Advocacy Network News 
 

General Assembly Session Concludes

DD Rates Get Increase

Waiting List Not Funded

 

The Maryland General Assembly completed its 90 day session this week with passage of the State's FY 2016 Budget. The Arc Baltimore is pleased to report that DDA Community Services will receive a 3% rate increase in FY 2016, and the 3.5% statutorily-mandated rate increases for FY 2017-2019 will remain in state law. This is a significant victory for Marylanders with developmental disabilities because the Governor's original budget had only a 1.75% rate increase and because the State's finances are so tight.

 

The rate increase passed is a direct result of incredible leadership in the State Senate and House of Delegates and because of the grassroots advocacy - calls, emails, visits, letters -- of citizens from across the state.

 

While the rate increase is a tremendous victory, the status of the $3 million for the DDA Waiting List and the $2.2 million for Purchase of Service/"carve-out" grants that provide key services is in limbo. These were not funded in the State Budget and a Supplemental Budget from the Governor was not completed. This is very disappointing, especially given the very critical nature of families' needs that would be addressed by Waiting List funding. There may be future action on these initiatives by Governor Hogan, but at this time, it is uncertain.

 

We can also report on the passage of several important bills supported by The Arc Maryland and our partners in the Developmental Disabilities Coalition.

 

  • HB1105-Disabled Individuals - Task Force on the Maryland ABLE Program: A Task Force will establish a plan to mirror federal law providing for tax protected savings accounts that can be used for qualified disability expenses. Further reporting will be offered as this is developed.
  • SB0853-Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators: The Ethan Saylor Alliance will establish self-advocates as educators within police academies to include training about how to effectively and appropriately interact with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Further reporting will be offered as this is developed.
  • SB0792-Public Health - Nondiscrimination in Access to Anatomical Gifts and Organ Transplantation: Prevents any entity from prohibiting organ donation based solely on one's intellectual disability. Further reporting will be offered as this is developed.

 

More detailed analysis of the budget and reporting on legislation that was passed and/or defeated will be reported as it becomes available from The Arc Maryland, MACS and the DD Coalition.


 


 

 
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