Remembering Kathryn Weit
This past week Oregon lost a mentor, a leader and a friend. Kathryn Weit was a former Executive Director of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities. She was a champion in the Capitol, ensuring that the voices of families and people with disabilities were heard on policy issues that impacted their lives.
Kathryn played a key role in the closure of the Fairview Training Center, moving people with I/DD out of our state-run institution to live in Oregon’s communities. She was instrumental in the Staley settlement which led to the development of the Brokerage system and supports for people with I/DD to be members of their communities. She facilitated the start of the initial Family Networks in 2010 to support families to change the trajectory of their children’s lives toward a future of inclusion. Oregon is forever changed because of this incredible advocate.
We will be sharing more on Kathryn’s legacy in future GO! Bulletins.
|
|
New Bill Requests Reinstatement and Funding of Regional Family Networks - Call to Action!
Funding for the Regional Family Networks was unexpectedly cut during the Special Legislative Session last summer due to the impact of pandemic on the State's economy. Legislators recognize that Regional Family Networks offer families essential peer-delivered supports when they need them most. This past week, Representative Hayden introduced a new House Bill, HB 3395, to reinstate funding for the Regional Family Networks. But, we need your help to make sure it has a chance to be considered by the legislature!
|
|
All bills must have a committee hearing scheduled by May 14 or the bill will die. Please email Representative Anna Williams, Chair of the House Human Services Committee, and request a hearing on HB 3395 before the deadline because the statewide Family Networks are important to Oregon's families and communities! For more information about the Family Networks, visit our website to download Fact Sheets.
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Extra Funding for DD Services!
As part of federal COVID recovery efforts, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). This massive $1.9 trillion relief bill included funding and aid for many sectors of the population and government, including human services.
As part of ARPA, Oregon will receive an extra 10% funding reimbursement for all Home and Community Based Services billings made within a one-year period. This means that nearly all IDD services (direct support hours, case management billings, etc.) will receive more money back from the federal government to cover their cost. It may sound modest, but this 10% increase stands to bring $160 million to the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). This money can be used to free up General Fund (that is, Oregon’s tax-payer dollars) to be used to spend on additional needs. Quite unusually, ARPA requires that these freed up General Fund dollars be used toward the enrichment and enhancement of the program that generated them. That means that IDD services that generate this additional funding will get to use that funding for IDD needs. (You can read more about this in the ODDS Director’s Message from 4/29/21.)
To create a plan for how to spend this new money, ODDS collected IDD stakeholder ideas, and generated their own ideas using existing processes like the ODDS Strategic Plan, the Blueprint Project, and more. ODDS grouped similar ideas and whittled these lists down to this proposed list of funding items, which has been sent to the legislature.
There are many exciting items on this list, including projects that have been in the works for years. A few highlights include:
- Restoring capacity to hardest hit programs from COVID-19, such as employment and day support activities
- Building capacity for culturally relevant providers
- Equity grants
- Restoring the Fairview Trust
- Funding increases for the critical I/DD workforce
- Infrastructure improvements
This ARPA funding, though separate from the budget process undertaken by the Ways and Means Committees of the Oregon State Legislature to create our state budget every two years, will receive final authorization by the Ways and Means Committee process.
|
|
June Revenue Forecast and Advocacy Update on DD Coalition Budget Priorities
In order to create a two-year budget, it’s important for legislative leaders to know how much money our state is forecasted to bring in.
On Wednesday, May 19th, members of the House Committee on Revenue and Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue will be holding a joint informational meeting to receive the June 2019 Revenue Forecast from the State of Oregon, Office of Economic Analysis.
This will signal another key milestone in the state budget process, as the release of the June Revenue Forecast is generally the forecast that is used to set the state’s budget for the next biennium.
With the forecast numbers in hand, the budgeting process will then shift into high gear, and funding decisions are locked in. Let’s look at an update on the status of our four funding priorities for DD services this session:
DSP Wages: We are not anticipating a hearing on HB 2964 (the bill to raise Direct Support Professional Wages to 150% of minimum wage) at this point in time. Raising wages for DSP’s is extremely important to maintain a strong workforce to provide critical supports to children and adults experiencing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Please contact your local legislators and ask them to support full funding of DSP wages (which includes HB 2964) in SB 5529 (ODHS budget bill).
Family Network Reinstatement: We are seeking a minimum of $1.3 million to reinstate the Family Networks, and we are very excited about news of a new bill sponsored by Rep. Hayden (HB 3395) that would allocate $3 million for Regional Family Networks throughout Oregon. See above for more information on how you can support this bill! As a back-up to these funding options, reinstatement of Family Network funding is also included on line 6 of the ODDS ARPA proposal.
