Issue Five - February 17, 2019
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The Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition has a beautiful new website! Use this link to visit us online:
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Another Busy Week of DD Advocacy
The weather cooperated for a busy week of advocacy at the Capitol and we want to thank the dozens of advocates who showed up to the Capitol building several days last week to share their stories about the importance of DD Services during our Advocacy Day and the Joint Ways & Means Human Services Committee Public Hearing.
Click here to watch the Public Hearing
.
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2019 Coalition Priorities
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It’s Time to Stabilize Oregon’s Developmental Disabilities Services System!
Oregon is strongest when everyone has what they need to fully participate in community life.
The safety and security of Oregonians with Developmental Disabilities relies
on current service funding levels and protecting eligibility criteria as well as
other critical investments:
Pay Direct Support Professionals Living Wages
- Support rate restructure to reduce turnover and create a living wage for Direct Support Professionals.
Fully Fund DD Case Management
- Ensure DD Case Managers are fully funded to support people with DD to create plans and achieve their goals.
Support innovative approaches in Oregon’s DD Services System that strengthen families and communities:
Protect the Fairview Trust
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Safeguard the $6 million in the Fairview Housing Trust. Support moving the trust to Oregon Community Foundation where the trust advisory committee can oversee its use.
Invest in Families
- Protect $1.2 million in existing funding for Family Networks connecting families experiencing disabilities and communities. Add $330,000 to build capacity across the state by sustaining new networks in Eastern Oregon.
Develop Statewide Data Systems
- Establish an integrated information technology system that will support case management and provide statewide data to inform policy-making and report quality of life outcomes for Oregonians with I/DD.
Access the Coalition's 2019 Priorities Page
here.
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A Closer Look at DSP Wages
By Oregon Resource Association (ORA)
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The IDD Community is prioritizing a funding request to support
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), a workforce on the verge of collapse. The health, safety and independence of Oregonians who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are threatened by critical shortages in this workforce. DSPs provide crucial supports to adults and children with I/DD including management of their medical needs, challenging behaviors, personal hygiene, support to maintain employment and make real connections in the community. These incredibly dedicated and extensively trained individuals work for nonprofit entities and other agencies that operate as state partners, providing services that support people to live and work in communities across Oregon.
The funding request of $46.1M would enable DSPs to earn an average wage of $15.00 per hour. The request is based on a rate model that was developed in 2018 by DHS, working in conjunction with stakeholders and consultants. It updates provider costs and uses the Oregon Needs Assessment to identify support needs that drive payment categories. Because DSP wages and other costs had not been adjusted for cost of living increases since 2009, full funding for the rate model is $84 million.
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Policy Bills and Upcoming Hearings
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The following are the hearings for the upcoming week on important budget or policy bills we’re tracking. You can access an updated DD Coalition Priority Bills report
here
to stay updated.
February 18th – Monday
8:00 am/HR E:
House Committee on Business and Labor
The Committee will be holding a public hearing and possible work session on
HB 2406
, a bill that clarifies the scope of workers’ compensation coverage for trainees who participate in certain work experience programs or school-directed professional education projects.
Note: There will also be a -1 amendment to this bill introduced that replaces the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability.”
8:30 am/HR A:
House Committee on Revenue
The Committee will be holding a public hearing
HB 2387
, a bill that establishes a refundable credit against personal income taxes for contributions to a higher education network savings account or an ABLE Account.
1:00 pm/HR B:
Senate Committee on Education
The Committee will be holding work sessions on the following bills that had hearings last week:
SB 12
, a bill that establishes an inclusive schools pilot program.
NOTE: The proposed regional student advisory bodies do not yet specifically include those who experience disabilities.
SB 52
, a bill that
requires school districts to adopt a policy on student suicide prevention.
1:00 pm / HR A:
Senate Committee on Health Care
. The Committee will be holding a work session on
SB 249
, a bill that specifies requirements for insurer determinations on requests for prior authorization for coverage of health care items, services, procedures and settings and also prescribes more stringent timelines for determinations.
1:00 pm / HR 50:
House Committee on Human Services and Housing
. The Committee will be holding a public hearing on
SB 608
, a bill that the Senate recently voted to approve that caps annual rent increases and bans no-cause evictions after tenants have occupied a rental for at least a year.
Note: Because of the large number of people expected to testify on SB 608, the committee will recess at 2:45 pm and then reconvene at 5:00 pm to continue the public hearing. Each speaker should limit their testimony to one to two minutes. Written testimony will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Feb. 19
th
.
