2024 Virginia
General Assembly (GA)
Overview of GA and Our Partners
Each January Virginia holds a General Assembly Session to pass new legislation and a two-year spending plan introduced by the governor. Throughout the current 60 day legislative session, we will be collaborating with our advocacy partners on a diverse number of bills. Our partners include:
- Autism Society of Central Virginia, Tidewater & Northern Virginia
- Virginia Autism Project (VAP)
- Commonwealth Autism
- Autism Speaks
- Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
- The Arc of Virginia
Legislation Before the GA
Legislators have wasted no time in filing their bills. In the first two weeks, more than 50 bills that impact the autism and DD community have been filed along with many more budget amendments. More will follow. Fortunately the autism and DD advocacy partners are watching the GA process and will let us know when our help is needed.
The Youngkin Administration's two-year spending plan "aims to provide waivers to the 3,400 Virginians currently on the 'priority one' waitlist — consisting of those individuals who urgently need the services and support offered by the waiver in a year or less." According to Virginia Department of Planning and Budget Director Michael Maul, "This is going to be a big initiative, but with the providers out there seeing this money is there, I think we can generate the kind of infrastructure we need to help address this important area.” (Virginia Mercury 12/20/23)
As hopeful as this quote from Director Maul sounds, it will take more than optimism. Provider capacity shortages across Virginia cannot meet current demand for the waiver services people want. Funding Priority 1 is critical, but so is an across the board 18% rate increase for all waiver services and a plan and funding to stimulate momentum in provider expansion.
CRAAG Supports Six
Autism-Specific Bills
CRAAG supports the legislation promoted by several of our autism advocacy partners, in particular Autism Society of Central Virginia, Virginia Autism Project, and Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities.
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Reestablishes the Autism Advisory Council and gives the autism community an important voice in advising the GA . As a standing body, it gives the GA input outside the GA from families, advocacy organizations and other stakeholders. (SB 389 - Pekarsky)
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Requires DMAS to disregard Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) income when determining an individual's financial eligibility for a waiver. (HB 908 - Shin)
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Protects a person with DD from prosecution for assault on an officer when that person is experiencing a crisis and calls for help.. (SB 357 - Boysko)
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Companion House and Senate bills establish minimum training standards for law enforcement officers on engaging with individuals with autism. (HB 1246 - Willett & SB 547 - Bagby)
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Requires private and Medicaid insurers to cover prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment for PANDAS/PANS, two pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. (HB 513 - Hope).
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Extends the term of the PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2028. (HB 514 - Hope)
CRAAG Also Supports Legislation
from The Arc of Virginia's Agenda
These bullets come directly from The Arc of Virginia's 2024 Agenda.
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Fund both Priority 1 and the proposed 18% rate increase for all waiver services. (288#37h - Hope & 288#44s - VanValkenburg)
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Allow waiver recipients struggling to find services to retain their waiver slot for up to one year due to the ongoing provider shortage. (HB577 - Runion & SB610 - Suetterlein, Pekarsky).
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Match the Supported Living waiver rate to the 4-Person Group Home rate (288#27h - Sickles & 288#35s - Suetterlein & 288#42s - Ebbin)
- Promote business start-up and expansion to develop the provider base. (297#11h - Sickles and 296#2s - Boysko)
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Study options for implementing a set of core essential services to move our system from a reactive to a proactive system. (292#1h - Sickles & 292#2h - Lopez & 292#5s - Boysko)
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Protect families by amending regulations for Legally Responsible Individuals (LRIs) to be reasonable and appropriate for families that provide paid care for their minor children. (SB488 - Aird & SB149 - Suetterlein & HB909 - Shin & HB1282 - Witt)
- Create Medicaid Works eligibility for DD waiver recipients to ensure that they can earn income without risking their waivers. (288#48h - Coyner & 288#25s - Jordan)
Reminder
Read CRAAG's most recent January Alert #1 - Making a Difference for the Autism Community.
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