the March Consumer Price Index for all Urban
Consumers, medical care component,
Baltimore (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau
of Statistics - CPI Detailed Report). Further,
the department should develop regulations
governing the use of this standard.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that

the Developmental Disabilities

Administration ensure that the 1% Cost of
Living Adjustment contained in the fiscal
1997 budget is fully funded and
implemented for community services
providers. The resources budgeted for this
COLA are not to be applied to any other
purpose.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that
undisputed billings submitted by community
services providers be processed promptly
and payments made within 30 days of
receipt. To the extent that failure to do so
on the part of the department results in a
documented financial burden to a provider
in the form of reasonable costs associated
with interest payments on line-of-credit or
loan borrowings, those costs are to be
assumed by the department. Further, to the
extent that the department must assume
these interest costs, they may not be paid
from funds appropriated for the community
services programs, but rather from general
funds appropriated for administrative
programs.

Total Appropriation...............................................................

- 817 -

PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 13

SUMMARY

Total General Fund Appropriation...........................................

Total Special Fund Appropriation.............................................

Total Federal Fund Appropriation............................................

195,779,824

1,500,000

66,408,979

263,688,803