GO! Bulletin
Week 4 of Oregon's 2020 Legislative Session
We are now more than halfway through the 2020 legislative session!

The good news is that we continue to hear good things from legislators about our priorities which include:
  • A budget note requiring DHS to complete a study and report back to the legislature about DD Services need for a data system that will allow DHS to make data-informed decisions, case managers to work more efficiently and allow people to have more choice and control over their own services.
  • $12.2 million to cover a data calculation error made by a contractor. This error impacted the way the new rate model grouped people into service categories. The error underestimated how many people require services at a higher level in the DD System. An additional $2.7 million is needed to get the direct support professional wages to $15 per hour.
  • Additional $5 million for case management entities to cover the budget hole left after the 2019 session.

Access the DD Coalition's Fact Sheets for more detail on these topics at https://orddcoalition.org/fact-sheets/

Joint Ways and Means Human Service Subcommittee Highlights
Joint Ways and Means Presentations from last week that may be of interest to you -
 
On Monday, February, 17, 2020, Ways and Means Human Services heard the following update presentations:
  • Child Welfare Director Rebecca Jones Gaston and DHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht provided an update on the child welfare system. Child Welfare Director Jones Gaston shared her vision of child welfare services and supports to put children and prevention at the center of their work.
  • Pat Allen and Steve Allen provided an overview of the behavioral health system with the stated goal of providing some context for the Oregon Health Authority’s financial ask. 

On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, Ways and Means Human Services heard an update on SB 1 and $50 million behavioral health investments from the 2019 session.

These investments included $4.9 million dollars to implement Host Homes for children and youth who use IDD Services. Lilia Teninty, Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS) Director, educated the committee members that Host Homes fills a critical gap in the continuum of supports for children who:
  • need more than DD foster care but not as much as a group home
  • are ready to leave a group home but not ready to return home or move to DD foster care
  • live in family homes, with wrap-around services

Under a Host Home model, a DD Provider would find and recruit foster families that the DD provider could help by providing additional supports they may need like respite or additional staff in the home.
 
Lilia also indicated that ODDS is well on its way to implementing the Host Home model:
  • Oregon’s federal Medicaid partner, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, have approved the K Plan amendment for Host Homes
  • ODDS completed administrative rules to govern the program
  • ODDS is currently hiring for a Host Home coordinator

In the future, ODDS will focus on building Host Home capacity in the field and training case management entities on referrals for Host Homes.
Bills & Hearings to Watch
For information about bills the DD Coalition has selected that may impact the lives of people experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families, please see the attached report . All of the hearings we are monitoring this week are scheduled for Monday:
 
Monday, February 24, 2020
 
8:00 a.m. / HR F Ways and Means Human Services Subcommittee
  • SB 1566 Modifies Oregon Promise program to extend eligibility to certain Oregon foster children who attain their highest level of education while in out-of-state placements. This bill includes language about protections and monitoring for children and youth with IDD or suspected of having IDD who DHS is considering sending to an out-of-state facility. Work session.
  • HB 4031 Directs Oregon Health Authority to assess supply and demand of behavioral health professionals in state, report findings of assessment to legislature and make recommendations for legislation not later than November 1, 2020. Work Session.
 
8:15 a.m. / HR C Senate Judiciary
HB 4065 Repeals driving privilege suspension and eliminates imposition of driving privilege restrictions for failure to pay fine. Work session.
 
11 a.m. House Floor
  • SB 1518 Directs Department of Human Services to submit documents necessary to finalize certain pending adoptions on or before June 30, 2020. Third reading
  • SB 1519 Modifies provisions relating to criminal records checks performed by Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority. Third Reading.
 
1 p.m. / HR E House Judiciary Committee
SB 1568 Modifies protective proceedings to permit vulnerable youth guardianships for adults between 18 and 21 years of age who are eligible for special immigrant status and who are unable to be reunified with parent due to abuse, neglect or abandonment that occurred before the adult reached 18 years of age. Public Hearing.  

INTERESTED IN TRACKING BILLS OR HEARINGS?
 
  • Use the Oregon Legislature's Capitol e-Subscribe service to receive bill alerts for individual bills as they move through the legislative process, receive committee agendas, news from members of the legislative body and more.

  • You can also watch or listen to live or archived video and audio of Oregon Senate and House chamber sessions and Committee hearings. 
Connect with Your Legislators This Session
Learn who your State Senator and State Representative are by visiting www.oregonlegislature.gov / then send a quick email introducing yourself and the importance of funding for DD Services.

Let's GO!
About the Oregon DD Coalition
The Oregon DD Coalition advocates for DD services on behalf of and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and support organizations in Oregon.

We influence DD service and community support systems and legislation by communicating with a common, consistent voice – creating better opportunities for Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Interested in signing up for the GO! Bulletin or
becoming a member of the Oregon DD Coalition?
 1775 32nd Place, Suite F, Salem OR 97301