  
Major Events Last Week
Employment – Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on “Application of Fair Labor Standards Act to Domestic Service”
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a final rule on the “Application of Fair Labor Standards to Domestic Service.” The rule extends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime protections to most direct support professionals by narrowing exemptions for companionship service and live-in domestic service. Once published in the Federal Register, the final rule will take effect January 1, 2015. According to DOL, this one-year extension of the effective date is designed to take into account “the complexity of the federal and state systems that are a significant source of funding for home care work and the needs of the diverse parties affected by this Final Rule.” Learn more about the rule at DOL’s new, dedicated web portal. DOL will host five webinars on the rule during October, organized by geographic region.
Major Events This Week
Budget & Appropriations- FY 2014 Short Term Spending Bill to be Taken Up by the Senate
The Senate is expected to take up the bill (H J Res 59) passed by the House on September 20. The House bill provides funding through mid-December at funding levels that reflect the approximate 5% automatic cuts (sequestration) from FY 2013. The Senate path to passage is uncertain at this point. However, the Senate is widely expected to exclude the controversial provision to defund the Affordable Care Act in a substitute amendment. It may also seek additional changes in the funding levels of the House bill. If the House and Senate fail to agree on a spending bill by the end of the fiscal year on September 30, a government shutdown is slated to begin on October 1, the start of FY 2014.
Long Term Services and Supports – The Long Term Care Commission Formally Releases Report to Congress
The Long Term Care Commission formally released its report to Congress which included 28 recommendations. Notably missing were recommendations about how to finance a long term care system in the United States. Five of the Commission members, who did not vote in favor of the report, issued alternative recommendations, including creation of a public insurance program that would supplement existing private insurance and family caregiver options. At this point, it is not clear what action Congress will take upon receipt of the report which is scheduled for September 30, 2013. To view the full report, visit the Center for Medicare Advocacy.
Announcements
The Arc Job Posting – Criminal Justice Fellow , National Center on Justice and Intellectual and Developmental Disability
The Arc is seeking an energetic, entrepreneurial and self-motivated person to participate in the start-up of a new National Center on Justice and Intellectual and Developmental Disability. We are looking for a recent law school graduate with an interest in supporting the rights of victims, defendants/offenders and witnesses with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) needed to establish online resource center, training, technical assistance and consulting services for criminal justice professionals (e.g. law enforcement, prosecuting and defense attorneys, judicial and court personnel, victims assistance organizations, corrections personnel and expert witnesses) and to provide programs services and supports for people with I/DD and their families.
To view the full job posting, visit The Arc’s website.
Health Care – New Resources Available on The Arc’s Website
The Arc wants to make sure you have the most up to date resources and information about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We have been updating our Health Care page on our website, and are excited to announce a new toolkit that will help educate individuals about the benefits of the ACA and how to support outreach and enrollment.
Seeking Stories of Discretionary Program Cuts
As the budget battles loom, we continue to seek stories of people with disabilities, their families, and service providers who have been affected by budget cuts to discretionary programs such as housing, employment, education, and transportation. We are seeking vignettes (500-750 words) of a first-person account from people who are coping with the effects of budget cuts. The individual could be a provider of services or someone who benefits from a program and would need to be willing to be identified and respond to media inquiries about their experience. If you have a story to share, please send it to acosta@thearc.org.
Below are examples of programs important to the disability community:
IDEA State Grant (Part B)
IDEA Early Intervention (Part C)
IDEA Preschool Grants
Supported Employment State Grant
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grant
Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
Development Disabilities (DD) Councils
DD Act Projects of National Significance (PNS)
Lifespan Respite Care Act
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX)
Section 811 Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities
Section 5310 Transportation Program |
