§ 308b. Human Services Caseload Reserve

(a) There is created within the General Fund a Human Services Caseload Reserve. Expenditures from the Reserve shall be subject to an appropriation by the General Assembly or approval by the Emergency Board. Expenditures from the Reserve shall be limited to Agency of Human Services caseload-related needs primarily in the Departments for Children and Families, of Health, of Mental Health, of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, of Vermont Health Access, and settlement costs associated with managing the Global Commitment waiver.

(b) The Secretary of Administration may transfer to the Human Services Caseload Reserve any General Fund carry-forward directly attributable to Agency of Human Services caseload reductions and the effective management of related federal receipts, with the exclusion of the Department of Corrections.

(c) The Human Services Caseload Reserve shall contain two sub-accounts:

(1) A sub-account for incurred but not reported Medicaid expenses. Each year beginning with fiscal year 2020, the Department of Finance and Management shall adjust the amount reserved for incurred but not reported Medicaid expenses to equal the amount specified in the most recently completed Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the estimated amount of incurred but not reported Medicaid expenses associated with the current Medicaid Global Commitment waiver.

(2) A sub-account for Medicaid-related pressures related to caseload, utilization, changes in federal participation in existing human services programs, and settlement costs associated with managing the Global Commitment waiver. Any decrease in the amount of required reserves in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall first be reserved in the 27/53 Reserve under section 308e of this title in order to fund the current fiscal year obligation for the next year in which a 53rd week of Medicaid payments is due, next scheduled to occur in fiscal year 2022. The remainder shall result in an offsetting increase in the account for Medicaid-related pressures, as defined in subdivision (2) of this subsection. Any increase in the amount of required reserve in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall require a corresponding transfer from the funds reserved in subdivision (2) of this subsection, to the extent there are funds available. (Added 1997, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 119a, eff. April 29, 1998; amended 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 62; 2007, No. 15, § 21; 2009, No. 33, § 83(m)(2); 2009, No. 156, (Adj. Sess.), § I.31; 2013, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 97; 2017, No. 3, § 75, eff. March 2, 2017; 2018, No. 11 (Sp. Sess.), § D.105; 2019, No. 72, § D.104.)