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January 24, 2011 
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Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update
Greetings!
The work of Government in Massachusetts begins in earnest this week with Governor Deval Patrick's announcement of the Fiscal 12 budget commonly called House 1.
The general wisdom that this will also be a draconian year for budget cuts was tempered somewhat last week. Revenues seem to be increasing, but, the real impact might not be felt until the Senate takes up the budget in May.
We also heard from a high level official that the administration was not revisiting cuts that were unpopular last year. This may be good news for those of us worried about the PCA program. We'll be able to measure that on noon on Wednesday.
We've reprinted Elizabeth Toulan's analysis on the budget in this issue. Elizabeth is an advocate for the Family Economic Initiative.
Senate President Therese Murray has announced her new leadership team listed below.
Last Friday was the deadline for filing legislation for the current 2011-2012 session.
The 5 bills on the DPC's priority list are outlined below. We will be listing other bills of interest subsequently when we have their docket numbers.
Advocate may (read: should) call or email their House and Senate members to ask them to cosponsor these bills. Co-sponsorship is one way to measure whether the bill has a chance to pass this session.
In addition to the NE Disability Sports information in this issue, don't forget the February 15 (12 - 2 PM) outdoor skating event for people with disabilities at (my) the Kelly Rink in Jamaica Plain. Contact Heidi Marie-Peterson to sign up: (413) 577-3840.
The Dept. Conservation & Recreation schedule is also available here.
Bill Allan
Disability Policy Consortium
wfallan@dpcma.org| 617-542-3822 |
Editorial: Smell the Roses
Most of us have heard the advice "Take time to smell the roses". It means to slow down, enjoy life, take in the beauty and not always be obsessed by whatever is that obsesses us.
It's hard to even imagine roses in the middle of winter, but with that thought in mind I am sharing with you a website that is the equivalent of a dozen roses.
Click here and enjoy each day a little more. Crazy Pictures
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Advocates Corner: House 1 FY12
HD01863 - Vendor Employment: The Commonwealth has obligations under
statutes as a recipient of federal funds to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act. This bill requires the Commonwealth to set standards for recruiting, hiring and reporting on employment of people with disabilities on ALL vendor contracts that are multi-yeared.
An Act to Increase the Commonwealth's Compliance with Federal Law meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Executive Office of Administration and Finance shall develop standards to identify and recruit with the intent to hire qualified applicants with disabilities; said standards shall apply to all vendors providing direct services under multi-year contracts or grants funded by agencies within the Executive Offices of the Commonwealth. Standards shall include a commitment to hiring people with disabilities and training all employees involved in hiring decisions on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Rachel McCook in Rep. James O'Day's office to cosponsor: Rachel.McCook@mahouse.gov (617 722-2220)
SD00827:- Post-Acute Personal Care Services: People with disabilities are routinely transferred to nursing facilities upon discharge from hospitals because they are unable to complete toileting, food preparation, or getting dressed without assistance. This legislation would provide in-home services for people with temporary need for assistance:
An Act to provide an alternative to institutional care
The division shall within forty-eight hours of a request, provide up to sixty (60) days of personal care services, for individuals who, upon discharge from an acute hospital, medical center, nursing facility, or health care facility including rehabilitation facilities and state hospitals, are eligible for the MassHealth program and permanently or temporarily clinically eligible for home and community based services
Please contact Vicki Halal in Senator Pat Jehlen's office to cosponsor: Victoria.Halal@masenate.gov (617 722-1578)
HD00781, HD00780 - Hearing Aid Coverage: Most health insurance policies do not provide hearing aid coverage. This legislation adds coverage for hearing aids on similar basis to the Group Insurance Commission (state employees). The assumption is if GIC as the lowest cost insurance plan can provide the coverage, the rest should be able to do so also.
The second bill covers people with profound hearing loss for who a cost of a hearing aid is significantly more expensive.
HD00781
AN ACT TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS.
A health benefit plan shall provide full coverage, subject to all applicable co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits, for the first $500 and 80 percent coverage of the next $1,500 in the cost of one hearing aid per hearing impaired ear, every 24 months for insured individuals, and coverage for all related services which sh
all be prescribed by an audiologist or a hearing instrument specialist as defined in section 196 of chapter 12 of the General Laws, and dispensed by an audiologist or a hearing instrument specialist as defined in said section.
