The Arc of North Carolina Policy Blog: With a Hit of a Gavel

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

With a Hit of a Gavel

The North Carolina General Assembly today gaveled in their 2009 session. This day is full of pomp and circumstance. We are blogging live right now from the NC Senate Chamber as the senators take their oath of office. Lt. Governor Walter Dalton is now President of the Senate and will be directing the events today.

Here's a quick run down on what has happened so far. Lieutenant Governor Dalton did a welcome to the guests and Senators.

Then fourth grader Katherine Fritsch sang an amazingly moving rendition of our national anthem. It was met with great applause from the Senators and visitors to the chamber.

The Senators then rose to take their oath which was administered by the Honorable Patricia Timmons-Goodson, Associate Justice Supreme Court of North Carolina.

The Senators have been sworn in now and Lt. Governor Dalton has declared a quorum.

Now we begin the process of voting on Senate leaders.

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The Arc of North Carolina 2011 Legislative Agenda.

The Arc of North Carolina advocates for and with families and people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. We believe that the following legislative agenda promotes our goals of advocacy, inclusion, and access to the communities we live in.

The Arc of North Carolina Proposed Policy Agenda 2011

Budget:

The Arc of North Carolina understands the current budget constraints that the state of North Carolina finds itself in due to the economic recession. During this critical time it is more important than ever to protect needed services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We encourage the members of the General Assembly to do the following things to protect the integrity of community-based services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in our state.

No additional cuts to state-funded services for people with developmental disabilities.
Create a separate Developmental Disability management structure within DHHS.
Apply for 1915 (i) State Plan services for adults with developmental disabilities targeting supports that currently utilize state general fund appropriations and utilizing those funds a Medicaid match.
If Managed Care is inevitable, consider a statewide 1915b Developmental Disability Only Managed Care Waiver with 1915i services included.
Add an additional CAP-DD Waiver for people with developmental disabilities who have significant behavioral and or medical needs.
Raise the Supports Waiver limit to 25 thousand dollars.
Utilize the Supports Intensity Scale as an initial eligibility tool for entrance into the CAP waivers with a reconsideration process utilizing other information.
Manage all of developmental disability services from a state system utilizing existing local structures where appropriate.

Housing:
Fair Housing Act Amendment.

This legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis or receipt of housing assistance. Many people with disabilities receive housing assistance. This legislation if passed would assist in opening more housing opportunities to the disability community.

Education:
Study ways to allow students with developmental disabilities to access current courses in our community college system. Included in this study we must look at ways to offer real job skill training to students with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

HB 344: Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities

Other:

SB 248: Update Archaic Disability Terms

HB 234: Juror Qualifications/Disability

The Arc of North Carolina

Welcome to The Arc of North Carolina's official policy blog. The Arc has been serving people with disabilities for more than 50 years. In an effort to reach out to our statewide community about issues that effect us we have established this blog.

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