GO! Bulletin
2020 Legislative Session Starts
Tomorrow, Monday, February 3, Oregon legislators will gather in Salem for the beginning of the 2020 Legislative Session. This will be a “short” session that lasts only five weeks. Oregon holds short sessions on even-numbered years to do the following:
1.     Adjust the budget halfway through the biennium (called a “rebalance”), and
2.     Tackle a few key policy bills.

The short sessions move quickly. In fact, the first bill deadline is this Friday, February 7th. If bills have not been scheduled for a work session in their originating chamber, they will not move further (they will “die”). The second deadline comes Thursday, February 13th when if bills have not had a work session in their originating chamber, then they too will die. Note that these deadlines do not apply to Ways and Means, Rules or other Joint Committees.
DD Coalition Priorities
This session, the DD Coalition has three legislative priorities (in no particular order) to support:

  • Additional $5 million for case management entities to cover the budget hole left after the 2019 session. The 2019 legislative budget underfunded the workload model that determines funds needed for case management entities. The additional $5 million will bring the case management funding closer to the amount outlined in the workload model.

  • $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 behavior support services at a higher level in the DD System. This means the $30 million the 2019 legislature invested in the I/DD system for Direct Support Professional wages will be diverted to cover this error. Investing $12.2 million in the DD System today will bring the average Direct Support Professional wage to $14.38/hour.

  • A budget note to require DHS to conduct a study to determine what features are critical in a statewide electronic data system for DD Services. The budget note would require that DHS gather input on this topic from DD System providers, advocates, families and people experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities. A data system would replace current, outdated systems to collect data across the state; increase transparency for people and families using services so they can track their services better; and create consistent data across the state that can help drive policy decisions.
Download the DD Coalition's GO! Project 2020 Fact Sheet Here .
Other Items of Interest to the DD Community
The DD Coalition is also closely watching the budget rebalance for the Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS). The budget rebalance happens every short session to allow adjustments to agency budgets as needed.

For the ODDS budget, a forecasting error underestimated the number of people who would use DD Services rather than only receive case management services without any services. With this error, it means ODDS will need an additional $19 million for services.

GO ADVOCACY DAY

Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition’s GO! Project will be hosting our DD Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Room 350

Wednesday, February 12th 2020
10AM to 2PM

  • Schedule visits with your State Senator and Representative
  • Legislative advocacy training offered at 11AM
  • Wear something yellow to show unity
Bills 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 . There are several bills of note that have hearings this week, including:

Monday, February 3, 2020

1:00 PM / HR A  Senate Committee on Mental Health:
· SB 1552 Directs Oregon Health Authority to evaluate specified issues related to certified community behavioral health clinics and report findings and analysis to interim committees of Legislative Assembly by December 1, 2020.
· SB 1553 Requires Oregon Health Authority, under direction of Oregon Health Policy Board and in collaboration with specified stakeholder groups, to identify, assess and prepare report on regulatory and policy barriers to effective and timely behavioral health treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders.

3:00 PM / HR C  Senate Committee on Human Services:
· SB 1518 Directs Department of Human Services to submit documents necessary to finalize certain pending adoptions on or before June 30, 2020.
· SB 1519 Modifies provisions relating to criminal records checks performed by Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority.
· 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.

3:00 PM / HR D  House Committee on Human Services and Housing:
· HB 4120 Appropriates moneys to Department of Human Services for transition services for foster children.
· HB 4112 Modifies allocation formula for grants to children's advocacy centers.

Tuesday February 4, 2020

8:00 AM / HR B  Senate Committee on Housing and Development
· SB 1532 Establishes Homeownership Repair and Rehabilitation Pilot Program within Housing and Community Services Department to provide grants to entities for providing financial assistance to persons in low income households for repair and rehabilitation of residences. Public Hearing.
 
8:30 AM / HR E  House Committee on Behavioral Health
· HB 4082 Establishes Behavioral Health Road Map Commission in Legislative Assembly. Public Hearing.
 
3:00 PM / HR E  House Committee on Health Care
· HB 4074 Authorizes Health Licensing Office to issue license to practice genetic counseling to qualified applicant. Public Hearing.
 
Wednesday, February 5, 2020

3:00 PM / HR D  House Committee on Human Services and Housing
· HB 4002 Requires Housing and Community Services Department to study long-term rent assistance and to report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than October 1, 2020. Public Hearing
 
3:00 PM / HR C  Senate Committee on Human Services
· SB 1518 Directs Department of Human Services to submit documents necessary to finalize certain pending adoptions on or before June 30, 2020. Public Hearing and Work Session
· SB 1519 Modifies provisions relating to criminal records checks performed by Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority. Public Hearing and Work Session
· 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. Public Hearing and Work Session

Thursday, February 6, 2020

8:30 AM / HR E  House Committee on Behavioral Health
· HB 4082 Establishes Behavioral Health Road Map Commission in Legislative Assembly. Public Hearing.
 
1:00 PM / HR B Senate Committee on Education:
· SB 1572 Establishes subject-matter credit requirements that students must satisfy in order to receive high school diploma. Public Hearing.
 
3:00 PM / HR D  House Committee on Human Services and Housing
· HB 4002 Requires Housing and Community Services Department to study long-term rent assistance and to report to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than October 1, 2020. 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. 
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