Budget Battle 2010: Contact Your Representatives and Senators Now!

Concerned about the effect of the 2010-2011 Budget Bill on PCS?  The Budget Bill is working its way through the North Carolina Legislature and is already through the Senate.   While most observers expect major changes before a final version is hammered out, PCS provider agencies should pay close attention to the details.  A provision in the Senate-passed budget plan would eliminate PCS services for most current recipients who have needs for limited assistance with fewer than 3 Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s).  The current PCS program, under the Senate plan, would be ended and replaced entirely with a new program expanding the reach of PCS Plus, focused on serving only those recipients with the greatest needs for assistance.  Estimates are that this new plan, if enacted, would end services for over half of current recipients.
Providers should contact their Senators and Representatives as soon as possible to express their views on this proposal.  If you want to learn more, there will be a statewide public hearing tonight on North Carolina's budget for the coming year, conducted by the House Appropriations Committee at North Carolina State University’s McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Community colleges in Sylva, Charlotte and Bladen County will also be video conference locations.

You can view the meeting on the Internet, and you can send e-mails and letters with your comments until Tuesday.  House Democrats plan to vote on the bill by June 4.

North Carolina House of Representatives Appropriations Committee
Public Hearing Information
Day & Date:    Monday, May 24, 2010
Time:    7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Live Location:    McKimmon Center
N.C. State University
1101 Gorman Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
Community College Host Sites:    Bladen Community College (Teaching Auditorium), Dublin, NC
Central Piedmont Community College (Central Campus), Charlotte, NC
Southwestern Community College (Balsam Center, 3rd Floor), Sylva, NC

Click here for contact information and driving directions to each campus.

Internet Streaming:    Link will be posted to www.ncleg.net on day of the event.

Members of the public may offer suggestions and comments at the live location and the three Community College Host sites. Signup for speakers will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearing at the live location and the three Community College Host sites. Each speaker will have two minutes.
Members of the public who cannot attend a live video site, may offer suggestions and comments by the following methods:

EMAIL:    Town.Hall@NCLEG.NET (Until midnight, 5/25/2010.)
ONLINE:    http://www.ncleg.net/Applications/PublicHearingComments/ (Until midnight, 5/25/2010.)
MAIL:     House Appropriations Committee
Suite 401, LOB
300 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 (If postmarked by 5/25/2010.)


Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/24/497721/nc-house-holds-public-hearing.html#ixzz0oqtIshh9