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In Ohio
3/15/11
– Governor John Kasich released his budget blueprint, revealing
major overhauls in how Ohio administers Medicaid funded programs. As
a follow up the release of the Governor’s
Blue Book, OBM Director Tim Keen testified on Wednesday, March
16th, providing the House Finance and Appropriations
Committee with an aerial view of revenues and spending forecasts. On
Thursday, March 17, 2011, a panel of health and human service
cabinet officials, led by Greg Moody, provided the committee with
more information on how the budget intends to make changes to
Medicaid funded programs.
3/16/11 – The House Criminal Justice Committee
heard proponent testimony on
House Bill 24 (Combs - SORN). The bill would provide notice to
long-term care facilities when a tier III sex offender (highest
level of sex crime) intends to reside in or near the facility. An
amendment was offered to allow a nursing facility to check
sex-offender status before accepting a patient and to refuse sexual
offenders admittance, but was tabled until more testimony on the
issue could be heard.
3/16/11 – The House Health and Aging Committee
voted in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 8 (Stinziano – Brain
Injury Awareness). The concurrent resolution declares March 2011 as
Brain Injury Awareness Month. Stephanie Ramsey, Board President of
the Brain Injury Association of Ohio testified in favor of the
resolution.
3/16/11 – The Senate State & Local Government &
Veterans Affairs Committee scheduled SPONSOR Testimony on
Senate Bill 48 (Kearney – Access Symbol). The bill would replace
the term, ‘handicap’ with ‘accessible’ or the international symbol
of access on parking signs. At the request of Senator Kearney, the
bill was not heard.
3/16/11 – The House Education Committee heard
proponent testimony on
House Bill 136 (Huffman – School Vouchers, etc.). The bill would
make changes to Ohio’s school voucher program and also create the
Special Education Scholarship. The Ohio DD Council has been an
interested party on this legislation. Individuals testifying in
favor of the Special Education Scholarship included Doug Krinsky,
Robert Ryan, Pat Griffin, Kelly Brandiwheat.
In Washington:
3/17/11 – The House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the Community
Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program. The
Committee received testimony from Assistant Secretary on Aging,
Kathy Greenlee,
Alan Schmitz (American Academy of Actuaries),
Dr. Joseph Antos,
Mark Warshawsky (Social Security Advisory Board),
Tony Young (AbilityOne Program),
William Lawrence Minnix, Jr. (LeadingAge). Members of the
majority on the committee made it clear they did not believe CLASS
was sustainable in its current form and would be introducing
legislation to repeal the program from law (see below).
Bills:
S. 613 (Harkin) - A bill to amend the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to permit a prevailing
party in an action or proceeding brought to enforce the Act to be
awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses (Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions).
S. 648 (Gillibrand) - A bill to require the
Commissioner of Social Security to revise the medical and evaluation
criteria for determining disability in a person diagnosed with
Huntington's Disease and to waive the 24-month waiting period for
Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington's
Disease (Committee on Finance).
H.R. 1173 (Boustany) - A bill to repeal the
CLASS program (Committee on Energy and Commerce; Committee on Ways
and Means).
H.R. 1208 (Van Hollen) - A bill to amend the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to permit a prevailing
party in an action or proceeding brought to enforce the Act to be
awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses (Committee on
Education and the Workforce).
In Ohio:
The House Finance Committee will be holding a
hearing on the state operating budget related to the Education
portion of the budget on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in
Room 313 of the Statehouse. Scheduled to testify are: Robert
Sommers, director of the Governor’s Office of 21st
Century Education; Barbara Mattei-Smith, assistant director at the
Department of Education; Kelly Weir, director of the Office of
Budget and Planning at the Department of Education; and Chancellor
Jim Petro.
The House State Government & Elections
Committee appears to be fast-tracking new legislation to require a
photo ID in order to vote (House
Bill 159). The bill stipulates an Ohio Driver’s License or ID
Card, U.S. Government Issued Passport or Military ID are acceptable
forms of ID. The bill is scheduled for ALL Testimony and a POSSIBLE
VOTE on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 116 of
the Statehouse.
Looking Ahead:
4/13/11 – The 7th Annual Autism
Rally will take place at the Ohio Statehouse at 11:00 a.m. Speakers
will include students with success stories, as well as updates on
insurance coverage, Waivers, Educational school options - such as
the Autism Scholarship, and other areas of concern. All welcome!
4/14/11 – DD Network Legislative Advocacy Day!
Speak to legislators about why services and supports are important
to the lives of people with disabilities, and thank them for their
support in the past. Funds are available for transportation to the
event through the generosity of the Ohio Olmsted Task Force and Ohio
Legal Rights Service. Participants MUST register by no later than
Friday, April 1, 2011 at
http://nisonger.osu.edu/legislativeregistration. Featured
speakers include state Representative Ted Celeste, state Senator
Peggy Lehner and Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Director John Martin. |
