Like our NEW
Facebook Page!
Get  important updates and information on advocacy events and activities such as our photo rally CONTEST!
Quick Links
Our Sponsor
March 22 , 2015 

 

We are entering the eighth week of the 2015 Legislative Session, which puts us a mere three weeks away from the first major committee deadline: Any bill that does not have a work session scheduled by April 10th in its chamber of origin will die in committee. Note: This deadline does not apply to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, other joint committees, the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue, House Committee on Revenue, and the Senate and House Committees on Rules.

 

The I/DD Coalition is tracking or monitoring 244 bills of interest to the developmental disability community. Just over one-third of those bills have had public hearings to date. Committee agendas are quickly filling up and will likely remain full as pressure builds in the coming weeks. For the latest report of the highest priority bills we're tracking, click here.  

Oregon's ABLE Act Advocacy needed! 


After many years of trying, the U.S. Congress finally passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience ("ABLE") Act, and it was signed into law this past December 2014.  

 

The ABLE Act amends Section 529 of the federal tax code to allow for the creation of a new type of tax-deferred savings plan for the disability-related expenses of individuals with disabilities that does not jeopardize their eligibility for public benefits.

  

In order for Oregonians to benefit from this law, we need to enact legislation at the state level to establish our ABLE Program. SB 777, a bill sponsored by Senator Gelser, would do just that. The Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood has scheduled SB 777 for a public hearing and possible work session on Thursday, April 2nd at 3:00 pm in HR B.

 

Your support and advocacy is needed to ensure this tremendous opportunity becomes a reality for the individuals experiencing disability in our state!

 

Between now and Thursday, April 2nd, please call and/or email the members of the Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood and urge them to support the passage of SB 777!

 

Then on Thursday, April 2nd at 3:00 pm in HR B, please attend the Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood hearing on SB 777 and share your story with the committee about how having the ability to establish an ABLE Act account in Oregon will impact your life.

To help you in communicating with Legislators, we have included contact information and talking points below:

Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood:

Senator Sara Gelser, Chair

Senator Alan Olsen, Vice Chair

Senator Jeff Kruse, Member

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, Member

Senator Michael Dembrow, Member

Cheyenne Ross, Committee Administrator

 

Talking Points:

  • Oregon benefits when all people can save for education, housing, health care and transportation costs.
  • For decades, people with disabilities could not access tax-free flexible savings tools to save for these basic life expenses. Federal benefit rules prevented people with disabilities from saving more than $2,000 without risking their federal benefit eligibility.
  • That changed in 2014 when Congress passed the ABLE Act, which creates a new Section 529 account type within the Internal Revenue Code. ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save for important disability-related life expenses without jeopardizing their federal benefits.
  • SB 777 implements ABLE Act accounts in Oregon by directing the Treasury to develop regulations so financial institutions can offer Oregonians with disabilities these important savings tools.
  • SB 777 would provide Oregonians with disabilities the same types of flexible savings tools that all other Americans have through college savings accounts, health savings accounts and individual retirement accounts.
  • SB 777 will eliminate barriers to employment and saving by preventing dollars saved through ABLE Accounts from counting against a person's eligibility for federal benefits programs. 
  • Please pass SB 777 so that thousands of Oregonians with disabilities and their families can take advantage of an historic opportunity to save for and build an independent life in the community.
Next DD Advocacy Day - April 2nd

Children Welcome! 

 

Save the date and join us at the Capitol on Thursday, April 2nd for the next DD Advocacy Day!

 

The DD Legislative Advocacy Headquarters will be set up in Room 257 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Schedule appointments with your legislators and plan to join us to receive information, talking points and support from our advocacy team before and after your appointments.

 

The focus of this Advocacy Day will be on EI/ECSE Programs, and there will be representatives from the Alliance for Early Intervention on hand to provide advocacy materials and information. Please register so we know that you plan to be there.


Register for April 02: Focus on EI/ECSE 

Register for April 22: Fairview Trust

Register for May 13: DSP Wages 

Register for June 04: Brokerage & CDDP Workload

Register for June 16    

Important Hearings This Week

The following are some of the important hearings or work sessions taking place this week:

 

Monday, March 23

 

8:00 am, HR D: House Committee on Higher Education, Innovation and Workforce Development - Public hearing on HB 3308, which directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to convene a work group to analyze and make recommendations on how to address disparities in higher education among traditionally marginalized, under served and under represented communities.

 

1:00 pm, HR E: House Committee on Health Care - Public hearing on HB 3347, which modifies the definition of "person with mental illness" as used in civil commitment statutes.

 

1:00 pm, HR C: Senate Committee on Workforce - Public hearing on SB 598, which establishes the Task Force on 21st Century Apprenticeship with 14 members appointed by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor. The task force is required to evaluate and make recommendations concerning methods for improving various aspects of apprenticeship in this state.  

 

3:00 pm/HR D: House Committee on Human Services and Housing - Work session to move forward HB 2219, which requires the Department of Human Services to convene a work group to study consolidation of application processes for human and social services and to report its recommendation to the Legislative Assembly.

 

Tuesday, March 24

 

8:00 am, HR 343: Senate Committee on Judiciary - Public hearing and possible work session on SB 369, which enacts the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. Authorizes certain fiduciaries to access electronic communications and digital assets of other person or a decedent. Sets forth procedures for obtaining access and control of digital assets. Sets forth responsibilities of custodians of digital assets.

 

8:30 am, HR H-170: Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Education - Work session to move HB 5017 (State School Fund Budget) to the full Ways and Means Committee.

 

3:00 pm, HR B: Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood - Public hearings on a variety of mental health bills, including SB 787, SB 840, SB 834,  SB 763, and SB 832; work session on SB 710, which relates to health records requested to obtain Social Security benefits.

 

Wednesday, March 25

 

8:00 am, HR D: House Committee on Higher Education, Innovation and Workforce Development - Public hearing on HB 2616, which relates to vocational education and establishes the State Apprenticeship Education and Training Fund.

 

1:00 pm, HR D: House Committee on Education - Public hearing on HB 3425, which requires school districts and the Department of Education to provide information related to confirmed acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying, or acts of cyber bullying.  

 

3:00 pm, HR A: Senate Committee on Health Care - Work session on SB 93, which requires reimbursement for up to 60-day supply of prescription drug that is prescribed for chronic condition.

 

Thursday, March 26

 

8:00 am, HR 343: Senate Committee on Judiciary - Public hearing and possible work session on SB 740, which removes the requirement that an arrested person with a disability provide proof of inability to obtain a qualified interpreter in order for the public employer of the arresting officer to pay for an interpreter.

 

1:00 pm, HR C: Senate Committee on Education

  • Work sessions on a package of bills related to school discipline: SB 553 (Imposes limits on instances when student under 12 years of age may be suspended or expelled from school); SB 554 (Directs the Department of Education to assist school districts in achieving specified goals related to school discipline and appropriates moneys to the department for purpose of assisting school districts); and SB 556 (Prohibits use of expulsion to address truancy).
  • Public hearings on: SB 896 (Relating to distributions from the State School Fund for students with disabilities); and SB 898 (Directs the Department of Education to award grants to school districts for support service programs, education innovation programs and education intervention programs).

3:00 pm, HR B: Senate Committee on Human Services and Early Childhood will consider SB 772

, which Requires video transmissions of executive department and legislative department to be closed-captioned for access by hearing-impaired persons.  

 

 

Friday, March 27

 

"In District Day" for Legislators - No hearings scheduled


2015 Photo Rally Contest

Participate in our virtual rally to show support for DD services. It's fun and easy! Just print a Photo Rally Sign, have a picture taken of you holding the sign, and post the photo on your Facebook and then share it on the Oregon I/DD Coalition Facebook Page. If you are with an organization, be sure to mention the organization in your post. 

Stay Informed

E-Subscribe to customize the information that you want to receive directly from the Oregon Legislature.

 

Access  Legislative Audio and Video to watch or listen to live or archived Senate and House chamber sessions and/or Committee hearings.
Now, Let's GO!

Cheryl Cisneros,  GO Project Coordinator