[WADNet Post] May 1, 2006: DAWN Updates

From: WADNet Post Editor <wadneteditor@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: wadnetpost@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 01:48:33 -0500

DAWN UPDATES
   --  Alert: WCDD Draft State Plan Available
   --  Alert: TPA and Other Legislation
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Alert: WCDD Draft State Plan Available

The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCDD) has released their Draft 2007-2011 State Plan for public comment. This Plan will direct Council activities and projects for the next five years.

The Draft is available for comment and suggestion until Wednesday, May 24, 2006. You can read the Draft on the WCDD web site at: <http://www.wcdd.org/>. You are welcome to make comments on the Draft by using the comment form found on the web site or you can submit your comments to the Council's office. The Council's contact information is found at the bottom of the above web page.

In addition, to the above format for commenting, there will be a public hearing on the Draft. This hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton Street, Madison. If you need accommodations in order to attend the hearing, please contact the Council's office by May 1, 2006.

The Council will review all of the public comment at their July 20, 2006 meeting. The State Plan will be finalized at that time. In August the Plan will be sent to Washington.


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DAWN ADDRESS: http://www.dawninfo.org

   (Contributed by: DAWN)

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Alert: TPA and Other Legislation

1. Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA)
2. Other Legislative Advocacy
3. Legislation Update

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1. Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA)

The Taxpayer Protection Amendment otherwise known as TABOR II is set for a vote in the Assembly on Thursday, April 27, 2006. The vote in the Assembly will be very close. Now is the time to contact your representative to express your views on this state constitutional amendment to limit the amount of revenues state and local governments can collect. The DAWN web site has a lot of information about the TPA including what it could do potentially to the programs and services for people with disabilities. To read this material go to: <http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/leg/tpa_info.cfm>.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 10:00 AM. It will be in the Assembly Parlor Room of the Capitol. This will be for those people and organizations that are opposed to the TPA. If you want your organization added to the list opposed to the TPA, contact Jeff Pertl via e-mail at jpertl@xxxxxxxx or by phone at 608-257-2622.

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2. Other Legislative Advocacy

The legislature will hold their last general business session from April 25 to May 4, 2006. During this session there are several bills besides the TPA (see #1) that could be passed that would directly or indirectly affect people with disabilities.

AB 1110/SB 653 would allow for the expansion of Family Care statewide. The Senate bill has been amended to limit the expansion to counties that equal 50% or less of the state's population. Family Care has been piloted in five counties so far and has eliminated waiting lists in those counties. Both the Senate and the Assembly need to vote on the amended bill.

SB-612 would reform our election process. This bill addresses the need for more and better trained poll workers, voting by felons, and reduced waiting times during elections. This bill has bipartisan support. It has passed the Senate and a committee in the Assembly. It needs a vote by the full Assembly.

SB-1 would reform our ethics laws in the state. This bill has already passed the Senate and a committee in the Assembly. All this bill needs is a vote in the Assembly.

Governor Doyle has said he will sign these bills if they are passed and sent to him.

SB-391 addresses the major problems with the state's current guardianship laws (Chapter 880). It makes it easier to use limited guardianship, modernizes the definition of incompetency, and more. It has passed the Senate and is to be voted on in the Assembly on May 4, 2006.

Action Step: Now is the time to contact your legislators to tell them what you think about these bills. To find out whom your legislators are go to: <http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/>.

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3. Legislation Update

There have been several bills that have passed both houses of the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Doyle. They are the following:

AB-122 becomes Act 340. This law addresses Medical Assistance reimbursement for transportation by specialized medical vehicles.

SB-157 becomes Act 354. This law addresses access to places by disabled persons accompanied by service dogs.

SB-181 becomes Act 353. This law addresses the harassment of or causing injury to a service dog.

SB-312 becomes Act 355. This law expands relocations from nursing homes under the Community Integration Program II to include persons who are at risk of entry into a nursing home.

SB-579 becomes Act 351. This law addresses caregiver background information.

Governor Doyle also vetoed SB-68. This bill would have allowed schools to use SAGE funds for special education services in elementary schools. Many disability organizations supported the veto because when class sizes are kept small under SAGE, children with special education needs are often served in the more inclusive regular education classroom.

For more information about these and other bills, go to the DAWN web site at: <http://www.dawninfo.org/advocacy/leg/intro_leg.cfm>.

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DAWN ADDRESS: http://www.dawninfo.org

   (Contributed by: DAWN)

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Leslie Riggs
WADNet Post Editor & Listserv Administrator
Wisconsin Association of the Deaf
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[WADNet Post] May 1, 2006: DAWN Updates

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