1/20/2015 4:47:24 PM
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter No. 9
Gray:  Waiver, bill for services rendered, reimburse.
Ross:  Administrative fee, match of 4%, federal government pay.  
Forslund:  reimbursed to state at 50/50 rate by federal government/state.  Tribes will reimburse state’s administrative costs.  
Burns:  Who?
Forslund:  Both tribes committed.  Federal government has always paid 100%, would not anticipate that changing.
Gray:  UW has an opportunity for high altitude sports training.  $20M appropriated for matching funds.  Recruitment tool.  $24M available in matching funds.
Burns:  O&M?
Gruver:  Can provide, still being designed.
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 10, Fire Borrowing Authority
Gray:  Provide Governor borrowing authority up to $20M from pooled fund investments in the Treasurer’s Office.  Currently fund has $14M.  Protect from 2012 fire season costs.
Greear:  $20M backup after use of $14M?
Gray:  Correct.  Also use contingency fund in Governor’s Office
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 11, Employees’ Group Insurance
Gray:  Cash flow situation could arise.  $35M cash pool, borrowing authority capped at $22M.  
Ross:  Currently $60M cash pool?
Gray:  Yes
Harshman:  Could stay at $60M?
Gray:  Reduce to $35M, but could in cash flow issue if program costs exceed.
Fausset:  Draw down fund to offset rate increase, this past year has drawn down $10M.  Balance on a monthly balance can change dramatically.  One month of borrowing authority with 6 weeks reserve.  
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 12, Merit Retention for Executive Branch Employees
Gray:  For recruitment of high demand or unique positions, such as director of state hospital.  $2M.  
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 13, Department of Corrections
Gray:  Flexibility in 100 series for recruitment, subject to governor approval.
Lampert:  Flexibility until 2008, received separate monies for recruitment instead.  Since 2010, vacancies have been increasing.   Currently 177 vacant positions, mostly in POST certified.  To maintain accreditation need to stay at 85% staffing, which currently are not.   Use 100 series dollars saved and be used for a recruiting firm to help filling vacancies.  Limited recruiting budget, used carefully.  
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 14, Task Force on Forests.
Gray:  Task Force had 12 major recommendations, requesting $705,000 to implement.  4 recommendations.
Harshman:  Governor’s Letter 15, Title 25.
Gray:  $5M budget for Title 25 placements; have spent $4M in first six months of biennium.  $8M supplemental budget to Department of Health.  
Harshman:  Statistics for involuntary placements?
Forslund:  Problem identified in December.  Sweetwater county numbers have spiked.  Long term patients are being tended at State Hospital, but less beds to help with new placements.  Lack of step down services for patients being discharged from State Hospital in many communities.  
1/20/2015 5:32:48 PM
Nicholas:  District Court response in Sweetwater County?
Forslund:  Need more information
Connolly:  How long people staying in State Hospital?
Forslund:  FY14, 149 days average stay.  Varies from year to year.
Connolly:  Include wait days?
Forslund:  No, hospital stay days.
Hastert:  Data on what services used?
Forslund:  Some information from mental health centers, Medicaid, and state hospital.  
Hastert:  Ability to transfer patients out of state?
Forslund:  Still have to pay bill, so does not help funding issue.
Nicholas:  Provide breakdown where patients sent from various district courts?
1/20/2015 5:47:32 PM
Forslund:  Designated hospitals WBI for adults and children in Lander, Cheyenne, $4M.  $787/day plus doctor services cost at any of facilities. Wait time dependent upon availability, lack of step down facilities contribute to longer stays at state hospital.  All costs related to Title 25 are within the state hospital budget.
Placements $18.8M plus $354,000 transportation costs. $55M for community mental health organizations.  
Harshman:  How many Title 25 are receiving mental health services?  Later date okay
1/20/2015 5:58:05 PM