Case Management: The Workload Model to fund IDD Case Management services has been updated, and decisions will be made soon about how much of that work will be funded. We are seeking full funding for this critical connecting point of our DD service system. Please share with your legislators that case management matters to you in your life.
IDD Services Data System: ODDS has proposed ARPA funding to pay for the creation of a statewide data system for IDD services (line 38 of the ODDS ARPA proposal ). We are gratified to see this request on the list of funding priorities and hope to see this project authorized. Oregon’s experience with COVID has demonstrated the urgent need for real-time data and information, available to people within the IDD service system, select outside partners, and people who use IDD services.
|
|
Bills, Hearings and Deadlines
The pace is starting to pick up again around the Capitol, after a brief slow down following the bill deadline that recently passed. Policy and other bills that are still alive continue their journey through the “other chamber,” meaning the chamber they were not introduced in. The following are the remaining bill deadlines that we are tracking going forward:
- May 14th: Bills have to have a work session scheduled in the second chamber or they die*
- May 28th: Bills have to be passed out of committee in the second chamber or they die in committee; committees close for the session*
* Note: This bill deadline does not apply to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, other joint committees, the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, the House Committee on Revenue, the Senate Committee on Rules, the House Committee on Rules, the Senate Committee on Redistricting and the House Committee on Redistricting.
MONDAY — May 3, 2021
8:00 am / Remote C: House Committee on Behavioral Health will be holding the following:
o Public hearing on SB 72, a bill that modifies the circumstances in which a physician or provider may disregard principal's wishes regarding mental health treatment to include when principal is extremely dangerous person committed to Oregon Health Authority.
o Work sessions on:
SB 566: Removes term "mentally defective" from statutes defining sexual offenses.
SB 563: Modifies laws relating to youth suicide intervention and prevention to include children 5 to 10 years of age.
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Human Services will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o SB 89: Modifies definition of "developmental disabilities residential facility."
o SB 86A: Authorizes licensing agency to revoke, suspend, impose conditions on or refuse to renew license to operate residential training facility or residential training home under specified conditions and to consider performance and experience of applicant or licensee in other states or jurisdictions.
o SB 90A: Exempts from public disclosure addresses of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities residing in adult foster homes, residential training facilities or residential training homes, unless public interest requires disclosure in particular instance.
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Education will be holding a public hearing on HB 2697A, a bill that requires an education provider to prohibit display of any symbols of hate on school property or in education program.
TUESDAY — May 4, 2021
8:00 am / Remote D: House Committee on Housing will be holding a work session on SB 282A, a bill that extends the grace period for repayment of residential rent accrued during emergency period of April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, until February 28, 2022.
1:00 pm / Remote C: Senate Committee on Housing and Development will be holding a work session on HB 2009A, a bill that establishes temporary limitations on lenders' remedies for borrowers' failures to make payments on obligations secured by mortgages, trust deeds or land sale contracts for certain real property.
1:00 pm / Remote A: House Committee on Revenue will be holding a public hearing on HB 2444, a bill that extends the sunset for the tax credit for a child with a disability.
1:00 pm / Remote 170: House Committee on Rules will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o HB 2166: Directs Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene advisory group to review equity in education system of state and to report results of review to interim committee of Legislative Assembly related to education.
o HB 2060: Identifies economically disadvantaged students based on State Board of Education rule for purposes of Student Investment Account distributions.
1:00 pm / Remote D: Senate Committee on Rules will be holding the following:
o Public hearings on:
SB 225A: Modifies requirements for alternative education programs, including applicable laws, funding provisions, notice requirements, reporting requirements, oversight requirements and requirements related to special education and 504 Plans.
SB 418A: Creates rebuttable presumption that statement made by person under 18 years of age, during custodial interview in connection with investigation into certain acts, is involuntary if peace officer intentionally used false information to elicit statement.
o Work sessions on:
HB 2560A: Requires governing body of public body, to extent reasonably possible, to make all meetings accessible remotely through technological means and provide opportunity for members of general public to remotely submit oral and written testimony.
HB 2681A: Prohibits moving voter to inactive status due to voter not voting or updating voter registration for any period of time.
1:00 pm / Remote A: House Committee on Revenue will be holding a public hearing on HB 2442, a bill that extends the sunset for the additional personal exemption credit for a taxpayer with a severe disability.
