FY 2003-04 Senate-Passed Gross Appropriation. . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;. . . . . . . . . . . . 

$603,242,200

House Changes to Senate-Passed:

 1.  Elimination of the Workers’ Compensation Appellate Commission. The Governor recommended eliminating the Commission. The Senate recommends restoring $1,183,200 to fund the Commission. Funding for the Commission comes from Manufactured Housing Commission fees ($400,000) and GF/GP ($516,000). The balance is offset by cuts in Employment Relations and Employment Standards Enforcement. The House reduced the funding for the Commission to reflect costs associated with three full-time commissioners.

(849,400)

 2.  Administrative Savings. The Governor recommended additional reductions be taken through administrative savings that will be realized after the Executive reorganization. These savings are to be applied to various line items through the legislative transfer process. The Senate concurs. The House reduced this line by $100.

(100)

 3.  Employment Relations. The Senate recommends a 5% cut to both the arbitration and administration line in this unit. The House reduced these lines by $100.

(200)

4.   OFIS Regulatory Fees. The House recommends increasing the spending authority for Insurance Regulatory Fees to more accurately reflect the costs associated with out-of-state and out-of-country company examinations.

1,200,000

5.   $100 Item of Difference. The House created items of difference in all GF/GP line items.

(800)

Total Changes. . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .& #160;. . . . . . . . . . . .&# 160;. . . . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;. . . . 

$349,500

FY 2003-04 House-Passed Gross Appropriation. . . . . . . . . .
60;. . . . . . . . . . . . 0;. . . . . . . . . . . .  .

$603,591,700

FY 2003-04 CONSUMER AND INDUSTRY SERVICES BUDGET - BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2003-04 Senate-Passed:

1.   Hiring Freeze Language. The House added language allowing the Department to receive a waiver to this language to hire individuals that are funded with Federal funds. (Sec. 205)

2.   Fee Language. The Governor recommended putting the fee language from the Nonprofit Corporation Act, Limited Liability Corporation Act, the Uniform Securities Act, the Occupational Code, and the Public Health

3.   Carryforward Language. The Senate deletes the sections allowing the Department to carry forward unexpended revenue for licensing and regulation fees, elevator fees, and health fees. The House maintains these sections. (Sec. 308, 309 & 313)

4.   MSHDA. The House added new language stating intent that MSHDA work with other State agencies to maximize the use of available fund equity to provide senior assisted living to provide a continuum of care from independent apartments to nursing care and Alzheimer programs. (Sec. 349)

5.   Health Policy External Reviews. The House added language requiring the department to allocate funds to increase awareness of the right of a policyholder, subscriber, member, enrollee, or other individual participating in a health benefit plan, to request an external review of an adverse ruling after the internal grievance process has been exhausted. (Sec. 350)

6.   Real Estate Continuing Education. The House added language requiring the Department to submit a report regarding the submission, approval, or denial date for continuing education courses. The language also requires the approved courses be listed on the website, and that sponsors of these courses be able to report to the Department electronically regarding a licensee’s completion of the courses. (Sec. 351)

7.   Workers’ Compensation. The House added language requiring that the funds appropriated be used to support 2 bodies that will decide these cases in a timely manner. (Sec. 352)

8.   Nursing Home Regulation. The House added two sections of language. The first requires that all existing and new state and Federal regulatory requirements to the OBRA process go through a process of review and agreement between the Department and the stakeholders. The second requires the Department to perform its regulatory functions in the time frame set out in the operations manual or any negative enforcement be delayed equal to the delay in handing down the enforcement. (Secs. 353 and 354)

9.   Day Care Inspectors. The House added language to include lead and lead-based paint inspections as part of the survey process for issuing a license to a facility. (Sec. 355)