Governor’s Proposed State FY 2020 Budget

On March 5th, Governor Murphy delivered his budget address for the State Fiscal Year 2020. Most relevant to our community, the Governor’s budget proposal includes the allocation of new funding to 1) increase access to home- and community-based services, and 2) address the urgent needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions, including those with severe challenging behavior.

On a stakeholder call later that day, Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson and Deputy Commissioner Sarah Adelman shared more information about the new budget allocation. The Governor is proposing $22.5 million of new funding for individuals with developmental disabilities. The funds are intended to be designated as follows:

• $15.5 million to continue the growth of New Jersey’s home- and community-based services
• $7 million to new services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions ($2.5 million of which will garner a federal match for a total of $9.5 million) that would fund:
  • 20 new community-based crisis beds to double the state’s current capacity
  • Medicaid Behavioral Health Home pilot program designed to serve the needs of this population
  • A statewide review of existing crisis in-patient stabilization services and funding sources

Commissioner Johnson also announced that the fee-for-service rate increases approved last year to increase the wages of Direct Support Professionals (DSP) remain in the Governor’s budget proposal. No new increases in DSP funding has been included in the Governor’s proposal. When the more detailed version of the Governor’s budget proposal is released, we will provide a more in-depth analysis of its impact on the autism community.