1:00 pm / Remote C: Senate Committee on Housing and Development will be holding a public hearing on HB 2550A, a bill that directs the seller's agent to redact or withhold communication from buyer to seller as necessary to help seller avoid selecting buyer based on buyer's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or familial status , in violation of federal fair housing laws.
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding the following:
o Public hearings on:
HB 2469A: Requires state medical assistance program to provide mental health wellness appointments as prescribed by Oregon Health Authority.
HB 2119A: Transfers responsibility for 2-1-1 system from Office of Emergency Management to Department of Human Services.
o Possible work sessions on:
HB 2102A: Requires Department of Human Services to report to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to human services , by December 31, 2022, comprehensive proposal for department staffing that meets specified criteria.
HB 2106: Renames Children's Advocate to Human Services Ombudsperson.
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Health Care will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o SB 558A: Prohibits insurance policy or contract that provides coverage for prescription drug to require prescription for drug prescribed for medical assistance recipient to be filled or refilled at mail order pharmacy or to require prescription to be filled or refilled at pharmacy that is not local and enrolled in medical assistance program.
o SB 560A: Requires insurer and health care service contractor to count payments made on behalf of enrollee for costs of care toward enrollee's out-of-pocket maximum or cost-sharing.
WEDNESDAY — May 5, 2021
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Human Services will be holding a public hearing on SB 88, a bill that corrects statutory cross-references to community developmental disabilities programs.
3:15 pm / Remote 174: House Committee on Judiciary, Subcommittee on Civil Law will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
o SB 190A: Modifies permissible methods of providing notice of appointment of guardian to protected person.
o SB 578A: Requires court, under certain circumstances, to appoint legal counsel for respondent or protected person in protective proceeding.
o SB 572: 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 adult attained 18 years of age.
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Education will be holding work sessions on the following bills:
HB 2053: Modifies community plan requirements for Preschool Promise Program.
HB 2059: Modifies directive to Office of Child Care to develop quality recognition and improvement system for child-care facilities.
HB 2054: Modifies recipients of, and uses for, grants provided under Early Learning Kindergarten Readiness Partnership and Innovation Program.
HB 2051A: Broadens eligibility of youths who may participate in statewide youth reengagement system.
THURSDAY — May 6, 2021
8:30 am / Remote A: Senate Committee on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation will be holding a public hearing on HB 2935A, a bill that limits the authority of a school district to become a member of a voluntary organization that administers interscholastic activities unless the organization implements equity focused policies that meet certain requirements.
1:00 pm / Remote E: House Committee on Education will be holding a public hearing on SB 242A, a bill that modifies the definitions of "sexual conduct" for purposes of requirements for education providers related to abuse of and sexual conduct toward students.
3:15 pm / Remote F: House Committee on Health Care will be holding a public hearing on SJR 12, a resolution that proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution establishing the obligation of the state to ensure every resident of the state access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care.
3:15 pm / Remote B: Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery will be holding a possible work sessions on the following bills:
o HB 2469A: Requires state medical assistance program to provide mental health wellness appointments as prescribed by Oregon Health Authority.
o HB 2119A: Transfers responsibility for 2-1-1 system from Office of Emergency Management to Department of Human Services.
INTERESTED IN GIVING TESTIMONY AT A COMMITTEE HEARING?
In order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, entry to the Oregon State Capitol is for authorized personnel only until further notice. The Oregon Legislative Assembly has established a process to accept remote verbal public testimony on bills by video or phone during this time, in addition to written public testimony. For more information, see the helpful information posted online.
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 Senate and House chamber sessions and Committee hearings.
|
|
2021 Legislative Session Budget Priorities
- Reinstate Regional Family to Family Networks ($1.3 million GF)
- Set DSP Wage at 150% of minimum wage (HB 2964)
- Fully Fund Case Management Entities
- Develop Statewide Data System
|
|
GO! ONLINE: DD Advocacy Videos
|
|
We created a series of training videos to support your preparation for remote legislative advocacy. Visit our You Tube Channel or Facebook Page to view them.
- Introduction to the GO! Project
- 2021 Legislative Advocacy
- Why Is Advocacy Important?
- How To Develop Your Message
- Making a Legislative Appointment
- Preparing For a Virtual Visit
- Expecting the Unexpected
- What to Do After a Legislative Visit
- Advocacy Via Email
|
|
GO! ONLINE: 2021 DD Advocacy Days
Second Wednesday of Each Month: May 12 & June 9
Join the Oregon DD Coalition’s GO! Project Advocacy Team online On Wednesday May 12 & June 9 from 10AM to Noon to learn about:
- Legislative Budget Priorities
- Advocacy Strategies
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
