Fall

Bills of Interest

Below we summarize some bills of interest to the disability community. Two bills became law: SB 200 on concussions and student athletes, and SB 458 changing the term “Mental Retardation” to “Intellectual Disability”.

For more information about these or any other state bills, go to:www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm. At the top of the page is a box labeled, “Find Legislation By, choose “Bill #”, then enter the bill number and click on “Go”.

HB 42. Introduced by Representative Matthew Baker (R-Bradford). The bill would block Pennsylvania from requiring individuals to have health insurance, which is one of the key features of federal health care reform. The bill was voted out of the House Health Committee on February 7 and the House Appropriations Committee on Oct. 26, 2011 and given first consideration by the full House.

HB 210. Introduced by Representative Matthew Baker (R-Bradford). The bill amends theFamily Caregiver Support Act to raise the maximum amounts that can be paid under the act. It passed the House with amendments on October 5 by a unanimous vote and has been referred to the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.

HB 704. Introduced by Representative Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks). The bill provides for thespecial education funding formula. It was voted out of the House Education Committee and sent to the Appropriations Committee on June 28, 2011. On October 17, the bill was voted out of the Appropriations Committee and sent back to the House Education Committee.

HB 1720. Introduced by Representative Tim Hennessey (R-Chester). The bill provides for a procedure for determining who has authority in guardianship proceedings. The bill was voted out of the full House on October 26 and referred to the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.

HB 1936. Introduced by Representative Doug Reichley (R-Lehigh). The bill would require that disability parking placards be renewed every three years and that a $7.50 fee be charged for each new application and renewal. Eighteen percent of the fee would go to the shared ride program and the other eighty-two percent would go to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for grants to centers for independent living. The bill was introduced and referred to the House Transportation Committee on October 26, 2011.

SB 200. Introduced by Senator Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh). It establishes standards for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries to student athletes. The bill passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor on November 9, 2011 becoming Act 101 of 2011.

SB 397. Introduced by Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango). This is the current session’s version of legislation supported by the advocacy community which would establish procedures for prohibiting the imposition of the death sentence in cases of intellectual disabilities (mental retardation). SB 397 was voted out of the Senate on Oct. 18, 2011 by a vote of 43-7. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

SB 458. Introduced by Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester). The bill would amend the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act to change the term “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability”. It was approved by the Governor on Nov. 22, 2011 as Act 105 of 2011.

November Elections
Democrat David Wecht, an Allegheny Court judge, defeated Republican attorney Vic Stabile, for a seat on the Superior Court, an intermediate state court that hears civil and criminal appeals. Republican Anne Covey, of Bucks County, defeated Democrat Kathyrn Boockvar for the Commonwealth Court. Commonwealth Court hears legal matters involving state and local government and regulatory agencies.

Six State House members were elected to local offices:

• Representative Josh Shapiro, (D-Montgomery) elected as part of the first team of Democratic majority Commissioners in Montgomery County;
• Chelsa Wagner, (D-Allegheny) elected to the post of Allegheny County Controller;
• Doug Reichley, (R-Lehigh) elected to the Court of Common Pleas;
• Jewell Williams, (D-Philadelphia) elected as Philadelphia Sheriff;
• Denny O’Brien, (R- Philadelphia) and Kenyatta Johnson, (D-Philadelphia), both elected to Philadelphia’s City Council.

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Reapportionment
The United States Constitution requires that a Census be taken every 10 years. The census is used to redraw district boundaries for the US House of Representatives. As a result of the 2010 census, Pennsylvania has 18 members of the House, down from 19 members after the 2000 census. To date legislation has not been introduced to deal with US reapportionment.

The census is also used to redraw State House and Senate districts based on population. Pennsylvania’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission is drafting new PA Legislative boundaries. The Commission consists of House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny; House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny; Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware; Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny; and former state Superior Court Justice Stephen McEwen (D-Delaware) who was appointed by the state Supreme Court to be chairman of the commission.

On October 31, 2011, the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved a preliminary reapportionment plan by a vote of 3-2 (Republicans for and Democrats against) with McEwen casting the tie-breaking vote. A public hearing on exceptions was held on November 18, 2011. The 30 day public comment period ends Nov 30, 2011. A copy of the plan can be found at www.redistricting.state.pa.us. It includes the 1991, current 2001, as well as 2011 preliminary boundaries. To review the maps, readers need to know their districts, which can be found atwww.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address.

Federal MA Funds
The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) is the federal government’s share of state Medical Assistance benefit costs. No state can receive less than 50% or more than 83%. Preliminary estimates for the Federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 2012 indicate that Pennsylvania’s FMAP will decrease from 55.07% to 54.28%, a reduction of 0.79%. This reduction in the FMAP is estimated to cause Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance reimbursements to be reduced by approximately $167.5 million. Because of the difference in state and federal fiscal years, the impact of the FMAP reduction would be approximately $125 million in state fiscal year 2012-13. According to the Federal Funds Information Service (FFIS), 25 states will see their FMAP reduced in 2013.

PDE Performance
On August 19, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the state has earned the highest level possible in meeting requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) for FY2009. Pennsylvania has earned this determination four times in the past five years. To read the PDE 2009 Annual Performance Report go towww.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_performance_plan_annual_performance_report/7481/pa_part_b_state_performance_plan_for_2005-2010/508805.

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2012 Federal Budget
The President proposed his budget to fund the federal government for October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012 on February 14, 2011 and an alternative plan on April 13, 2011. Congress has not completed work on the budget. Neither chamber has passed the major appropriations bills that fund most human services. Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution to keep the government operating until an omnibus budget bill is passed. For a chart of the appropriations bills’ status, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app12.html.

