Riverview Psychiatric Center

Message from the Superintendent (January 30, 2006)

"The great law of culture: Let each become all that he was created capable of being". - Thomas Carlyle

I had promised earlier to keep you updated on the relevant legislative efforts and I will take this weekly-up date to do just that.

This years Maine State Legislature is the second session of the 122nd…The first session (last year), they were here for 100 "legislative days" (counts only days both the House and Senate are formally in session) starting in January and going until Jun. This year is called the "second session" and they convened the first week of January and will go for 50 "legislative days" which should end sometime the end of March. During the 1st session, the legislature handles all bills (emergency or not) and usually has in the order of 2500 legislative bills to hear. During the "second sessions" they usually hear "emergency bills' and carry-over bills, and generally have somewhere between 750-1000 bills.

Next Monday, the Appropriations Committee, (the legislative committee that appropriates all funds for State Government) will be hearing LD1968….which is the Governors' Supplemental Budget for all State Government The Department of HAS and' therefore Riverview 'are scheduled for a Monday morning, 10:00am, hearing which will last the entire day. Once the hearing is done, and the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed budget items, the appropriations will then also hold a work session sometime in Feb.

We are in that budget, as is at least one other issue which may or may not affect us. First, there is a "moving" of $257,000 from one of our accounts in FY 05 into our budget in FY06. The document then goes on and moves that money into yet another account so that we can participate in our portion of the funding of the much needed and long awaited "Meditech Information/Billing System". So the budget shows an "appropriation of $252,000 (good news) but then de-appropriates it (takes away) and moves it to another account.

There is also moving existing lines and budget of Homestead from a Central Office account to Riverview’s.

Additionally, there is language that authorization the State to eliminate 200 vacant state lines, statewide. I do not know at this time if any of our vacant lines are identified in the initial count, but I want to stress, that the legislative language specifies only “vacant lines" can be considered, and it is statewide (13,000 total state line positions,) and it is only proposed. Historically, the legislature requires line titles, and numbers before they finally pass something like this so I will keep you informed of anything I learn.

In the mean time…..as always, I appreciate the work you do

David Proffitt
Superintendent

"Simply give others a bit of yourself: a thoughtful act, a helpful idea, a word of appreciation, a lift over a rough spot, a sense of understanding, a timely suggestion. By so doing, you take something out of your mind, garnished in the kindness out of your heart, putting it into the other fellow's mind and heart."- Charles H. Burr

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Riverview Psychiatric Center

Message from the Superintendent (January 30, 2006)

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