Shall they dance?

There's a dull sounding committee in each chamber of the legislature that's called Rules, but it's anything but boring. This is where the popular kids in the House and Senate get to decide who's in and who's out. Just like real life, most don't make the list. Bills are at stake here, and everyone who's got one (or many) are trying to get theirs pulled to party on the floor where they can receive enough votes to beat back nasty rumors and backstabbing in the opposite chamber. We can only dream to get far enough for such a flogging.

One late arrival that looks promising is SB 6891- providing continuing coverage for Medicare part D beneficiaries.  It comes on the heels of Governor Gregoire's chat with Health & Human Services Secretary Leavitt last weekend.  It appears our state will have enough money to ensure that persons eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid won't get socked with expenses that keep them from getting their medication -- at least for this year anyway.  This is very good news for the more than 18,000 individuals with developmental disabilties who are dual eligble for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Developmental disability bills are hanging in there, though most have died. It's a fragile time. Bills don't make it unless they have the right friends or a big push by a large numbers of people. Usually, we rely on the latter and hope for the former. Forget what your parents told you, do what everyone else is doing -- get involved (look below for specific items that need help).

On another note, there's a reliable rumor that the Senate may release its budget proposals next week. Be on the lookout for a budget update with a rundown on what's in it for developmental disabilities.

In the meantime, People for a Responsible Budget is holding a press conference at the Capitol Campus Sundial on Monday the 13th at 10:00 am. It's a chance to tell the public that a responsible budget must meet the most pressing needs of Washington's vulnerable children and adults who face the double whammy of rising living costs on top of eroded funding for people-serving programs.. Come one and all (but hopefully more than one).

Action Items

Birth to Three Early Intervention Services
SHB 1107, sponsored by Rep. Dickerson (D-36), just passed the House yesterday with a 98-0 vote. It still has to get through the Senate, but this may very well be the year that our state decides that all school districts will participate in birth-to-three services for children with disabilities. Thank goodness advances in science have not been moving at the same pace or we'd still be arguing about theories of evolution.
Take Action: Email your two representatives or call the toll-free legislative hotline and thank them for voting to support SHB 1107 -- early intervention services for children with disabilities.  Be sure to thankRep. Dickerson (D-36), the bill's sponsor, too.  The bill is likely to be referred to the Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education committee.  Let members of this committee know how important it is for school districts to participate in birth-to-three early intervention services.  Ask them to support Substitute House Bill 1107.

Disability Access Voting
Substitute House Bill 2479 and Substitute Senate Bill 6242 — Voting equipment— have been improved by amendments to include all people with disabilities and to establish county advisory councils to meet the diverse needs for accessible voting machines at the local level. These companion bills are sponsored by Rep. Haigh (D-35) and Sen. Kastama (D-25). Each bill has moved one step closer to the floor of each chamber.
Take Action: Call or email your legislators and ask for their support of Substitute House Bill 2479 and Substitute Senate Bill 6242 — Voting equipment for people with disabilities.

Affordable Housing
Substitute House Bill 2418 — Increasing the availability of affordable housing -- passed out of House Capital Budget just under the wire earlier this week. It needs to get on the House floor and voted out by the end of Valentines Day (that's Tuesday the 14th for the rest of us). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Springer (D-45), takes advantage of the hot housing market to leverage increased real estate excise taxes for the benefit of people who cannot buy into the run-away market. For people with developmental disabilities, this bill adds $1.25 million to the Housing Trust Fund DD Set-Aside.
Take Action: If you have not done so this week, call or email your two representatives and ask them to help pass SHB 2418 -- increasing affordable housing -- over to the Senate.

Help for Employment Providers
Substitute House Bill 2759 -- relating to the transfer of certain real property and facilities. Sponsored by Rep. Ericks (D-1) this bill helps certain non-profit DD service providers stay in business by allowing public entities to transfer property to them. It's limited to properties that were improved or acquired using Referendum 29 or 37 bonds. It's a good little bill that’s moved to House Rules, so you know what that means: help.
Take Action: Since bills need to be pulled from Rules before they can be voted on the floor of each chamber, contact members of House Rules, especially if you have a legislator on that committee or represent an organization. Ask them to bring SHB 2759 to a vote.

More Bills of Interest

Thanks to You

The Arc of Washington State thanks the following organizations for ensuring that the voice of developmental disabilities was heard this week: The Arc of Grays Harbor, The Arc of King County, The Arc of Olympic Peninsula, The Arc of Tri-Cities, Autism Society of Washington, the Developmental Disabilities Council, Morningside, Olympia High School Transition Program, Parent Coalition of King County, Parent Coalition of Pierce County, Parent Coalition of Benton/Franklin Counties, People First of Port Angeles, People First of Tri-Cities, Puget Sound Personnel, Self Advocates in Leadership, Self Advocates of Washington, SKAC Industries, Voices in Action, Washington Protection & Advocacy, Work Opportunities, and the WEE Care Coalition.

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 13
People for a Responsible Budget Press Conference
10:00 am
Capitol Campus Sundial (in between the John L O'Brien Building and J.A. Cherberg Building)
Join with like-minded people to share the message that a responsible budget must meet the most pressing needs of Washington's vulnerable children and adults who face the double whammy of rising living costs on top of eroded funding for people-serving programs.

Every Wednesday:
Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Day
10:00 am
Be part of the action in Olympia! Learn the latest news first hand and how to be heard on the hill. Advocacy Day happens every Wednesday during legislative session. The day begins at 10:00 with an hour briefing on issues, questions and answers, and opportunities for an afternoon of advocacy. For more information, contact 1-888-754-8798, ext. 105 or, bean@arcwa.org. Limited stipends for travel, respite and interpreters are available on a first-come first-served basis.
February 15th highlighted topic: Transportation