Legislative Updates

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District of Columbia

The Office of Disability Rights
The mission of the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) is to ensure that the programs, services, benefits, activities and facilities operated or funded by the District of Columbia are fully accessible to, and useable by people with disabilities. They offer investigation and ADA training services and are responsible for overseeing ADA compliance within DC, community integration planning and making recommendations to make DC more accessible. The ODR staff encourages you to visit their website frequently at http://odr.dc.gov/odr/site/default.asp and contact their office at (202) 724-5055 with any ADA or disability-related questions.

The DC Government Guide on Accessible Meetings & Conferences provides DC government agencies and officials with practical tips and recommendations to ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in meetings and conferences. 
This guide was compiled and developed by the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR).  The guide’s purpose is to assist in the planning process and reflects an optimal level of accessibility.  Some facilities may not meet all of the criteria outlined in this document. If the agency is in doubt about the level of accessibility at a potential venue, the agency officials should consult the DC Office of Disability Rights. 
The ODR staff hopes that this guide is helpful as agencies and organizations plan their future events.

Health Care Decisions
On September 26, 2007, Tommy Wells, Chairperson of the DC Council’s Human Services Committee, sent forward a “Notice of Intent to Move the Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Amendment Act of 2007 Emergency Declaration” and its companion Emergency and Temporary Legislation. The purpose of the legislation is to provide decision-making support for District residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are unable to make healthcare decisions on their own behalf. This legislation is the result of nearly two years of collaborative work involving community stakeholders, the City Council, the Department on Disability Services and the Mayor's office.  For more information, contact Adam Maier at 202-724-8072.

Public Oversight Hearings on Integrated Case Management
On June 22, 2007 and September 28, 2007, Council member Tommy Wells, Chair of the Committee on Human Services, held public oversight hearings on Integrated Case Management. The hearings focused on the integration and coordination of case management services across the human service delivery system in the District of Columbia.  People linked to the Department on Disability Services testified at both hearings, as did people from other DC agencies that provide case management services.  To learn more about this topic, go to http://dccouncil.us, click on the link to “Past Hearings,” find the hearing for the Committee on Human Services on those two dates, and you can view the hearings on your computer.

Calling All Young People
On October 13, 2007, City Council Chairperson, Vincent C. Gray, held a hearing for “Youth Only” at the Wilson Building.  This was an opportunity for young people to testify at the City Council on the issues that affect their lives.  Young people were encourages to testify about the DC Schools, Libraries, Employment Opportunities, Youth Violence, etc. To hear what the young people said, go to http://dccouncil.us, click on the link to “Past Hearings,” find the hearing held by Chairperson Gray on this date so that you can view the hearing on your computer.

Hearings on Special Needs Housing
The DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is holding a series of public hearings on “Housing and Community Development Needs in the District of Columbia.”  The hearings will provide information for DHCD as they develop their “Draft Consolidated Annual Action Plan for DC for Fiscal Year 2009” and their spending priorities.   DHCD encourages people to participate in the development of programs and policies in the areas of (1) affordable housing, (2) special needs housing, (3) homelessness, (4) homeownership, and (5) community development and public service activities.  To testify, contact Pamela Hillsman at 202-442-7251 or Pamela Hillsman@dc.gov.  There are 7 hearings at different locations in DC.  The dates are 10/10, 10/18, 10/22. 10/29, 11/7, 11/14 and 11/29.  All of the hearings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m except for the 10/10/07 hearing.For complete information about the upcoming hearings, go to http://app.calendar.rrc.dc.gov/eventDetail.aspx?eventId=7031&eo=11452&thisDate=10.10.2007&cdlCalendars=51 for the full hearing announcement with locations. 

Fiscal Year 2008 Housing Action Plan Released The DHCD Fiscal Year 2008 action plan was released in August and is available at http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dhcd/section/2/release/11704 .

The DC Council
The full Council listing includes

How do I contact Council members?
Go to http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/contact.html for complete information about e-mail, phone and fax numbers for each of the Council members.  There also is a link to allow you to send a single e-mail to all of the council members at once.

DC Register
The DC Council publishes the notices, proposals and contents of hearings in the DC Register which is available for viewing at: http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm$vid=dcr:free

Effective Advocacy Efforts Establish an Office of Disability Rights
A broad-based task force worked for almost a year to create the momentum for an Office of Disability Rights (ODR) in DC.  The Disability Rights Protection Act of 2006 created a new cabinet-level Office of Disability Rights and a new citywide program to help the DC government comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the disability rights provision of the DC Human Rights Act, and other laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities of all ages.  This act took effect on May 8, 2007.  This act was the result of a collaboration between disability advocates, community organizations and the DC Council.  Efforts are currently underway to recruit a director for this new office.  For more information, go to http://dchr.dc.gov/dcop/cwp/view,A,1222,Q,637493.asp.

Revisions to the Medicaid Waiver or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
For information about this waiver, potential changes to this waiver and information about what families and advocates can do click here.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty

100 Days and Beyond: 2007 Action Plan for the District of Columbia
This document covers the specific goals of the Fenty Administration  for the first 100 days in office.
http://dc.gov/mayor/100dayPlan/index.asp

Judith E. Heumann Confirmed at First DDS Director
On July 10, 2007, the DC City Council confirmed Judith E. Heumann as Director of the Department on Disability Services. Ms. Heumann brings over 30 years of local, national and international experience in advancing the human and economic rights of disabled people. In addition to serving as Assistant Secretary of Education in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in the Clinton Administration, she has worked at the World Bank on Disability and Development issues, and was the Director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California.

