[NFBMT] What is happening at the legislature?

Sat Feb 23 01:54:29 UTC 2019

This is the weekly update of what is happening at the legislature and what will be happening next week, put out by Disability Rights Montana.  As they say, at this stage, things can change on a moment’s notice.     

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President and Public Policies Committee Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana  

From: Disability Rights Montana <Christa at DisabilityRightsMT.org> 
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 6:10 PM
To: breslauerj at gmail.com
Subject: What is happening at the legislature?

Upcoming Week at the Legislature

Help protect the human and civil rights of
Montanans with Disabilities.

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=a41f9ab8d7&e=d0632197b9> Donate Today 

In This Issue

*         Monday, Feb.25 

*         Tuesday, Feb. 26

*         Wednesday, Feb.27

*         Highlights and Low Points

*         Appropriations

*         Tips for Contacting Legislators

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=367a386e13&e=d0632197b9> 

Save the Date!

Disability Rights MT will be participating in the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=86324154a7&e=d0632197b9> Brew a Better Community Night event at Ten Mile Creek Brewery this Sunday, Feb. 24th. Click here for more information. 

Upcoming Week at the Montana Legislature

PLEASE NOTE: Click on the bill, sponsor, committee name, or hearing time/location below to link to the legislative web page for each.

To listen to audio/video streaming of committee hearings, click the link below.

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=44b9960b82&e=d0632197b9> Listen Live 

General Bills

**This is what was scheduled as of Friday the 22nd.  At this time of the session, bills can get scheduled with less notice than usual, so there will likely be more bills set for hearing for the week of February 25th over the weekend and during the early days of the week.  The deadline to transmit general bills from one house to the other is March 2, 2019.  General bills that have not met this deadline will be presumed dead.   

Monday, February 25 

At 8:00 am, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=1b90181de1&e=d0632197b9> House Judiciary Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=0a7cf62540&e=d0632197b9> HB 587, “Generally revise laws related to the insanity plea.”  Sponsored by Rep.  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=256aa87ebd&e=d0632197b9> Mary Caferro, this law would provide for an affirmative defense of insanity when charged with a crime if the person, as a result of a “mental disease or disorder was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of the defendant's acts or conform the defendant's actions to the requirements of the law.”   The <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=3e7c11d819&e=d0632197b9>  hearing will be in room 137. 

At 3:00 pm the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=d836f9c275&e=d0632197b9> House Human Services Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=13a6a8022e&e=d0632197b9> HB 529, “Revising requirements related to waiting list for waiver services.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=7d53e7d3dc&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Eric Moore, this bill would require that DPHHS engage in administrative rule-making to change requirements for waiting lists for waiver services.  The  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=b66397ce94&e=d0632197b9> hearing is in room 152. 

This committee will also hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=573ac79dfe&e=d0632197b9> HB 583, “Revise requirements for measuring children's mental health outcomes.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=17d39827e4&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Dennis Lenz, this bill would require the Department to report twice a year on the likelihood of the effectiveness of services provided to children receiving psychiatric targeted case management in keeping the children at home, in school, and out of trouble. 

It will also hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=2f78f1a70b&e=d0632197b9> HB 563, “Clarifying the Montana mental health parity act applies to disability insurance.” Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=38a7ad82e5&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Joel Krautter, this bill would place disability insurance into the Montana Mental Health Parity Act.    

Also at 3:00 pm, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=d1b62939ca&e=d0632197b9> Senate State Administration Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=d5fe99ef31&e=d0632197b9> HB 291, "Revise laws on voting systems and ballot form."  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=8d2ee69bcc&e=d0632197b9> Sen. Fred Thomas, this bill will authorize the purchase of new, different accessible voting machines that do not need to produce ballots that are the same as the ballots voted by other voters.  This <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=fcb5367a6a&e=d0632197b9>  hearing will be in room 335.  