Deficit Reduction
In early August, a bill took effect that raised the debt ceiling so that the US can continue to borrow money to pay the nation’s bills. The bill includes substantial spending cuts, though not to Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security. A “Super Committee,” made up of representatives of both parties and both chambers is charged with making additional debt-reduction recommendations by November 23, 2011 for a Congressional vote by December 23, 2011. Pennsylvania’s Senator Pat Toomey is on the committee. On November 21 a statement was released by the Co-chairs that agreement had not been reached. In that case, the legislation calls for some automatic cuts (known as “sequestration”) up to $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. Those cuts would be scheduled to take effect in 2013 and would include a 2% reduction to Medicare aimed at slowing its growth. For information about the members, meetings and proposals, go to www.deficitreduction.gov/public/index.cfm.

CLASS Act
On October 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to stop the CLASS program. Secretary Sebelius said that she “did not see a viable path forward.” Proponents believe that further actuarial analysis should be done, and that hybrid models should be considered. Advocacy groups which support the program have urged that it go forward, citing the importance of the long term supports and services to people with disabilities and seniors. They are fighting efforts to repeal that part of the law. To read Secretary Sebelius’ blog explaining recent actions on the CLASS Act, go towww.healthcare.gov/blog/2011/10/class10142011.html. The full report to Congress is at http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/2011/class/index.shtml.

Combating Autism Act
On September 30, 2011, President Obama signed into law, the “Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011” (H.R. 2005, now PL 112-32). The Act reauthorizes the Combating Autism Act of 2006 that established funding for several programs and government support for autism research, screening, intervention, and education. Read the bill at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:1:./temp/~bdmfCp:@@@L&summ2=m&|/home/LegislativeData.php| and view the autism resource page at www.hhs.gov/autism.

Health Care Reform
The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge by 26 states to the 2010 health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Court agreed to hear one of several appeals which have been filed—one from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeal upheld the constitutionality of the ACA.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals held the ACA’s individual mandate to be unconstitutional, but able to be separated from the rest of the law. The Supreme Court decision will likely come in late June. The central issue is whether the requirement that people buy health insurance (the individual mandate) is constitutional. The Court will decide whether the individual mandate is constitutional and if it is not, how much of the rest of the law can stand. For information about how the ACA affects people with disabilities, go to www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=3044.

Housing Rights
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity has issued guidance (Information Bulletin # 340) to its regional and field offices about enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA, Section 504 and the Olmstead decision. HUD is prioritizing help for people with disabilities transitioning out of institutions and into community-based settings. The guidance includes strategies to ensure that public housing authorities let people in institutions and their advocates know about the availability of housing vouchers. For a description of disability rights in housing, go to http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disabilities/inhousing.

Train Access
In late September, the Department of Transportation published the final rule amending its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to require intercity, commuter, and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure that passengers with disabilities at new and renovated station platforms can get on and off any accessible car of the train. The Final Rule is available at www.fta.dot.gov/documents/2011-23576.pdf.

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Performance Report
A website on how states are doing in providing services, “Rising Expectations: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers,” is at www.longtermscorecard.org. Pennsylvania’s overall ranking is 39.

Documentary
The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is premiering a documentary film about the history of the struggle for equal rights for people with disabilities. The PBS website has an Interactive Timeline of the Disability Rights Movement, a talk back section, and footage from the film. The website iswww.pbs.org/independentlens/lives-worth-living.

Money Follows the Person
Mathematica has issued a new report on Money Follows the Person. It identifies key factors to successful transition. The report cites lack of affordable, accessible housing as the single greatest barrier to transitions. The report also identifies strategies states use to transition and maintain participants successfully in the community.  See www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/health/MFPfieldrpt8.pdf.

Rebalancing
A new report, “Rebalancing Long-Term Services and Supports: Progress to Date and a Research Agenda for the Future,” discusses progress in rebalancing Medicaid long-term services and supports spending, how the Affordable Care Act can support states’ continued efforts to rebalance LTSS and opportunities for future research to support continued system transformation.  It can be viewed at  www.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/3673.

Direct Care Workers
The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) has released “Comprehensive State-By-State Data on the Direct Care Workforce.”  Go towww.hcbs.org/moreInfo.php/nb/doc/3665.

Transition Report
The U.S. Department of Education has released “The Post-High School Outcomes of Young Adults with Disabilities up to 6 Years After High School” View the full report at http://ies.ed.gov/ncser/pubs/20113004.

Disability Policy
The National Council on Disability (NCD) issued a report, “National Disability Policy: A Progress Report.” To view the report, go towww.ncd.gov/progress_reports/Oct312011.

MA Cuts
The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured issued its annual survey of state Medicaid budgets.  Go towww.kff.org/medicaid/8248.cfm.

IDEA Video
On the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the US Department of Education has produced a video, “Celebrating 35 Years of IDEA,” available at http://youtu.be/DUn6luZQaXE.

Segregated Work
The National Disabilities Rights Network (NDRN) has published, “Segregated & Exploited:  The Failure of the Disability Service System to Provide Quality Work.” It’s available at www.ndrn.org/images/Documents/Resources/Publications/Reports/Segregated-and-Exploited.pdf.

Employment
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued an Informational Bulletin on employment which emphasizes the importance of competitive work for people with disabilities and highlights its goal to promote integrated employment options through the waiver program. To view the Bulletin, go towww.apse.org/docs/employment_informational_bulletin.pdf.

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