A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to enable the traumatic brain injury advisory council to consult with experts on brain injuries.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2010‑2011 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used as follows:
(1)	To contract with an outside entity to research the experiences of other states who have developed brain injury waivers in order to identify best practices in waiver development and management.
(2)	To contract with Medicaid Waiver experts who will assist with the technical aspects of writing the brain injury waiver.
(3)	To contract with an outside entity to identify mechanisms for establishing a dedicated fund with recurring revenue that is not reliant upon State appropriations for brain injury services.
(4)	To contract with an outside entity to identify the scope of the problem and the potential cost of expanding the State definition for eligibility for brain injury services to include persons with acquired brain injuries.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.