April 10, 2007
Mid-Session Report Tracking the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ Legislative Priorities by Steve Larson, The Arc of Minnesota
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education, and both call for Senate provides a 3.25% inmore revenues to fund their crease and the House proeducation proposals. The vides a 3% increase. House has called for an in- •Repeal Supplementary Secucome tax increase on the rity Income (SSI) and Houswealthiest Minnesotans; the ing penalties for Minnesota Senate Tax Committee is de- Family Investment Program veloping its own proposal to (MFIP) families. raise income taxes. Both •Mental Health Initiative— houses have also expressed similar funding amounts but interest in raising revenue by some difference in policy cutting tax breaks for compa- implementation. Session Overview: The Senate and House are nies with foreign operations •House eliminates Medicare about to wrap up their work on and applying stricter enforce- co-payments above $12 a month and the Senate elimitheir Omnibus Bills and will ment against tax evaders. nates all co-payments be sending those bills to con•Assistive Technology fundference committees whose re- Status of CCD Priorities sponsibility will be to recon- This analysis will be divided ing for regional collaboratives and for low-interest cile any differences and send into four categories: loans back to the Senate and House 1. Senate and House agree for final approval by May 21st 2. Senate only has language •Statewide Quality Assurance System for waiver recipients. and/or funding when the legislature will ad3. House only has language Funding to develop a statejourn. wide survey. and/or funding The House and Senate Educa- 4. Not in either Omnibus bill •Remembering with Dignity •Licensing and certification tion spending bills, approved for CADI/TBI providers by the beginning of the week Senate and House Agree: of March 26th, were very dif- (By having agreement, it •Minnesota Council on Disferent, both in amounts of means there is a great chance ability – removes sunset money spent and where the these items will be included in the final conference commit- The governor’s proposal had money would be spent. a 2% COLA, so both the Sentee bills.): Both bills call for spending •Service Provider Cost of Liv- ate and House have increased upwards of $800 million on ing Adjustment (COLA). The Capitol Report - cont. on p. 10 ast fall the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), which includes over 100 organizations representing persons with disabilities, worked to develop their legislative agenda for the 2007 session. This article will highlight the status of those legislative priorities.
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Changing Technology, Growing Needs Assistive Technology Bill of 2007 Addresses Variety of Statewide Issues by Carol Fury-Fistman
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s a longtime enthusi ast and advocate for assistive technology programs and services, Anne Henry of the Minnesota Disability Law Center remembers when duct tape, Velcro and items from the hardware store were the main ingredients necessary to adapt equipment. Sitting in Room 10 of the State Office Building late one March evening, as the House Health and Human Service Finance Division (HHS-FD) finalized the first round of appropriations, Henry reflected on the progress made toward full inclusion, and how assistive technology has changed the lives of people with disabilities. “Interest in and support of assistive technology is strong at the State Capitol,” says Henry. Indeed, ensuring that people in need have access to life-changing equipment is the priority of the Assistive Technology Bill of 2007 (House File 0725 and Senate File 0639) now making
its way toward passage in the the House and Senate HHScurrent session. FDs with recommendations for a statewide comprehensive AT Over the past four years, ef- Plan. For the first time in Minforts to encourage legislators, nesota history, agencies, nonthe governor and other agen- profit organizations, individucies in state government to in- als, families, health providers clude state funding for assistive and other groups will all be technology (AT) services have invited to the table with the resulted in few noticeable goal of creating such a plan. changes. But with the introduction this session of the AT HF 0725 is sponsored by RepBill of 2007, advocates have resentatives Madore, Thissen, Kahn, Erickson, Abeler, Ward “The Curry family ex- et. al; SF 0639 is sponsored by perienced a common Senators Tommassoni, Bakk, problem, not knowing Lourey, Larson, Metzen, and Olseen.
where to go, what agency provides which service, Included in the bill is a proviand who is eligible for sion to establish an AT Savings Account, whereby indiwhat program.”
noticed a shift toward support for AT and the use of state dollars to fund programs. The bill directs the Minnesota State Council on Disability to conduct a study of individual needs and service delivery, and provide a report to the Chairs of
viduals, families or guardians will be allowed to set aside pretax earnings, disability income and other funds to purchase AT devices and services without losing eligibility for public programs. When complete, the study and its recomTechnology - cont. on p. 15
Diamond Hill Townhomes We are currently accepting applications for our waiting list at Diamond Hill Townhomes, a great property located near the Minneapolis International Airport. We have two and three bedroom townhomes that are HUD subsidized and rent is 30% of the total household's adjusted gross income. We have a large number of mobility impaired accessible units and we are scheduling appointments for persons in need of a mobility impaired accessible unit immediately. To schedule an appointment please call (612) 726-9341.
*Eligibility or selection of ASI services is not required to qualify for housing ASI services are not available in all locations
BDC Management Co. is now accepting applications for our waiting lists at the following affordable communities Albright Townhomes Buffalo Court Apartments Elliot Park Apartments Evergreen Apartments Franklin Lane Apartments Hanover Townhomes Lincoln Place Apartments Olson Towne Homes Prairie Meadows Raspberry Ridge Talmage Green Trinity Apartments Unity Place Vadnais Highlands Willow Apartments Woodland Court Apartments
Minneapolis Buffalo Minneapolis Hutchinson Anoka St. Paul Mahtomedi Minneapolis Eden Prairie Hopkins Minneapolis Minneapolis Brooklyn Center Vadnais Heights Little Falls Park Rapids
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1 BR 2 BR 2 BR 1 BR 1 & 2 BR 1 BR 2 BR 1 BR 2 & 3 BR 2 BR 2 BR 1 BR (sr) 2 BR 3 BR 1 & 2 BR 1 BR
(Please call each individual site for specific building information. All listings are accessible.)
