Last week well over 1,000 people filled the halls of the Capitol buildings for Disability Services Day at the Capitol! We want to thank everyone who took time out of their schedules to show up and advocate on behalf of services and supports for people with disabilities. ARRM’s Policy and Engagement Manager, Johnny Tvedt, has a full recap here.
Along with Day at the Capitol, ARRM staff were busy moving the remainder of ARRM’s legislative agenda through the committee process in the House. On Tuesday morning, our technology grant proposal received a hearing in the Human Services Reform and Policy Committee. On Thursday, the committee heard our proposal to delay the payment rate tiers for Family Residential Services. Both bills were laid over for possible inclusion in the committee’s omnibus bill.
On Friday, the Governor released his revised budget proposal based on the updated economic forecast that shows the current state surplus shrinking to $456 million and the future budget deficit growing to nearly $6 billion. There were no major changes to the cuts that were proposed to disability waiver services but there was one major clarification made. Previous testimony from Department officials indicated that the inflationary cap would be 2% per adjustment, or 2% every two years. The revised budget clarifies that the 2% cap is annual, equaling 4% for every adjustment.
There were a few bills introduced last week that I wanted to flag for members:
Looking ahead to this coming week, ARRM staff are working to secure a hearing for our Family Residential Service legislation in the Senate. In the House, HF 1477, a bill to repeal our language exempting Community Residential Settings and small Assisted Living settings from city licensing regulations will be heard on Thursday. ARRM staff are signed up to testify in opposition to the proposal.
Please reach out with any questions.
--Sara Grafstrom, Senior Director of State and Federal Policy