Save the Date: March 13 for Legislative Breakfast with Disability Advocates in Springfield.  See here for the save the date.  More information to follow.  We have more than 40 new legislators so making new relationships and educating them is critical!  We have a number of exciting bills to talk about as well this session.

Nominate Yourself or others to The Arc of Illinois Board of Directors!
We are thrilled to share an invitation to apply to join the Board of Directors for the Arc of Illinois.  Each year, we call for advocates: people with disabilities, families and community organization leaders who might be interested in helping to lead strategically the Arc of Illinois.  Please submit an application here or if you need a word version, click here.

Going Home Coalition Campaign Manager/Organizer Job Positing Available.
Consider applying for the Going Home Coalition Campaign Manager/Organizer position with the Arc of Illinois.  Help to organize people with disabilities, families and community organizations to expand funding for community living and advocate to the state to shift resources to end the waiting list for services.  Please share this job posting broadly.

2019 State Legislation to Watch – Check out www.ilga.gov
**Please note that this is not comprehensive – the list of bills is expanding every day:

HCBS Inclusion

  • SB2055 (Morrison), House Bill 3483(Gabel) – PUNS communication/transparency
  • HB 2148 and SB 1148 – DSP Wage increase to 1.5 factor of minimum wage
  • HB2600 – Illinois Disability Integration Act – creates a home and community-based services entitlement
  • SB 2086 – Closing non-certified homes/units on state institutional campuses
  • HB2915 – Assistive Technology pilot – shell bill
  • HB 344 (Bennett) – CILA/DD residents can use electronic monitoring devices

Income/Employment

  • SB 2087 (Mussman) – Customized employment pilot
  • HB2815 – Increase personal needs allowance – increase to 15% of SSI
  • HB 3340 (Mah)– Dignity in Pay Act – Ends subminimum wage by 2025 and adds a $50M fund to help providers
  • SBs 190 – SB 190 requires that the SD list of qualified persons with disabilities be provided to agencies along with the list of eligibles when there is an available position.
  • SB1136 (Morrison) – SB 1136 requires State agencies to assign staff to attend presentations by CMS about hiring persons with disabilities.

Healthcare

  • SB2021 – Medicaid Eligibility/Re-D – Protect Our Care – we are working to get passive re-d for I/DD in the bill.
  • SB2095 – Medicaid Re-D stand alone – creates passive re-determination for people with I/DD
  • HB 3027– Dental sedation (Willis) The legislations goal will be to expand the provider network for people who provide sedation for dental procedures through the IL Medicaid program, while increasing provider rates and payment through the IL budget process.
  • SB111  – Dental Sedation – cap at 26, Will be in the Insurance Committee of the IL Senate and proceed as a private insurance bill with age cap of 26.
  • SB1214 (Tom Cullerton) – HB 823-Blood Draw Bill for people with DD.
  • HB 3299 – Sex Education/Sex Health/Sex Safety – requires training to be available for people with I/DD on sexual health, sexual ed, sexual safety
  • HB 906 (Mussman) – Tax on Durable Medical Equipment by 1%
  • HB 2845 (Conroy) – Medicaid Managed Care programs must provide individuals under 21 years of age coverage for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders to the extent that the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders are not already covered by the Medicaid managed care plan.

Other:

  • HB 2987 (Davis) – Disability and criminal justice task force
  • HB 2191 (Conroy) – increase early intervention rates

Federal Policy

Education: House Committee to Hold Hearing on Inappropriate Use of Seclusion and Restraint

On February 27, the House Committee on Education and the Labor Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold a hearing titled “Classrooms in Crisis: Examining the Inappropriate Use of Seclusion and Restraint Practices.” Witnesses will be Dr. George Sugai, Professor, University of Connecticut; Mrs. Renee Smith of Rhode Island, the parent of a young child with autism spectrum disorder who experienced frequent restraint and seclusion; Ms. Allison Sutton, Special Education Teacher, Wichita Public Schools; and Ms. Jacqueline Nowicki, Director of Education Workforce and Income Security, Government Accountability Office (GAO). Visit the Committee website for more information and to access live video on the day of the hearing. The live stream will begin at 10:00 a.m. EST.

This hearing is taking place in anticipation of the reintroduction of the Keeping All Students Safe Act in the coming weeks. The Arc greatly appreciates the Subcommittee’s effort to bring needed attention to the harmful and unnecessary practices of restraint and seclusion, which are disproportionately used on students with disabilities.

 

Meg Cooch
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209​
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
Meg@thearcofil.org