MS HB1514

Appropriates $19,818,954.00 from the State General Fund and $211,413,875.00 from special funds to the Department of Rehabilitation Services for fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018).

Authorizes 950 permanent full-time positions, 8 permanent part-time positions, 200 time-limited full-time positions, and 1 time-limited part-time position within the department.

Allocates $3,681,802.00 from the Health Care Expendable Fund for federal matching funds ($2,782,590.00), the Independent Living Program including State Attendant Care ($854,903.00), and deaf and hard of hearing services ($44,309.00).

Authorizes expenditure of up to $100,000.00 for the National Federation for the Blind News line service and $187,000.00 for the AmeriCorp Northtown Family Readiness Program.

Establishes performance targets for fiscal year 2018 across multiple service areas including disability determination services (10,300 dispositions), vocational rehabilitation (20,125 clients served), and special disability programs (3,459 clients served).