Friday, March 10th marked the first committee deadline. In order for a bill to "meet first deadline", it must be acted favorably on in the house of origin. The second deadline, which is set for Friday, March 24th is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house; and the third deadline, scheduled for Tuesday, April 4th, is for committees to act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. All of ARRM’s bills have met the first deadline and we are working on finalizing hearings for the bills that still need to be heard in order to meet the second deadline.
Here is a brief update on where our legislative priorities currently stand:
- Best Life Alliance DWRS Legislation: Has been heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the House Human Service Omnibus bill, we are awaiting a hearing in the Senate Human Service committee.
- ICF Rate Legislation: Has been heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the House Human Service Omnibus bill and the Senate Human Service Omnibus bill.
- AOST Licensing Change: Has been heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the House Human Service Omnibus bill and the Senate Human Service Omnibus bill. There was a fiscal note of $150,000 ongoing costs attached to this bill, we have reached out the Department for further clarification and have had conversations with our Chief Authors about the assumptions the Department is making in the fiscal note.
- ICS Service Change: Has been heard in the House Human Service Policy committee and referred to the Human Service Finance committee and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Human Service committee.
- Own Home/ IHST Service Changes: Has been heard and laid over for possible inclusion in the House Human Service Omnibus bill and awaiting a hearing in the Senate Human Service committee.
- Workforce Grant Legislation: Has been heard in the Human Service Policy and Finance committee and referred to the Workforce Development Finance and Policy committee, which will hear the bill next Wednesday, March 15th. We are awaiting a hearing in the Senate Human Service Committee.
Looking ahead to next week, Senator Hoffman will be hearing the Emergency Sick and Safe Leave legislation (HF19/ SF 34) in his committee on Monday. It is our understanding that his intention is to address the additional costs that this legislation will bring to Medicaid reimbursed providers, in the same way he addressed the issue with the Paid Family Leave legislation. ARRM will be present at the hearing and prepared to provide testimony if called upon. ARRM’s Workforce Grant legislation will also receive another hearing in the House Workforce Development Finance and Policy committee on Wednesday and we are awaiting further committee agendas to see if any other legislative priorities get scheduled for a hearing next week.
Please reach out with any questions.
--Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy