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Legislative update – 2/12/2007

Hello all,

Quite the busy week last week in Topeka, both Legislative and other…

First…Legislative Info, Hot items last week:
Hearings in the House Social Service Committee

  • They began with the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA).  Many conferees talked about issues with presumptive disability and General Assistance (or lack there of).
  • Later in the week the Committee began work on the SRS Budget. 
    • I have attached the testimony I provided from KACIL.  Shannon provided testimony from the BTC and SILCK, highlighting the BTC budget request sheet and transition and diversion funds.  In the KACIL testimony we highlighted the Base Funding and Rate parity.  We also mentioned the Kan-SAIL program.
    • Other issues that came up during the SRS Budget hearing:
      • There was a significant amount of testimony around rates for direct services.  From the DD service providers, they continue to talk about rate parity with the institutions
      • The TBI waiver:  there were 5 conferees on TBI waiver services, here are the overriding issues: 
          • people that would qualify for the TBI waiver going out of state for rehab
          • because the community is not at capacity to serve them
          • amount of hours for case management
          • reimbursement rates-haven’t ever changed-can’t begin to hire therapists
          • Definition of TBI in order to qualify for the waiver.  
    • The House Social Service Budget committee will continue to meet, Monday, hearing testimony on children’s issues, and then they will do deliberations on the SRS budget Tuesday. 
  • Other Bills we are currently watching: 
    • SB 138 establishes the Kansas autism task force.  There was a hearing on this bill on 2/5/07 in the Senate Education Committee; the committee has yet to take any action on the bill.  This bill establishes a Ks Autism Task Force, but also establishes an autism registry, hotline, and Regional Centers of Excellence on Autism (or something like this)…for anyone who would like to read the text of the bill here is the link:  http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/138.pdf
    • HB 2152-changes to the Commission on Emergency Planning and Response-assigns additional members including a person representing people with disabilities.  Hearing set for 2/14 in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee 
    • HB 2125-provides insurance coverage for hearing aides.  No hearing set at this point, still gathering additional information on this bill.
    • HB 2281 and SB 159- both are bills related to advance voting ballots, they change the archaic language in the old statue to person first language, and also explain who may be assigned to return a persons advance voting ballot.  SB 159 had a hearing last week in the Elections and Local Government committee.
    • HB 2253 and SB 282- establish a special needs scholarship program-it appears that this would give families of children with IEPs the right to ask for a scholarship to fund private school.  Each of these bills has a hearing this week:  HB 2253-2/15 in the House Education Committee, and SB 282-2/14 in the Senate Education committee.
    • HB 2140-designates English as the official language of the state of Kansas.  Keeps any state agency from having to produce materials in any language other than English. 

This is the start of the tracking list of legislation we are following.  I’m sure other bills will be added as we continue to watch the legislation. 
 
On to other happenings from last week:
SRS Secretary Don Jordon held his first Stakeholders Meeting on Friday.  The news reported was expected.  If you weren’t on this conference call, all of the handouts can be found at this link: http://www.srskansas.org/Sec_stakeholds/2-07-stakeholder's_meet_info.htm.  The Secretary talked about his vision being protecting children and adult self sufficiency.  He also talked a lot about having high expectations of individuals.  (I think we are all on the same track!)  One issue that rang out loud and clear during the stakeholders meeting was some communication challenges with the ACIL/TA waiver programs.    

At the beginning of the week we were able to do some work on replying to the CMS Grant application for Money Follows the Person.  I will send a separate email discussing some of the efforts on this.

Please let me know if you have questions or additional information to add.

 

Jennifer Schwartz
Executive Director
Ks Association of Centers for Independent Living
214 SW 6th Street
Topeka, KS  66603
785-215-8048
785-215-8050

 

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