Hello everybody,

 

Welcome to the third edition of CDRC’s newsletter.  In this edition our main focus will be legislative issues yet again.  We will let you know the status of each bill CDRC is following.

 

Legislative happenings:

 

  • HB 988/SB 776  “Individuals with Developmental Disabilities - Additional Rights and Services.  This is CDRC’s bill. The bill has passed unanimously through the House of Delegates in the Health and Governmental Operations Sub-Committee.  This committee put an amendment on the bill, which CDRC agreed to.  The amendment changes two words throughout the bill.  The amendment does NOT change the point of the legislation.  They wanted to put a lot more amendments on the bill, which we felt would have defeated the whole purpose of the bill.  CDRC did NOT accept those amendments. [An amendment adds something to, or takes something away from a bill]. Legislators will amend a bill if they don’t like how a bill is written.  So far SB 776, the Senate version of our bill, has passed as amended too.  If the amended version of HB 988 passes the Senate, then our bill will go to the Governor for his signature. If the Governor signs it, then it will be a new law! Please check our website for the original legislation, as well as the amended version.  http://www.thecdrc.org/informatiom_files/cdrclegislation.htm  (This link takes you directly to the CDRC legislation, and to the amendments.)

 

HB 794/SB 714 Written Plan of Habilitation - State Residential Centers.   This bill has also passed unanimously through the House of Delegates in the Health and Governmental Operations Committee with a favorable decision with amendments.  The sponsors of the bill agreed to these amendments.

 

  • SB 986/HB 1566   Maryland Home Care Services - Personal Care Providers - Reimbursement, Training, and Benefits – Rate Bill.   CDRC has been working closely with SEIU (Service Employees International Union) on legislation that would benefit home care providers.  This bill hearing was on March 24th.  CDRC Co-Leader John Sorensen gave testimony in support of this legislation.   We have not heard whether the legislation has gotten a favorable decision as of yet.

 

  • HB 1554 - Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee - Modifications – Altering the membership of the Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC); requiring the Secretary of the department of Health and Mental Hygiene to seek recommendations from specified organizations in selecting specified consumer representatives; providing that specified consumer representatives may be selected to serve on the committee as a vacancy occurs; requiring the Department to provide members of the Committee with specified advance notice of a committee meeting; etc  There has not been action on HB 1554 as of yet.

 

  • HB 1534 – Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disability – Freedom of Choice – This is the bill from last year that wanted to reopens admissions to the State Residential Centers (SRC’s, Institutions).  Last year the bill was put aside and not voted on.  This year CDRC worked hard again to tell the legislators that this was a bad bill and to ask them to vote against it.  So far, the bill is stuck in committee.  We hope it stays there.  If the bill stays stuck in committee it won’t get voted on and it can’t become a new law to allow people to go into institutions.

 

 

 

Other happenings:

 

·        Internship – Kenny’s internship with Senator Grosfeld is going great.  The Senator invited Kenny on the Senate floor in the State House.  Kenny was able to observe the proceedings, and how the voting process takes place up close.  He was honored that Senator Grosfeld would invite him on the floor of the Senate.

 

·        Contacting Legislatures – We have asked CDRC members to call their Senators on the Senate Finance Committee in their district to ask them to support CDRC’s bill, Individuals with Developmental Disabilities – Additional Rights and Services.  It is very important to let your legislatores know which bills that you support, and which bills that you don’t support.  We have also asked our members to call their Delegates on the Health and Governmental Operations

 Sub – Committee to support HB 1554. 

 

·        Continuation funding – CDRC has sent letters out to potential funders in hopes of getting funding so that we can keep working for the disability community in the future.  We have not received any responses from them yet.  Current funding ends in September of this year.

 

·        Outreach – CDRC has an outreach meeting April 4th with People First of Harford County.  This meeting will be in Harford County at the Arc Northern Chesapeake Office from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.  CDRC visits different groups in Maryland to inform them about CDRC, and what we are working on for the disability community.  We’re always looking for new members!!                      CDRC WANTS YOU!!

 

·        Web Site – Kenny has been updating our web page weekly.  He will be updating the site with more legislative information, stories, photos, activities, and information on a regular basis so, check the site often.  www.thecdrc.org.

 

·        Housing Seminar – CDRC is hosting a Housing Seminar April 11th from 11:00 – 4:00.  This seminar will be on an array of topics pertaining to housing for the disability community. The seminar will be at 302 East Joppa Rd. in Baltimore.

 

 

 

 

CDRC April Meeting:

 

April 17th,

10921 Inwood Ave.

Silver Spring, MD. 20902

 

SWOT Training 11:00 – 3:00

CDRC Meeting   3:00 – 5:00

Please call Jessica at 888-272-3449x30 to RSVP

 

CDRC May Meeting

 

May 29th

Maryland City at Russett Library Branch

3501 Russett Common

Laurel, MD. 20724

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Please call Jessica at 888-272-3449x30 to RSVP