developer

Transfers $60,139 in general fund from the Department of Social Services (DSS) to fund a part-time adult protective services (APS) curriculum developer in the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).

Restore Virginia Information Technologies Agency reductions

Provides funding to meet projected VITA and other information systems costs resulting from the transition from the UNISYS mainframe to the Virginia Case Management System (VaCMS). The agency is projected to terminate use of the UNISYS mainframe in FY 2017; as a result, the agency's VITA costs will decrease in FY 2018.

Eliminate general fund support of Virginia Alzheimer's Association chapters

Eliminates state support of Virginia Alzheimer's Association chapters.

Transfer support of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant

Transfers support of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation from the general fund to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant.

Increase appropriation for central registry search fees

Increases the special fund appropriation for operational expenses for the child protective services (CPS) hotline.

Provide additional local staff to address mandated activities as part of mandated reinvestment in child welfare services

Provides additional resources for local workers to handle increasing workloads for mandated activities such as child protective services, adult protective services, and adoption case management.

Provide additional local staff to address an increase in child protective services assessments and investigations of substance exposed infants as part of mandated reinvestment in child welfare services

Provides additional resources for local workers to handle a projected increase in child protective services (CPS) assessments and investigations of all reports of children born exposed to controlled substances, regardless of whether the substance has been prescribed for the mother, when she has sought or gained substance abuse counseling or treatment.

Reduce general fund appropriation for program management, administrative support services, and licensing services

Reduces the general fund appropriation for program management, administrative support services, and licensing services.

HB 2092 Review of Records for Eligibility for Public Assistance

This amendment adds $20,000 from the general fund and $20,000 from the nongeneral fund to implement the provisions of House Bill 2092 which requires the review of additional data sources in determining eligibility for public assistance. This funding is provided for one-time costs to make systems and process changes to allow data sharing of Lottery winnings for the purpose of determining financial eligibility for public assistance. A companion amendment in Item 343 provides funding for local departments of social services workload changes attributable to additional reviews of data sources.

Technical - Transfer Funds for 2-1-1 System to Admin. Budget

This amendment transfers $111,000 from the general fund the second year from remaining 2-1-1 Information and Referral funding in Item 348 to the Department of Social Services' administrative budget in Item 341. Most of the funding for the 2-1-1 funding was previously moved to the administrative services budget, but this funding was inadvertently not transferred. This action aligns funding in the organization where the expenditures actually occur. A companion amendment reduces the funding in Item 348.

Reform Locality Groupings for TANF Program

This amendment provides $90,000 from the general fund and the $2.5 million from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant the second year to reorganize the three locality groupings for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance into only two. Groups I and II would be combined and the rates in Group II would apply to everyone in the group, resulting in a modest increase in TANF cash assistance payments. The general fund amount in the second year represents funding for the TANF Unemployed Parent program, which is a state supported program.

HB 2092 Review of Records for Eligibility for Public Assistance

This amendment adds $55,000 from the general fund and $55,000 from nongeneral funds in financial assistance for local departments of social services to implement the provisions of House Bill 2092 which requires the review of additional data sources in determining eligibility for public assistance. A companion amendment in Item 350 provides funding for one-time costs to make systems and process changes to allow data sharing of Lottery winnings for the purpose of determining financial eligibility for public assistance.

Funding for Child Advocacy Centers

This amendment adds $405,500 from the general fund and reduces $405,500 from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds the second year to partially reverse action in the introduced budget to supplant general fund for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) with TANF funds. This general fund restoration of $405,500 will allow the CACs to continue to match federal Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. In addition, $49,250 of the general fund amount will be used for administrative support for the statewide organization. The TANF funds cannot be used as match for the VOCA grants or for administrative costs of the statewide organization.

Increase TANF Benefit Payments by 2.5 Percent

This amendment adds $2.0 million in nongeneral funds the second year from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant to increase the TANF benefit payment for families participating in the TANF program by 2.5 percent. The current monthly TANF benefit averages $265 per month for a family. Since 1995, when TANF was created, there have only been two increases in the benefit, the most recent was 2.5 percent on July 1, 2016.

TANF for Community Employment & Training Programs

This amendment provides 7.5 million in fiscal year 2018 from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for community employment and training programs, of which $2.0 million is directed at grants to Employment Services Organizations (ESOs). Funds will be allocated to qualifying programs through a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Social Services which sets out performance measures and outcomes such as number of participants, number of participants hired into employment, number of unique employers hiring individuals through the programs and the average starting salary of participants hired among others. In addition, funding is contingent upon local match of at least 25%, including in-kind services. Language requires community programs and ESOs to report on program performance and outcome measures contained in the memorandum of understanding with the Department of Social Services. A report on the implementation of the programs and performance and outcome measure is required by June 1, 2018 to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.

