Good News: Pennsylvania Budget Approved with Funding to Support Mental Retardation and Autism Services
Good News: Pennsylvania Budget Approved with Funding to Support Mental Retardation and Autism Services
It's time to Celebrate!!
The Pennsylvania State Budget was approved with funding to support Mental Retardation and Autism services
And also a much needed 3% COLA
Yesterday, Governor Rendell signed into Law the Pennsylvania State Budget that the House and Senate approved. Because of your support and determination, the issues that we have been supporting were included in the final budget:
- $26.9 M in funding to support the 3,428 people on the MR Waiting List including those on the emergency list and 800 students graduating from High School
- $23 million in state and federal funds, an increase of $18.2 million, for autism programs for adults, including prepaid inpatient health care, statewide training and technical assistance, information outreach, assessment procedures and program monitoring to continue improving services for adults with autism.
- 3% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment)
The Mental Retardation and Autism funding that was originally proposed by the Governor's in his budget in February made it to the final version of the bill. Also, in the final budget additional funding of several million dollars for Autism services was added.