State Budget Guest Blog: LARs
Eric Makowski
CEO & Co-Owner, CORE Health Care
April 10, 2014
A Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) is the formal request for state funding made by state agencies each biennium. An LAR hearing is one of the first steps in a long process that agencies - and advocates- make to add or maintain funding to state services and agencies.
Keeping up with LAR hearings is essential to understand a state agency's position not only on funding existing operations, but also on funding the waiting lists with which human service advocates are long acquainted.
CORE Health Care's participation in the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) LAR process has been instructional and rewarding when advocating for Texans with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Here are some of the things we can pass on from our experience.
- It's a work-in-progress - It's important to understand the LAR is a fluid document and can be changed with public input.
- Review the details - Many times the funding for waiting lists is handled as an "exceptional item" in the LAR rather than the general budget requests. Review these exceptional items carefully.
- Why others may not be there - Remind the decision makers and agency personnel that you are advocating for many who simply cannot attend hearings due to their limited resources or the fact that they don't yet know that they will need these funds.
- Money talks - If a financial argument for funds can be made rather than moral argument, lead with that angle. This will differentiate you from the majority of the other advocates.
- Do your research - Base funding requests on the most up-to-date incidence reports from leading health organizations and cite your sources.
- First step - Realize that the LAR proceeding is just one step in the process of finalizing a budget. Meetings with committee members outside of the hearings and in legislative offices can be influential as well, especially if you disagree with a part of the LAR as presented by the agency.
One final thing to remember when advocating for appropriations or any other position: when there is an opportunity for public comments, make sure to show up each and every time. It's the only way to ensure you have exhausted all means to influence the decision makers. It also indicates your commitment to the process.
Advocates can be influential during the LAR process, and we hope these ideas get you started down that path to success. Good luck.
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About Eric
Eric Makowski, Co-Owner and CEO of CORE Health Care, has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and residential care industries. In recent years, he has translated his extensive knowledge and experience into significant advocacy efforts for those with brain injuries. In 2005, Makowski was the driving force behind the successful legislation created to protect and increase the funding for Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, a state fund that helps Texans with traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries receive rehabilitative therapy.
About CORE Health Care
CORE Health Care understands the stress and anxiety that families experience when a loved one is diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, complex psychiatric disorder, autism, or other special need. Having successfully and safely treated individuals for more than 25 years, we have been a guiding light for families and individuals from Texas and across the nation during unpredictable and unsettling times. We offer multi-leveled solutions to complex problems, and we promote partnerships with families to help determine the best possible approaches. Learn more at www.corehealth.com.
Get Involved Spotlight
"Disability Issues" covers a lot of ground, and CTD works year round to bring about positive change in as many policy areas as we can. Tell us where you would like to be more involved, and we'll keep you informed about opportunities to support your highest priority issues!
State Budget Links
- LARs (Eric Makowski, CORE Health Care)
- Why Care about the Budget? (Mia Ibarra, CPPP)