Finally also at 3:00 pm, the <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=f6fd0c7ae9&e=d0632197b9>  House Appropriations Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=40dc93f9a7&e=d0632197b9> HB 298, “Revise funding for students with disabilities.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=a3d09fed48&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Christopher Pope, this bill would provide school services to students with disabilities up to age 21.  It had strong support from the House when debated on the floor.  However, it may face some challenges in the House Appropriations Committee.  This  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=ce04a43c11&e=d0632197b9> hearing will be in room 102.  See action request below. 

Tuesday, February 26 

On Tuesday morning, the <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=0c84e1ed94&e=d0632197b9>   <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=658074e343&e=d0632197b9> Senate Taxation Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=0261a60aa2&e=d0632197b9> HB 288, “Generally revise Achieving Better Life Experience Act.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=e76dcfda08&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Mary Caferro, this is one of three bills that all address changes in federal law concerning the ABLE Act. This measure expands the individuals who can contribute to an ABLE account.  The <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=f0c7ec4a9d&e=d0632197b9>  hearing is in room 405 at 8:00 am.

Also at 8:00 am, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=106312687a&e=d0632197b9> House Business and Labor Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=e03c169a19&e=d0632197b9> HB 588, “Prohibit sub-minimum wages for workers with disabilities.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=deacc61c42&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Mary Caferro, this bill would eliminate people with disabilities from the categories of workers that can be paid sub-minimum wages in Montana.The  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=5736959695&e=d0632197b9> hearing will be in room 172.

At 3:00 pm, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=ec653b52cf&e=d0632197b9> House Human Services Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=fd163cba5c&e=d0632197b9> HB 544 “Allow use of medication aides in mental health center programs.” Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=4cdb700d89&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Ryan Lynch, this bill would allow the use of medication aids in mental health centers as they are currently being used in assisted living facilities.  This bill will be  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=43a1b34d4e&e=d0632197b9> hearing in room 152.

Also at 3:00 pm, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=dcdb505171&e=d0632197b9> House Human Services Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=450e357fe1&e=d0632197b9> HB 589, “Create mortality review team for individuals with developmental disabilities.”  Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=aae6e12048&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Mary Caferro, this bill would place in statute a review team that has been in place and consistently meeting since 2006. This review team looks into the circumstances of the death of individuals with developmental disabilities who are receiving services in the community.  This  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=f22ce5ca91&e=d0632197b9> hearing is also in room 152.

Wednesday, February 27

At 8:00 am, the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=8d58433168&e=d0632197b9> House Business and Labor Committee will hear  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=26aa45bad7&e=d0632197b9> HB 566 “ Require background checks for assisted living facility employees." Sponsored by  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=e359c9d9b9&e=d0632197b9> Rep. Barbara Bessette, this bill would provide for background checks for employees in assisted living facilities and would prohibit the employment of those who have been found guilty “of an offense involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, or misappropriation of property, . . . been subject to disciplinary action by a state professional licensing board because of a finding of abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment of residents, or misappropriation of resident property; or . . .  has had a finding entered into the state nurse aide registry concerning abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment of residents, or misappropriation of resident property.”   <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=1ec689357a&e=d0632197b9> This will be heard in room 172. 

Highlights and Low points of the week:  

The  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=44a0e6e8a2&e=d0632197b9> Joint Appropriations Subcommittee for Part B of the budget, or DPHHS, took executive action on their part of the budget on Wednesday. They took many terrific steps to address the cuts that occurred in the last two years, including addressing psychiatric targeted case management funds for children and adults and shifted funds away from the Montana Developmental Center to community services for people with developmental disabilities.  It also increased the number of waiver slots in senior and long term care, as well as increased assisted living rates.  They also fully funded the Children's Health Insurance Program(CHIP).     

