FY 2014-15 MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET S.B. 773 (CR-1): CONFERENCE REPORT
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$177,130,000 |
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Items Included by the Senate and House |
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1. Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA). Governor, Senate, and House recommended additional funding of $1.2 million GF/GP to support full staffing and CSS&M costs. |
1,200,000 |
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2. MVAA Regional Coordinators. Governor, Senate, and House recommended funding of $750,000 GF/GP for additional 10 contracted employees. |
750,000 |
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3. County Veterans Service Offices Incentives. Governor, Senate, and House included $250,000 GF/GP to support claims processing technology for county offices, adding new county veterans service officers and for the creation of new offices. |
250,000 |
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4. One-Time Appropriations for FY 2013-14. Governor, Senate, and House removed one-time FY 2013-14 appropriations of $5,500,000 GF/GP for Veterans Service Delivery Initiative ($3,965,000), MVAA Computer Upgrade ($1,500,000), and County Counselor Training conference ($45,000). |
(5,500,000) |
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5. Adjustment for FY 2013-14 Supplemental Appropriations. |
(10,400,000) |
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6. Grand Rapids Home Funding Adjustment. Governor shifted $225,000 in Restricted funding to GF/GP to reflect lower collection and maintain service levels. |
0 |
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7. Reductions to Reflect Actual Restricted Revenues Received. Governor recommended reductions across several budget lines to reflect actual anticipated Restricted/Federal revenue. |
(3,125,000) |
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8. Economic Adjustments. Includes a negative $463,500 Gross and a negative $132,100 GF/GP for OPEB and $1,753,300 Gross and $509,500 GF/GP for other economic adjustments. |
1,289,900 |
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Conference Agreement on Items of Difference |
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9. National Guard Tuition Assistance Program. Governor and Senate recommended $5.0 million GF/GP to implement new tuition assistance program; House provided $2.0 million. Conference funded at slightly lower level then Senate. |
4,742,100 |
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10. Veterans Homes Special Maintenance. Governor and Senate added $3.0 million GF/GP one-time appropriation, House provided $2,500,000. Conference concurred with Senate. |
3,000,000 |
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11. Veterans Advice, Advocacy, and Assistance Grants. Senate added a total increase of $857,900 GF/GP for grant program. House increase was $500,000. Conference concurred with Senate. |
607,900 |
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12. Armory Special Maintenance. Senate and Conference reduced appropriations for special maintenance at state armories. Due to pre-funding of maintenance from PA 34 of 2014. |
(3,051,200) |
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13. Legal Services. Senate and Conference added funds for MVAA to allow for representation before a Federal court. |
50,000 |
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14. FY 2014-15 One-Time Appropriations. The one-time appropriation total: $3.4 million. |
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($10,186,300) |
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FY 2014-15 Conference Report Ongoing/One-Time Gross Appropriation............................. |
$166,943,700 |
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Amount Over/(Under) GF/GP Target: $0 |
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FY 2014-15 MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS
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Changes from FY 2013-14 Year-to-Date: |
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Items Included by the Senate and House |
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1. Retirement Costs. Governor, Senate, and House added language stating that FY 2015 legacy retirement costs total $20,013,100 Gross, including pension costs of $11,180,100 and retiree health care costs of $8,833,000. (Sec. 231) |
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Conference Agreement on Items of Difference |
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2. National Guard Bureau Funding. House and Conference added language which lists the specific programs, by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, through which National Guard Bureau funds are provided. (Sec. 205a) |
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3. Veterans Health Administration Funding. House and Conference included language which lists the specific programs, by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, through which Veterans Health Administration funds are provided. (Sec. 205b) |
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4. Medicare Funding. House and Conference added language which lists the specific programs, by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, through which CMS Medicare funds are provided. (Sec. 205c) |
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5. Medicaid Funding. House and Conference added language which lists the specific programs, by Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, through which CMS Medicaid funds are provided. (Sec. 205d) |
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6. Carry Forward. Conference added language authorizing carry forward of appropriations for Capital Outlay and special maintenance. (Sec. 232, 234) |
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7. Starbase Grant. Senate, House, and Conference added language which requires the Department to maintain a Starbase program as provided under 10 USC 2193b and specifies that the purpose of the program is to improve K-12 students’ knowledge, skills, and interest in mathematics, science, and technology. (Sec. 309) |
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8. National Guard Tuition Assistance Program. Senate and Conference added language which requires DMVA to establish and maintain a tuition assistance program to members of the Michigan National Guard and specifies purpose and guidelines, with deference to enabling legislation, HB 5451. (Sec. 310) |
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9. IT Services and Projects. Senate and Conference included language to specify the basic purpose of the funds appropriated in part 1 for IT services and projects. (Sec. 311) |
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10. Regional Service Coordination. House and Conference added language which requires MVAA to establish regional coordinators and provides guidelines. (Sec. 400 (2)) |
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11. County Veterans Counselor Enhancement Grants. House and Conference added language providing requirements placed on grant program. (Sec. 400 (5) |
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12. MVAA Legal Services and Claims Representation. Senate and Conference added language which specifies the MVAA may hire legal services to represent veterans cases before Federal courts in order to maintain accreditation by the VA. (Sec. 400 (7)) |
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13. Board of Managers. Senate and Conference included language describing role of veterans homes board of managers. (Sec. 502, 504) |
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14. Special Maintenance – Veterans’ Homes (One-Time). Senate, House, and Conference included purposes and guidelines for special maintenance. (Sec. 701) |
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15. Veterans Outreach for FY 2015-16. Senate and Conference added language which requires the MVAA to report the percentage of veterans contacted, with a goal of 100%, at quarterly meetings of the subcommittees. (Sec. 2012) |
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16. MVAA Claims Services. Senate and Conference added language which requires that in FY 2015-16, 50% of MVAA-filed claims for VA benefits be fully-developed. (Sec 1203) |
Date Completed: 6-6-14 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.