February 19th – Tuesday
8:30 am / HR F:
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services
will be hearing invited testimony on the
Self Sufficiency
program area of the Department of Human Services budget (
HB 5026
).
3:00 pm / HR E:
House Committee on Health Care
. The Committee will be holding a public hearing on
HB 2689
, a bill that requires the Oregon Health Authority to design and, with Federal approval, implement a program to import wholesale prescription drugs from Canada.
February 20th – Wednesday
8:30 am / HR F:
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services
will be hearing invited testimony on the
Child Welfare
program area of the Department of Human Services budget (
HB 5026
).
8:30 am / H-170:
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Education
will be hearing
invited testimony
on
HB 5015
(Grant in Aid) and
HB 5016
(State School Fund), the budget bills for the Department of Education.
1:00 pm / HR 50:
House Committee on Human Services and Housing
. The Committee will be holding a possible work session on
SB 608
(rent caps; banning no cause evictions after a year).
February 21st – Thursday
8:30 am / HR F:
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Services
will have a second day of invited testimony on the
Self Sufficiency
program area of the Department of Human Services budget (
HB 5026
).
8:30 am / H-170:
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Education
will be hearing
invited testimony
on
HB 5015
(Grant in Aid) and
HB 5016
(State School Fund), the budget bills for the Department of Education.
3:00 pm / HR B:
Senate Committee on Human Services
will be holding public hearings on the following bills:
SB 727
: Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt by rule a program that provides financial assistance to recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance for purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets, farm share sites and retail outlets.
SB 737
: A bill that extends the sunset for the property tax exemption for low income rental housing.
INTERESTED IN TRACKING BILLS OR HEARINGS?
•
Use the Oregon Legislature's
Capitol e-Subscribe
service to receive bill alerts for individual bills as they move through the legislative process, receive committee agendas, news from members of the legislative body and more.
•
You can also watch or listen to live or archived
video and audio
of Oregon Senate and House chamber sessions and Committee hearings.
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US Congressman Kurt Schrader
Town Hall Meetings This Week
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Marion County Town Hall
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 from 6-7 PM
Salem Public Library, Loucke Auditorium
585 Liberty St SE Salem OR 97301
Clackamas County Town Hall
Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 10-11AM
Milwaukie High School Auditorium
2301 SE Willard Street Milwaukie OR 97222
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DD Advocacy Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, March 5th
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The Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition’s GO! Project Advocacy Team will be available from 10 AM to 2 PM to provide information and support. Join us for free legislative advocacy training from 11 AM to Noon.
Here is how to participate:
- Before the Advocacy Day - Visit www.oregonlegislature.gov to get contact information for your State Senator, State Representative and members of the Joint Ways and Means Human Services Committee, then schedule visits with these key legislators and/or their staff.
- On the Advocacy Day - Wear something yellow to show unity in advocacy then stop by our Advocacy Headquarters in Capitol Room 167 before and after your visits for important advocacy updates and to complete our GO Project Survey.
We will also be hosting Advocacy Days April 30 and May 7.
Access the updated 2019 GO Project Advocacy Day Schedule
here
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Legislators Announce State Budget
Town Hall Meeting Road Show
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The Ways and Means Committee will begin traveling the state to hear from Oregonians. This is a great opportunity to show support for DD Services by wearing yellow and asking the budget committee to fund Developmental Disabilities Services:
- Coos Bay: Saturday, March 9, 1:00-3:00PM at Marshfield High School, Auditorium, 972 Ingersoll Ave.
- Pendleton: Friday, March 15, 5:30-7:30PM at Blue Mountain Community College, Pioneer Hall, Bob Clapp Theatre, 2411 NW Carden Ave.
- Redmond: Saturday, March 16, 2:00-4:00PM at Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Three Sisters Conference and Convention Center (South Sister), 3800 SW Airport Way
- Portland: Thursday, March 21, 5:30-7:30PM at Portland Community College – Cascade, MAHB 104 Auditorium, 5514 N. Albina Ave.
The committee will not have enough time to hear from everyone but please come prepared with one to two minutes of remarks about the importance of DD Services funding. Arrive at least an hour early to sign in.
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About the Oregon DD Coalition
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The Oregon DD Coalition advocates for DD services on behalf of and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and support organizations in Oregon.
We influence DD service and community support systems and legislation by communicating with a common, consistent voice – creating better opportunities for Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Interested in signing up for the GO! Bulletin or
becoming a member of the Oregon DD Coalition?
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1775 32nd Place, Suite F, Salem OR 97301
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