We have a NEW
Facebook Page!
Like our new page to get  important updates and information on advocacy activities such as our photo rally CONTEST!
Quick Links
Our Sponsor
February 15, 2015 

 

This upcoming week at the Capitol is going to be the busiest yet this session with many important hearings and several opportunities to give public testimony and show your support for the developmental disability services that have an impact on your life.  

DD Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Join us at the Capitol Tuesday, February 17th 

 

Schedule appointments with your legislators and join us at the DD Legislative Advocacy Headquarters in Room 257 any time from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM to receive information, talking points and support from our advocacy team before and after your appointments! There will also be advocates from Oregon APSE with us to provide advocacy materials focused on the issue of Supported Employment. Register so we know that you plan to be there!

 

Please wear a Print & GO Advocacy Badge to show unity for DD Services whenever you are at the Capitol, and remember to bring a roll of quarters for the parking meters. 

  

Take a look at our updated Legislative Advocacy Day Calendar to find additional opportunities in join us at the Capitol this session.  

Advocacy Opportunities This Week

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services will be hearing testimony from the Department of Human Services again this week as it continues to refine the agency budget. There is an opportunity later this week for public testimony and a chance to show support for the DD programs and services you rely on.

 

Monday, February 16th 8:30 am to 10:00 am, HR F: Mike McCormick and Lilia Teninty will be making a joint present on the U.S. Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act changes as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Home & Community-Based Services regulations.

 

Tuesday, February 17th 8:30 am to 10:00 am, HR F:  

Lilia Teninty will be providing an overview of Developmental Disability programs. Join us in the DD Advocacy Headquarters (Room 257) after the presentation for our Advocacy Day!

 

Wednesday, February 18th 8:30 am to 10:00 am, HR F: Vocational Rehabilitation will be presenting an agency overview.

 

Thursday, February 19th, 8:30 am to 10:00 am, HR F: There will be an opportunity for public testimony on the APD, DD and VR budgets.  Advocates and stakeholders are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to give public testimony and speak about the Developmental Disabilities programs and services that make a difference in their lives.  There will likely be several coordinated panels of speakers that will testify during the first part of the hearing.  If you would like to testify, arrive early to sign up and be prepared to keep your comments brief. Visit the Citizen's Involvement Page on the Oregon Legislature's Website for tips on how to testify. Even if you aren't planning on giving testimony, please be there to show support for DD programs and services!   

Other Important Hearings This Week

In addition to the hearings mentioned above, the following are other important hearings you may want to watch or follow:

 

Monday, February 16th

6:00 pm, HR F: House Committee on Business and Labor and the Senate Workforce Committee Joint meeting to discuss HB 2005 and SB 454, which both require all employers to implement paid sick time for employees. 

 

Tuesday, February 17th

3:00 pm, HR B: Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood will be focusing on several bills we're tracking:

  • Public hearing on SB 307, which requires residential facilities licensed by DHS to have a procedure for a resident to request to be assisted in activities of daily living by staff of a particular request.
  • Work session on SB 474 , which allows certain nonprofit charitable corporations to own and operate dental clinics that serve children with special needs.
  • Public hearing on SB 555, which requires a qualified nonprofit agency for individuals with disabilities to pay at least minimum wage or prevailing rate of wage set forth in state or federal law to individuals with disabilities.
  • Public hearing for SB 560, which establishes timelines by which evaluations must be completed to determine eligibility for special education.

Wednesday, February 18th

8:00 am, HR E: House Committee on Business and Labor has a public hearing scheduled on HB 2618, which provides that employees of the Department of Human Services whose duties include maintaining safety, behavior and control of residents of certain residential facilities qualify as police officers under Public Employees Retirement System. 

1:00 pm, HR E: House Committee on Health Care will be having a work session on HB 2297, which establishes Task Force to Build a More Effective System for Preventing Children's Behavioral, Psychological and Health Problems. 

 

Thursday, February 19th

8:30 am, HR A: Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue will meet jointly with the House Revenue Committee members to receive the Revenue forecast and Local K-12 Revenue Forecast.

 

Friday, February 20th

8:00 am, HR E: House Committee on Business and Labor has scheduled a public hearing on HB 2010, which authorizes employees of certain employers to request flexible, predictable or stable work schedules.  The committee also has a public hearing on HB 2646, which makes failure of an employer to grant employee unpaid parental leave to attend certain school-related activities an unlawful employment practice

1:00 pm, HR E: House Committee on Health Care has scheduled a public hearing and possible work session on HB 2557, which directs the courts, Psychiatric Security Review Board and Oregon Health Authority to consider recovery and community reintegration, in addition to protection of society, in decisions concerning persons found guilty except for insanity and certain young persons with mental illness.

1:00 pm, HR D: House Committee on Education will be hearing several bills we're tracking:

  •  HB 2597 directs a school district director for special education to evaluate a child to determine if child has disability and if truancy or unexcused absence is a manifestation of disability, if requested by a parent or if a child has not been evaluated within the previous 12 months. 
  • HB 2673 requires school districts to prepare an annual summary that describes special education and related services provided by the school district during the previous school year. The bill also directs school districts to complete evaluation or reevaluation of students for special education and related services within 60 calendar days of receiving consent from a parent for evaluation or reevaluation. 
Easy Ways to Stay Informed
For a list of priority bills we have been monitoring that may require advocacy action, click here.

E-Subscribe to customize the information that you want to receive directly from the Oregon Legislature.

 

Access Legislative Audio and Video to watch or listen to live or archived Senate and House chamber sessions and/or Committee hearings.    

2015 DD Services Fact Sheet Published
Share our updated 2015 DD Services Fact Sheet which features an overview of DD Services, statistics and legislative priorities with your legislators.
2015 Photo Rally Contest

Participate in our virtual rally to show support for DD services. It's fun and easy! Just print a Photo Rally Sign, have a picture taken of you holding the sign, and post the photo on your Facebook and then share it on the Oregon I/DD Coalition Facebook Page. If you are with an organization, be sure to mention the organization in your post. 

Adopt-a-Legislator

The GO! Project developed the Adopt-a-Legislator Initiative in 2011 to help advocates build legislative advocacy skills, connect with just one of their local legislators and nurture interest in developmental disabilities issues throughout the legislative session. Each time you complete an advocacy activity, just post it on our Facebook Page! We've had several legislators ask to be adopted so don't delay... Adopt-a-Legislator Today!

Special Edition GO! Bulletin
Coming Soon

Look for a "Special Edition" of the GO Bulletin to be published at the start of this week with talking points on important issues impacting the DD community to share with members of the Ways and Means Committee and your local legislators.

DD Awareness Event - Save the Date

The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities is kicking off Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month on March 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM.

 

The celebration will take place at the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building at 500 Summer St NE, Salem, OR 97301. Everyone is welcome to come to hear the guest speakers, see the unveiling of the new awareness poster and watch award presentations to the DD Champion winners.  Refreshments will be served following the event. 

Now, Let's GO!

Cheryl Cisneros, GO Project Coordinator