Thursday, May 10, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Praises Budget that will Help Protect the Innocent and Vulnerable
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt today praised the Missouri General Assembly for passing a budget that will help protect the innocent and vulnerable.
“Providing for a high quality of life for all Missourians means investing in programs like in-home care for seniors, quality mental health care and screenings for newborns,” Blunt said. “I commend the General Assembly for sending me a budget that respects our moral obligation to protect the innocent and vulnerable and, among other things, makes vital investments in Missourians’ health and well being, takes strides to protect the unborn and enhances autism services in our state.”
House Bill 10 provides among other things the governor’s recommendations for:
- $12.1 million increase to improve the quality of care being delivered to Missourians receiving in-home services
- $3.9 million increase for autism services to reduce waiting lists for diagnostic services, expand regional treatment services for children, and help develop an intensive day treatment pilot project
- $3.7 million increase to coordinate case management services for clients with mental retardation and developmental disabilities around the state
- $3.6 million increase to improve services provided to clients at Fulton State Hospital
- $2.8 million increase to implement the Mental Health Transformation Grant and develop a plan for improved mental health care delivery in Missouri
- $2.5 million increase to develop integrated home and community-based services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families through the Circle of H.O.P.E. grant
- $2.2 million increase to support Missourians in state run habilitation centers to transition to community living
- $1.9 million for pay increases for direct care staff in mental health facilities
- $1.6 million increase to improve staffing at the state run habilitation centers
- $1.5 million increase to operate an additional unit to confine sexual offenders
- $1.3 million increase to implement the governor’s public private partnership at the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center
- $850,000 increase for a Laboratory Information Management System for the state’s health lab
- $788,000 increase to provide additional staff training and development on client safety issues
- $760,000 for the Alternatives to Abortion Program, plus
- $200,000 in new funding for the Alternatives to Abortion Program
- $500,000 increase to expand the number of breast and cervical cancer screenings through the Show Me Healthy Women Program
After all budget bills are passed and submitted to the governor, the governor’s office will conduct a full review of the state’s budget to ensure it remains balanced and accountable to taxpayers before taking any action on the bills.