HD00780
AN ACT TO PROVIDE HEARING AID COVERAGE FOR PERSONS WITH PROFOUND HEARING LOSS.
A health benefit plan shall provide 80 percent coverage, subject to all applicable co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits, in the cost of one hearing aid and all related services per hearing impaired ear, every 24 months for insured individuals with bilateral profound hearing loss, which shall be prescribed by an audiologist or a hearing instrument specialist as defined in section 196 of chapter 12 of the General Laws, and dispensed by an audiologist or a hearing instrument specialist as defined in said section.
Please contact Danielle Fox in Rep. John Scibak's office to cosponsor: Danielle.Fox@mahouse.gov (617 722-2370)
HD0072 - Health Care Disparities: People with disabilities are recorded with health care disparities equal to or greater than ethnic and racial minorities; PWD who are in a racial or ethnic minority are impacted even more. Current policy frameworks exclude gathering data or being concerned about disabilities in the context of disparities.
An Act Relative to the Health Disparities Council
SECTION 1. Section 16O of Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after "HIV/AIDS" in line 8, the following:
"disabilities"
Please contact Joe Demers in Rep. James Dywer's office to cosponsor:
Joseph.Demers@mahouse.gov (617 722-2014)
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On the Calendar: MILCB Presents
Multicultural Independent Living Center Presents: WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS & WHO CAN I CALL?
A Workshop on Disability Systems Advocacy , Part 2
Your Host: Mr. Hang Lee,
For Reasonable Accommodations Provided Upon Requests,
Please Call 617-288-9431.
Thursday, January 27th 2011
Location and Time: Mattapan Library, 12:15pm-3pm
1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126
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On the Calendar: Sports Expo
The New England Disabled Sports Adaptive Sports Expo is Feb. 5-6 at Loon Mountain, Lincoln N.H. The Expo will bring together adaptive programs, equipment suppliers, coaches and athletes for a weekend of clinics, demonstrations, and speakers. The Adaptive Sports Expo is open for anyone interested in starting or continuing their education in adaptive sports/equipment and hear engaging speakers discuss current trends in adaptive sports.
Saturday's events include a daylong meeting of representatives from regional adaptive sports and recreation programs. Saturday apres will be a public event at the Mountain Club at Loon with food, beer tasting, equipment demonstrations and a panel discussion.
Sunday, the Adaptive Sports Expo moves out onto the snow. Equipment suppliers including Hands on Concepts (HOC), Spokes in Motion, and others will be offering clinics and demonstrations of the latest adaptive equipment. Geoff Krill, PSIA Adaptive National Team Member, will be offering clinics in the latest adaptive teaching techniques. In addition, New England Disabled Sports will have their Alpine Skiing Equipment Demo Program for trial and use.
The Adaptive Sports Expo will be held at the Mountain Club www.mtnclub.com at Loon Mountain and the fees are $25 and include: the symposium, lunch on Saturday, apres ski event, and lift ticket for Sunday's on snow demonstrations and clinics at Loon.
To reserve your spot at the Adaptive Sports Expo please respond to me, Rob Mueller, Managing Director, New England Disabled Sports, Email: robm@nedisabledsports.org Phone: 603 745 6281 ext 5663
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On the Calendar: Groundhogs East
National Empowerment Center Announces
SAVE THE DATE!
February 9, 2011
Wednesday, 6-9:30 pm
Boston Public Library, Boston Room
Consumers organize a Mental Health Legislative Panel
for key state legislators
- Senator Jennifer Flanagan
- Representative Liz Malia
- Representative James O'Day
- Representative Gloria Fox
Moderator: Representative Ruth B. Balser
Special Guest: Dan Fisher, a peer once labeled with schizophrenia and now a psychiatrist and director of the National Empowerment Center in Lawrence, MA
Presented by NAMI GB CAN, National Empowerment Center, & M-Power
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About National Empowerment Center
NEC is an organization whose mission is to promote recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people who has been labeled with mental illness. Dan Fisher, executive director of NEC, hosts the Groundhogs East regular meetings at his home in Cambridge, MA.
