2008 Advocacy Results
The final version of the state budget from the 2008 General
Assembly session included the following:
-
600 Medicaid MR Waiver
slots to become available in the first year of the biennium
-
3.6% Medicaid MR Waiver
reimbursement rate increase for group homes
-
MR Waiver Start-up funds:
$1.6M in FY09 and $800,000 in FY10
-
Language to realign the
Medicaid Waiver Supported Employment reimbursement rate to be consistent
with rates established by DRS
-
Language for a DMHMRSAS
report on community-based housing for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities
Click Here to View The Arc of
Virginia's 2008
Legislative Agenda
Thanks,
Delegate Cox!
Erin and Jill talk with Delegate Kirk Cox, sponsor of our
budget amendment for additional MR Wavier slots and start-up funds.
Delegate Cox worked long and hard to advocate for people with intellectual
disabilities. We greatly appreciate his support.
THE R-WORD BILL PASSES!!!
(Replacing the term Mental Retardation with Intellectual Disability in the Code
of Virginia)
Erin and Jill in the Gallery at the Senate of Virginia
Legislation to erase the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" from
state law has won final General Assembly approval.
The legislation includes a reenactment clause, which means it will become law
only if the General Assembly passes it again next year and the Governor signs
it. Legislators were overwhelming in favor of this change and expect it to pass
quickly next year. Congratulations
to everyone who worked to support this bill.
Thanks to Senator Ticer, Senator Howell, and Delegate Caputo who were the chief
patrons of these bills.
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Nancy Mercer, Jill Egle and Erin Thompson of The Arc of Northern Virginia
testified to General Assembly committees on the R-Word bills and were very well received.
They are pictured above with Jamie Trosclair, ED of The Arc of Virginia, and
Delegate Caputo and his staff.
2007 Advocacy Results
The final version of the state budget from the 2007 General Assembly session included:
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USE THE ARC'S
LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS!
Get an alert when your involvement can make a critical difference.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR
ADVOCACY NETWORK AND TAKE ACTION FOR A LIFE LIKE YOURS
To find out who your representatives are, click on:
capwiz.com/arcofva/directory/statedir.tt?state=VA&lvl=state
Learn the Basics of the Virginia General Assembly
ADVOCACY
WORKS!
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View pictures
of 2008 Chapter Days at the General Assembly
Express Your Views
When you communicate with legislators and
talk to
them about disability issues, you help shape policy and law at the federal,
state, or local level. During the legislative session you may call the
Constituent Viewpoint operators at (800) 889-0229 to express your
opinion on a legislative issue. The hours of operation are from 7:00 a.m.
until 7:00 p.m. When the General Assembly is not in session, call (804)
698-1500 for the House of Delegates Legislative Information Office and (804)
698-7410 for the Senate Legislative Information Office.
Find out who your legislators are by clicking
on the following link:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
Research a Bill:
To research a bill go to
http://leg1.state.va.us/061/lis.htm Click on "Bills and Resolutions".
Follow the instructions to get the bill you want to review.
Get ready for visits with your legislators:
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