Chief Patron: Hamilton
Early Childhood Ombudsman Project

Item 479 #1h

Language
Page 417, line 4, strike "$2,883,903" and insert "$3,015,643".
Page 417, line 4, strike "$2,883,903" and insert "$3,014,127".
Page 417, after line 22, insert:
"C.  Out of the amounts for Protective Services, $131,740 the first year and $130,224 the second year is provided to establish a pilot project providing ombudsman services to children younger thatn three years old with disabilities.  The creation of this pilot project shall under no circumstances affect the implementation date established in paragraph B. of this item for establishing an ombudsman section in the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy.

Explanation
(This amendment provides funding and positions to establish a pilot project for the provision of omsbudman services to children younger than three years old with disabilities. An ombudsman program would receive complaints about the health care provided to these children, investigate those complaints, and attempt to resolve or mediate any documented issues. The amendment makes clear that the full implementation of an ombudsman program by the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy is not affected by this action. The introduced budget delays the implementation of that program until July 1, 2008.)