About Groundhogs East
Groundhogs East organizes people labeled with mental illness to transform the mental health system to promote recovery. We call ourselves Groundhogs because we began meeting around Groundhog's Day 2009. Our newsletter the "Groundhogs Prognosticator" references whether the groundhog prognosticates, or predicts, an early spring.
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News from the Net: Senate Leaders
STATE HOUSE, JAN. 20, 2011.....Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) has been named chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, giving western Massachusetts the most powerful voice on the state's budget-writing panel.
"Taxes are not on the table but everything else is," Brewer said as he exited the Senate chamber Thursday. "This is a new world order."
Brewer, who succeeds former Steven Panagiotakos, a former senator from Lowell, said the committee would soon begin "structuring a budget that addresses the needs of the citizens of the commonwealth."
Gov. Deval Patrick next week is scheduled to release his annual spending plan.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) has not yet announced his committee assignments, with bills due to be filed by Friday afternoon and parceled out for review and public hearings.
Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) will serve as Brewer's vice chairman, the post Brewer held under Panagiotakos, and Sen. Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) will be assistant vice chair of the committee. Flanagan's increased role will also include the chairmanship of the Committee on Steering and Policy.
Facing heavy turnover in the Senate, Senate President Therese Murray refashioned her leadership team, promoting and retaining old hands but bumping up two senators into her inner circle. Murray promoted Sen. Jack Hart (D-South Boston) to succeed Marian Walsh as majority whip and Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) to succeed Sen. Steve Tolman as assistant majority whip. Tolman was promoted to assistant majority leader, succeeding Murray's close friend, former Sen. Joan Menard.
Murray retained Sen. Frederick Berry (D-Peabody) as majority leader and Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) as Senate president pro tempore. Rosenberg will also chair the Committee on Redistricting.
Sen. Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham) will take the reins of the Committee on Revenue, which vets tax legislation. She will also serve as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee.
Murray also made the following appointments:
- Sen. Anthony Petruccelli (D-Boston) will chair the Committee on Financial Services;
- Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield) will chair the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy;
- Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) will chair the Committee on Transportation;
- Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz will chair the Committee on Education;
- Sen. Cynthia Creem (D-Newton) will chair the Senate Committee on Bills in Third Reading;
- Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury) will chair the Committee on Higher Education;
- Sen. Sal DiDomenico will chair the Committee on Community Development and Small Business;
- Sen. Brian Joyce (D-Milton) will chair the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets;
- Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton) will chair the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and retain the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change.
- Sen. Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton) will chair the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure;
- Sen. Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham) will chair the Committee on Revenue;
- Sen. Kenneth Donnelly (D-Arlington) will chair the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight;
- Sen. James Eldridge will chair the Committee on Housing.
The eight Senate freshmen received their committee posts as well:
- Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover) will chair the Committee on Election Laws;
- Sen. Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury) will chair the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs;
- Sen. Michael Rodrigues will chair the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities;
- Sen. Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell) will chair the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development;
- Sen. Daniel Wolf (D-Harwich) will chair the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development;
- Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy) will chair the Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse;
- Sen. James Welch (D-West Springfield) will chair the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government;
- Sen. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) will chair the Committee on Public Service;
Seven senators will chair the committees they chaired last session:
- Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole) will chair the Committee on Public Safety;
- Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) will chair the Committee on Public Health;
- Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) will chair the Committee on Elder Affairs; and,
- Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) will to chair the Committee on Health Care Financing;
- Sen. Creem will chair the Committee on the Judiciary;
- Sen. Pacheco will chair the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change;
- Sen. Berry will chair the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules.
Other members of the 17-member Senate Ways and Means Committee include: Sens. Downing, Creem, Jehlen, Joyce, Kennedy, McGee, M. Moore, R. Moore, Pacheco, Petruccelli, Spilka and Candaras. Two Republicans on the panel have yet to be named.
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News from the Net: Free AT
Know a high school or college student who is blind and could benefit from assistive technology?
Sendero Group is working with Stevie Wonder, Humanware and HIMS to provide four awards: 2 BrailleNote mPowers with Sendero GPS and 2 Voice Sense units with Sense Navigation GPS software.
To fill out a nomination form, visit this Sendero Group Web page.
You may also nominate a younger student who has strong Braille or computer skills.
Nominations are accepted until January 31, 2011 and decisions will be announced by March.
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