Wednesday, March 3, 2010

State legislation - Maine SP 446/LD 1198 passes with amendment in Committee; changes result in mixed feelings by advocates

The Maine autism insurance bill,

SP 446/LD 1198 : An Act To Reform Insurance Coverage To Include Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorders

was passed February 24, 2010 in the Joint Committee on Insurance and Financial Services  with a "do pass as amended" recommendation.
However the nature of the amendment was to change the age ceiling for coverage from 21 yrs to 5 yrs, resulting in mixed feelings by advocates and stakeholders.

SP 446/LD 1198  as amended continues to cover applied behavior analysis as rehabilitative services.

For further reading and reference
Proposal to Require Coverage of Autism Treatment Sparks Debate
February 24, 2010   Reported By: Josie Huang
MPBN


Maine Legislature Tracking SP 446/LD 1198

Autism Votes - Maine

Maine Legislature

Past blog post
Sunday, February 14, 2010
State legislation: Maine SP 446/LD 1198 autism insurance bill scheduled for committee worksession on February 17, 2010

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

U.S. House floor debate anticipated this week on H.R. 4247: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

Wrightslaw, the special education web resource, made an announcement on their Facebook page on March 1, 2010 that
H.R. 4247:Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act
is anticipated to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives floor THIS WEEK.

The alert links to an info sheet prepared by Jessie Butler, Esq. of the the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA), advising stakeholders on the interpretation of H.R. 4247, and how to contact members of the U.S. Congress by phone or email.

In a similar action alert citing a behavior-analytic practice point of view, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) urged their members to also contact Congress and referred to,
APBA Position Statement on Restraint and Seclusion
Support for APBA Position Statement on Restraint and Seclusion
At the current time ABA International has convened a task force on restraint and seclusion  which is developing a position statement; this statement would be, as with other ABA International position statements, subject to review and approval by vote of the ABA International Full members.

Progress of H.R. 4247 is dependent on what action is taken in the House, but it has been anticipated that if it passes in that chamber, that a conference committee would work to consolidate proposals within H.R. 4247 and those within S. 2860: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate and is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

For further information:
H.R.4247: To prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7] (introduced 12/9/2009)      Cosponsors (40)

S.2860 : A bill to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 12/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None)

Past blog post (with run-down on events to introduction and committee passage of H.R. 4247)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Federal Legislation: U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor passes bill to regulate use of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools

Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 2 | On-line ISSN: 2151-4704
ABAI Practice Board
(About 3/4 of the way down the page.)
"Position Statements
The ABAI Council assembles task forces to study critical issues within the field and to develop white papers for submittal to the Association' s Full Members for input and votes. Most recently, a task force on seclusion and restraint has been formed, with joint participation of the Science and Practice Boards. The task force will develop and recommend a position statement on the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint for consideration by ABAI Full Members. Participants in the task force include Jon Bailey, Michael F. Dorsey, Louis P. Hagopian, Gregory P. Hanley, David B. Lennox, Mary M. Riordan, Scott Spreat, and Timothy R. Vollmer. "

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.

State advocacy news: South Carolina Ways and Means proposes slashing services for Department of Disabilities and Special Needs - would eliminate all DDSN services except residential

On February 25, 2010, the South Carolina Legislature House Ways and Means Committee adopted a budget that would not only reduce the base budget by $42.3 million, but these reductions would lose the state matching Medicaid and other Federal funds which supply additional revenue for disability services at a ratio of 2:1 in Federal to state funds - resulting in an additional $110 million dollar shortfall.

The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs estimates that should the cuts not be restored, by necessity it must meet the needs of 4800 individuals in residential care; to accomplish that in the face of the proposed budget cuts would require elimination of service to 25,700 consumers being served under categories such as,
  • autism, 
  • brain injury,
  • mental retardation, and 
  • spinal cord injury, 
and services including, but not limited to:
  • early intervention, 
  • day programs,
  • workshops, 
  • respite, 
  • family support, 
  • acute rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury,
  • attendant care, 
  • the Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) program,
  • specialized therapies, and 
  • service coordination. 
An estimated 3100 jobs would also be lost with the budget cut.

The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs sent a lettter dated February 26, 2010, to Daniel T. Cooper, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, informing him of  the impact of the proposed cuts and requesting that funding be restored.

 Carolina Autism, and many other groups, such as the South Carolina Autism Society, have issued alerts for stakeholders to contact their state legislators as well as a reminder of an especial need for face-to face advocacy at the already scheduled Wednesday, March 3, 2010, Disability Advocacy Day at the South Carolina Statehouse.


References and for more information

South Carolina Legislature

Information on Disability Advocacy Day,
including what needs to happen before showing up to the capitol, and directions and parking.
March 3, 2010, 9:00AM-2:00PM
South Carolina Autism Society

South Carolina Autism Society (more info on DDSN cuts)

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs

Disability Advocacy Day at State House on Wednesday
Indexjournal.com
Sunday, February 28, 2010 11:16 PM EST


Funding cuts may hammer Tri-Dev
Aikenstandard.com
3/1/2010 8:12 PM


Related blog post
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
State advocacy news - Autism New Jersey (formerly COSAC) needs your help to restore their funding and services

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.
 
550 W. Centre Ave., Portage MI 49024-5364
Phone: (269) 492-9310 | Fax: (269) 492-9316 | E-mail: mail@abainternational.org