State

Children's Health Insurance: State Experiences in Implementing SCHIP and Considerations for Reauthorization
New GAO report examines trends in the enrollment and current composition of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) across states, states' spending experiences under SCHIP, and considerations for SCHIP reauthorization.

Full report: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-447T.

Report highlights: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07447thigh.pdf.

New Directions Medicaid Waiver- A Waiver That Works
Information and a personal story about how the Maryland New Directions Waiver for self directed services works.
http://www.gucchdgeorgetown.net/ucedd/documents/medicaid%20waiver%20with%20RAB%20edits.pdf

Federal

Bill Introduced to Increase Home and Community-Based Services for Adults with Disabilities and Older Americans
On March 7, 2007, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the Community Choices Act (S. 799).  The purposes of the act are to:
(1) To reform the Medicaid to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual's needs, and to provide equal access to community-based services and supports in order to assist individuals in achieving equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency and
(2) To provide financial assistance to States as they reform their long-term care systems to provide comprehensive statewide long-term services and supports, including community-based attendant services and supports that provide consumer choice and direction, in the most integrated setting appropriate.
This bill would help states develop their long-term care and home and community-based services. The bill would also create a demonstration project to evaluate service coordination and cost sharing approaches for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. For more information, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov. or issue of  Caregiving Policy Digest March 14, 2007 at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=467

Family Caregiver Tax Credit Legislation Introduced
On March 15, 2007, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced the Alzheimer's Family Assistance Act (S. 897) which would provide a federal income tax credit for family caregivers providing care to a relative with a chronic condition.   This would help families who were providing to support to any individual with long-term care needsand there are provisions for children 2-6 years of age, 6-18 years of age, and adults over the age of 18.  The tax credit, which starts at $1000 in 2007 and increases each year until it reaches $3000 in 2011, is intended to help offset caregiving expenses, including home health care, adult day services, respite care and prescription drugs. The bill also makes long-term care (LTC) insurance premiums deductible for all tax payers and improves consumer protections for LTC insurance policy-holders. For more information, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov. or see the Caregiving Policy Digest March 28, 2007 at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=467

Combating Autism Act of 2006 P.L. 109-416 (S. 843)
Impact of Public LawP.L. 109-416, the Combating Autism Act of 2006, requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate autism spectrum disorders (ASD)-related research. Specifically, the Act sets forth a nonexhaustive list of research areas to be included in NIH’s ASD initiatives, including research into possible environmental causes of autism. It expands the scope of autism research under NIH and the Centers of Excellence in such research to address the entire scope of ASD, rather than only autism. The new law will also allow the Director to consolidate program activities to improve efficiencies and outcomes. For more information visit the Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OLPA) at http://olpa.od.nih.gov/legislation/109/publiclaws/autism.asp.

Estimates of 2007 Housing Voucher Funding
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates and other policies related to housing are contained in this Information Bulletin put out by disability advocate Steve Gold.  The bulletin can be found at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) website. http://www.aapd.com/News/housing/indexhousing.php

Life Span Respite Care Act
This bill would authorize funds and require states grantees to develop and enhance lifespan respite programs for families caring for children and adult members with disabilities, provide planned and emergency respite programs for family caregivers, train and recruit respite workers and volunteers, provide information to caregivers about available respite and support services, and assist caregivers in accessing respite services. For more information on this bill visit the National Respite Coalition at http://www.archrespite.org/nrc.htm

Older Americans Act:FY2006 Funding, FY2007 Proposals, and FY2008 Budget Request
The impartial Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report on February 15, 2007 on funding for the Older Americans Act, including the National Family Caregiver Support Program. The report compares the FY 2006 Congressional appropriations levels to President Bush's budget request for FY 2008, highlighting Title III - Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging, Title IV - Activities for Health, Independence and Longevity, Title V - Community Services Senior Opportunities Act, Title VII - Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities, and Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants. For more information go to http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL33880/

Links

For more information about policy and legislation see the links below

Find out about current legislation in Congress
A website, named Thomas, after Thomas Jefferson, was created by Congress in 1995 to make federal legislation freely available to the public.  This website that allows you to look up current bills before the House of Representatives or the Senate, up-to-date activities in Congress, access to the Congressional Record, Committee information, schedules and calendars for current and upcoming legislation, government resources and more.  http://thomas.loc.gov

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
This association promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC). They also provide updates on policy and legislation that impact people with developmental disabilities and their families on their Public Policy page. http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=27

Family Voices: Policy and Legislation http://www.familyvoices.org/policy.php
This webpage gives information and updates on pending, reauthorization and proposed legislation as well as court cases effecting health care policy and people with special health care needs and disabilities and their families.

Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OPLA): http://olpa.od.nih.gov/
This office serves as the principal office within the Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), for providing legislative analysis, policy development, and liaison with the Congress. OLPA facilitates and enhances the relationship between NIH and the Congress; advances NIH legislative priorities; and ensures that the NIH community receives essential information, advice, and guidance regarding developments in the Congress that affect NIH.