2007 Legislative Report #1: The Effect of the 80th Legislature’s Budget on YOU!
Future Issues of the CTD Messenger will feature more legislative reports!
It was supposed to be a friendlier Texas Legislature. For the first time in years, the State had a budget surplus and it seemed time to address priority funding issues for Texans with disabilities. CTD worked tirelessly through the days and nights of the 140 days of the 80th session to help assure that Texans with disabilities had a voice in the budget. With the help of individuals calling and writing their Senators and Representatives along with the help of our partner advocacy groups, positive outcomes were achieved:
- $267 million in state funds and federal match to reduce the community services waiting list by 10% + $162 million state and federal match for demographic growth
- a budget contingency tying increased wages for community care attendants to the increase in the federal minimum wage.
- $1 million to establish 2 new centers for independent living
- $6.3 million in new funding to end the waiting list for CRS (intensive early rehab of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries)
- After being zeroed out in 2005, reinstated programs that assist low income Texans who are having trouble paying their utility bills
The Legislature chose to leave Austin with $6.5 billion unspent despite the unmet needs of the disability community. Though we did not get everything we wanted, at the end of the day the results are that thousands of additional people with disabilities will get services and benefits. CTD is deeply appreciative of ADAPT, Advocacy Inc. and the Texas Center for Disability Studies; our partners in broad-based disability advocacy. We thank AARP for their strong effort on the waiting list and utility issues. In this difficult state, the outstanding legislator is Senator Judith Zaffirini (photo), whose hard work, legislative acumen and commitment to Texans with disabilities secured most of these funds.
Round Table on Relocation under Managed Care
June 28, 2007
Hosted at the beautiful Radisson Town Lake Hotel in Austin TX.
THIS EVENT IS FREE!
This will be a facilitated interactive session designed to address:
- New players & funding streams in a new long-term services delivery system
- A point-in-time relocation process as a baseline for further development
- Identifying & building relationships and strategies for successful relocation process in the Medicaid Managed Care SDA’s
Invited Round Table Participants:
Health and Human Services State agencies, HMO's, relocation providers, and advocacy organizations
in the STAR+PLUS Service Delivery Areas of Bexar, Harris-Harris Expansion, Nueces and Travis counties, and ICM in Dallas-Ft. Worth.
Space is limited:
Decision-makers and on-the ground-workers are encouraged to attend.
Registration is free.
To Register or gain more information click on “RoundTable”
In Memorium Jerry Hassell
Disability advocate and pioneer Jerry Hassell continued on his spiritual journey and reunited with his Lord on May 1, 2007.
Jerry was one of the founders of CTD in 1978 and is a winner of CTD’s most prestigious recognition, the Justin Dart Memorial Award. Hassell became one of the leading forces behind much legislation passed during the 1970s' and 80s' disability movement. He was a key leader in integrating concerns of the deaf community into cross-disability advocacy.
Jerry had a 30 year teaching career at the Texas School for the Deaf, became the first deaf instructor to be employed by the University of Texas, served the Texas Assn.of the Deaf for numerous terms as President and much more, including an invitation to witness the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by then President George Bush. Hassell was also very proud of his Native American ancestry and co-founded the Intertribal Deaf Council.
A genuinely nice person, Jerry stayed in touch with CTD through this spring. Our sincere condolences to the Hassell family.
Become a Member of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
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Click on www.cotwd.org for more information.