Jindal Proposing $10 Million Budget Expansion For Disabled

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing a $10 million expansion of services for the developmentally disabled in next year's budget.

The recommendation comes six months after Jindal stripped similar funding for the disabled in the current year budget, angering lawmakers who pushed for the spending.

Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert announced Jindal's proposal Thursday, a day ahead of the unveiling of the governor's budget recommendations to lawmakers for the 2014-15 fiscal year that begins July 1.

Kliebert says the governor's budget will include $10 million in new state dollars to spend on expanding home- and community-based care for the disabled. She says that will draw down federal matching money for a total of $26 million.

The increased funding will get services to 2,200 people who are on waiting lists.