The meeting was called to order by Freda Cowart and roll was called by Nina Honeyman.  Present were: Marcellius Bell, Freda Cowart, Lance Davis, Wanda Felty, Theresa Flannery, John Gajda, Nina Honeyman, Eddie Miller, Debi Sufficool, David Svedman, Terry Trego, Willard Watkins, and Valerie Williams.  Those absent were:  Dyann Arnett, Dee Blose, Janette Carver, John Corpolongo, Teri Egner, Cindy Gould, Cassell Lawson, Gay McMillin, Melissa Middleton, and Carol Thompson.

Minutes from the previous meeting were approved, with corrections to the list of members present at the 7/17/09 meeting.

Comments from Jim Nicholson, DDSD Director
Jim gave an update about the ongoing budget situation, as it relates to DHS, and DDSD specifically.  He reminded the group of the measures we’ve taken so far to capture cost savings, including reducing overtime expenses at the resource centers,and a DDSD state-wide hiring freeze with the exception of direct support staff and nurses at the resource centers.  We also restricted travel, and cancelled the DDSD Fall Conference for additional cost savings this year.  This first round of cuts  were taken before we knew what our appropriations would be for FY-2010.

As we are required by law to have a balanced budget, when the Human Services Commission met and determined the DHS budget for 2010, it became necessary to take additional cost savings measures.  This second round of cuts expanded the hiring freeze to include direct support staff and nurses at the resource centers, and said we still over-staffed by over 200 positions at the resource centers, and we wlll probably be considering a VOBO in the future.  Also in this second round of cuts were decreases to the Sheltered Workshop Services, Community Integrated Employment program, funds for the Autism Pilot (which ended last November), and $900,000 in classroom training.  He reported we will continue to have classroom training for skill-based learning, but will work to incorporate knowledge transfer-based learning into online training and the College of Direct Support.  Jim spoke about the benefits of online training and the College of Direct Support.  Some of those benefits include the high quality of courses, the 24/7 availability, as well as the ability for staff to be trained locally, thus eliminating the need for travel-related expenses.  Additionally, the administrative tools provided by the college of Direct Support includes the ability of the provider agency to monitor training activity by staff, and see areas where staff may need additional training reflected by low scores on completed courses.  The provider can also monitor staff turnover, and can even transfer training records between agencies if a staff leaves.

Jim talked about the two legislative interim studies which involve DDSD.  The first is about a Provider Assessment Tax, which would essentially provide a mechanism for the provider to pay for their own rate increase.  Other states that have also initiated efforts in this area include Kentucky, who did not request approval by CMS, and Missouri, who did request approval by CMS prior to implementation, and has not yet received a decision.  If a rate increase for HTS workers in Oklahoma was requested under current methods, it would mean a need for an additional $18.7 million state dollars of funding.

The other legislative interim study involves the College of Direct Support and the pros/cons of online training.

Policy Sub-Committee
Terry Trego, chair of the Policy Sub-Committee presented the following slate of policies that the sub-committee met with DDSD regarding prior to the meeting. 

OHCA Policies
317:30-3-40.
317:30-5-122. (This policy was removed from consideration and tabled for a later date)
317:30-5-412.
317:30-5-482.
317:35-9-4.
317:35-9-5.
317:35-9-45.
317:40-1-1.
317:40-5-3.
317:40-5-8.
317:40-5-11.
317:40-5-64
317:40-5-101.
317:40-5-102.
317:40-5-104.
317:40-5-150.
317:40-5-152.
REVOKED 317:35-9-5.1.
REVOKED 317:30-3-43.

OKDHS Policies
340:100-3-16.
340:100-3-29.
340:100-3-38.5.

Wanda Felty asked if we were still going to consider 317:30-5-122 at today’s meeting as she thought there were still changes to be made.  This policy was withdrawn for consideration at this meeting.

 All other policies were approved by the committee.

Vote on 2010 Meeting Dates – Freda Cowart
Proposed Dates:  All Tuesdays - January 12, April 13; July 13; October 12
The committee voted to approve these dates for the 2010 quarterly meetings.

Appointment of officer nominating committee – Freda Cowart
Chair Freda Cowart appointed John Gajda, Nina Honeyman and Debbie Sufficool to serve on a nominating committee for the 2010 officer. This committee will present a slate of recommended nominees at the January 2010 meeting.

Public Comment
There was no public comment at today’s meeting.

Open Discussion and Announcements

The next meeting of this committee will be held Tuesday, January, 12, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in room C-47 of the Sequoyah Memorial Office Building, Oklahoma City, OK.