Also on Wednesday, the Senate voted to pass  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=81a2603017&e=d0632197b9> SB 30, which would provide Medicaid reimbursement for peer support services.  It was then sent to the Senate Finance Committee, which held a hearing on Friday morning. Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget office opposed the bill.  It is very important to contact the Senators on the Senate Finance Committee to support SB 30 before Monday morning.  Please focus on the cost saving features of this measure, as it provides a low cost and effective service to people already receiving Medicaid services that can divert them from much higher levels of care, such as hospitalizations.      

On Thursday, the House passed  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=897e7ec4d7&e=d0632197b9> HB 29 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=08e54bc3ee&e=d0632197b9> 8, which provides for special education services to be provided for students with disabilities up to the age of 21.  It received strong support, and has been referred to the  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=d4673bb25f&e=d0632197b9> House Appropriations Committee which will hear the bill at <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=c827d11a06&e=d0632197b9>  3:00 on Monday the 25th in hearing room 102. It is very important to contact legislators on the House Appropriations committee to support this bill before Monday afternoon.  Please see the directions on contacting legislators below. 

Sadly, some good measures were tabled this week, including  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=4bb62f6cab&e=d0632197b9> HB 251,  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=11b7b85a4b&e=d0632197b9> HB 424,  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=c8e52b1888&e=d0632197b9> SB 202.   <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=9e4fa4a887&e=d0632197b9> HB 251, would have expanded the Medicaid Buy - In program to children with disabilities whose parents make too much income to qualify for Medicaid.   <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=1e5a86c7db&e=d0632197b9> HB 424 would have required the state Medicaid program to cover applied behavioral analysis services to people older than 18.  Currently those services are only covered for those 18 years and under.   <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=11a9e23487&e=d0632197b9> SB 202 would have enacted the Uniform Guardianship and Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act.  This bill would have vastly improved Montana guardianship law and:
*     modernized the law and protect the rights of individuals who are subject to guardianship and conservatorship; 
*    encouraged courts to impose the least-restrictive orders possible to adequately protect vulnerable minors and adults;
*    imposed clear duties upon guardians and conservators charged with protecting others and requires regular monitoring to ensure compliance; and 
*    allowed courts to address specific problems with limited orders and preserve individual rights when possible. 

The Supreme Court Administrator’s office was the only opponent.  It stated concerns about judicial workload and cost.

Not sure who represents you in the Montana Legislature?  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=2a6d7a3aa9&e=d0632197b9> Click Here  

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=25daac6a97&e=d0632197b9> How to Contact Legislators During the Session

Online Messaging

Use the online messaging form to message a legislator (click button below). This is one of the quickest and most effective ways of contacting your legislator. 

Phone Call

Regular office hours during the session are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays. Callers may leave messages for legislators or acquire general legislative information by calling the Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. Callers may leave messages for up to 5 individual legislators or 1 legislative committee per call.

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=30773dacb0&e=d0632197b9> Message a Legislator Now 

"Brew a Better Community Night" Fundraising Event

Disability Rights MT will be participating in the "Brew a Better Community Night " event at the Ten Mile Creek Brewery located at 48 N. Last Chance Gulch this Sunday, Feb. 24th. It is an event held every Sunday where money is donated to a non-profit. 

Not a fan of beer? How about yoga? Both of these events will be held at the Ten Mile Creek Brewery this Sunday and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Disability Rights MT.

Yoga by the Loft Studio is from 11:00-11:55 am. $2 per every yogi participant is donated to DRM. The cost for each participant is $10.

That same day from 5-8 pm, $1 for every pint of beer sold is donated to DRM.

Pass the word to friends and family!  We hope to see you there.

For more information visit:  <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=a3c1294622&e=d0632197b9> https://tenmilecreekbrewing.com/brew-a-better-community-night/

Stay Informed

We will be posting an electronic newsletter each Friday during the 2019 legislative session. We will give you information about upcoming budget and general bill hearings, developments for other bills we are following and action alerts when these bills are coming up for votes.  

 <https://DisabilityRightsMT.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9937c0f2ad7acf59fa7c183d1&id=4d7e73353e&e=d0632197b9> Subscribe Here 

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