Technical Transfer of Funds to Adminstrative Budget

This amendment transfers $111,000 from the general fund the second year in remaining 2-1-1 Information and Referral funding to the Department of Social Services' administrative budget in Item 341. Most of the funding for the 2-1-1 contract was previously moved to the administrative services budget, but this funding was inadvertently not transferred. This action aligns funding in the organization where the expenditures actually occur. A companion amendment in Item 341 adds the funding for this contract.

Restore Funds for Virginia Alzheimer's Association Chapters

This amendment adds $70,000 from the general fund the second year to restore the training funding to the Virginia Alzheimer's Association chapters that was eliminated in the introduced budget.

Northern Virginia Family Services

This amendment provides an additional $300,000 from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant to the Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) to sustain current services provided to families who are eligible for the TANF program. NVFS provides supportive services to address the needs of families who are in crisis.

HB 2207 Food Stamp Program Replacement of EBT Card

This amendment adds $121,315 from the general fund and $121,315 from nongeneral funds and one position to implement the provisions of House Bill 2207 (2017 Session), which requires the Department of Social Services to take steps to identify, notify and monitor recipients of the food stamp program who make excessive requests for the replacement of an electronic benefit transfer card.

TANF Balance

This amendment modifies language in the introduced budget to reflect the balance in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant at the end of fiscal year 2018 based on actions taken in companion amendments in Items 295, 342 and 348.

Support legislation for universal background checks for firearms transactions

Provides funding and positions to process additional background checks resulting from legislation that would require universal background checks for all firearms transactions.

Reflect October 2016 Savings in agency budgets

Reflects the savings included in the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Capture vacancy savings (special operations division)

Captures vacancy savings from positions associated with a new division. This is a continuation of the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Provide funding to support exemption from the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA)

Provides funding and positions support the agency's separation from VITA oversight for its information technology environment.

Direct use of VITA funding in agency's base

Designates a portion of the Department's base funding to pay fees that may be charged by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) to avoid a rate increase to other Executive Branch agencies that would result from Department's separation from the current information technology service provider.

Provide funding and positions to support background checks

Provides funding and four positions to support criminal background checks in support of Item 349.G., as well as funding and two positions to support State Police's firearms transaction program.

Capture vacancy savings (New River Valley area office)

Captures vacancy savings from positions associated with a new area office. This is a continuation of the Governor's October 2016 Savings Plan.

Fund Statewide Area Radio Systems (STARS) equipment

Provides general fund appropriation for fixed repeaters for the Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS) to be acquired through the Department of Treasury’s Master Equipment Leasing Program.

STARS Study

This amendment directs the Department of State Police to provide a biennial report on the projected need for equipment replacement and financing strategies for the State Agencies Radio System.

State Police - VITA Separation

This amendment reduces the appropriation for the Department of State Police by $5,935,000 the second year from the general fund. This amendment also removes language associated with Senate Bill 1115, which would have exempted State Police from VITA oversight and allowed the department to assume full responsibility for developing, operating, and managing all information technology services. Senate Bill 1115 was not adopted, and no corresponding House bill was introduced. A companion amendment to Item 476 in Central Appropriations provides $2.9 million for State Police assumption of information technology services, contingent upon a report detailing operating and capital costs needed to implement this transition and a Memorandum of Understanding with VITA setting out the first phase of the transition.

DARE Program Funding

This amendment transfers $85,000 from the general fund the second year for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) statewide program from the Department of State Police. A companion amendment to Item 398 adds this funding for the Department of Criminal Justice Services to provide the same amount as a grant to the York County-Poquoson Sheriff's Office, which is currently administering this program.

NGF Positions for I-495 HOT/Express Lanes

This amendment increases the maximum employment level for the Department of State Police by 15.0 FTE positions the second year from nongeneral funds to provide highway patrol services for the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and Express Lanes on I-95 and I-495 in Northern Virginia. These positions are to be funded by Transurban (USA) Operations, Inc. by agreement with the Department of State Police.

State Police Special Operations Division

This amendment restores $1,200,000 the second year from the general fund and ten positions for the Special Operations Division, which was funded by the 2016 General Assembly.

DSP - Construct Area 12 Office

This amendment moves the Construct Area 12 Office Building project to the capital outlay pool under C-48.10.

Universal Background Checks on Firearms Transactions

This amendment removes $507,904 and 7.0 positions from the general fund the second year which were included in the budget as introduced for the Department of State Police to conduct background checks for all firearms transactions. Legislation requiring universal background checks did not pass.