Changing Technology, Growing Needs

Mid-Session Report

Tracking the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities’ Legislative Priorities

by Steve Larson, The Arc of Minnesota

Last 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.

Session Overview:

The Senate and House are about to wrap up their work on their Omnibus Bills and will be sending those bills to conference committees whose responsibility will be to reconcile any differences and send back to the Senate and House for final approval by May 21st when the legislature will adjourn.

The House and Senate Education spending bills, approved by the beginning of the week of March 26th, were very different, both in amounts of money spent and where the money would be spent.

Both bills call for spending upwards of $800 million on education, and both call for more revenues to fund their education proposals. The House has called for an income tax increase on the wealthiest Minnesotans; the Senate Tax Committee is developing its own proposal to raise income taxes. Both houses have also expressed interest in raising revenue by cutting tax breaks for companies with foreign operations and applying stricter enforcement against tax evaders.

Status of CCD Priorities

This analysis will be divided into four categories: 1.Senate and House agree 2.Senate only has language and/or funding 3.House only has language and/or funding 4.Not in either Omnibus bill

Senate and House Agree:

(By having agreement, it means there is a great chance these items will be included in the final conference committee bills.): •Service Provider Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The Senate provides a 3.25% increase and the House provides a 3% increase. •Repeal Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and Housing penalties for Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) families. •Mental Health Initiative— similar funding amounts but some difference in policy implementation. •House eliminates Medicare co-payments above $12 a month and the Senate eliminates all co-payments •Assistive Technology funding for regional collaboratives and for low-interest loans •Statewide Quality Assurance System for waiver recipients. Funding to develop a statewide survey. •Remembering with Dignity •Licensing and certification for CADI/TBI providers •Minnesota Council on Disability – removes sunset

The governor’s proposal had a 2% COLA, so both the Senate and House have increased Capitol Report - cont. on p. 10

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Changing Technology, Growing Needs

Assistive Technology Bill of 2007 Addresses Variety of Statewide Issues

by Carol Fury-Fistman As 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 current session.

Over the past four years, efforts to encourage legislators, the governor and other agencies in state government to include state funding for assistive technology (AT) services have resulted in few noticeable changes. But with the introduction this session of the AT Bill of 2007, advocates have

“The Curry family experienced a common problem, not knowing where to go, what agency provides which service, and who is eligible for what 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 the House and Senate HHSFDs with recommendations for a statewide comprehensive AT Plan. For the first time in Minnesota history, agencies, nonprofit organizations, individuals, families, health providers and other groups will all be invited to the table with the goal of creating such a plan.

HF 0725 is sponsored by Representatives Madore, Thissen, Kahn, Erickson, Abeler, Ward et. al; SF 0639 is sponsored by Senators Tommassoni, Bakk, Lourey, Larson, Metzen, and Olseen.

Included in the bill is a provision to establish an AT Savings Account, whereby individuals, 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

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