Legislation

The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State & local government services) and title III (public accommodations & commercial facilities) in the Federal Register. These requirements clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new and updated requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. The effective date of two revised rules is March 15, 2011.

What are the key provisions in the 2010 comprehensive health reform? Read a summary of the new law, including the CLASS Act, and changes make to the law by subsequent legislation. The document focuses on changes in coverage, control of health care costs, and improvement of the health care delivery system. Also included is a timeline providing implementation dates.

Detailed information on the Independence Plus program including definitions for legislation and program information.

Guidance is offered for states in interpreting the sections of ARRA that impact Medicaid and CHIP. Program elements affected include tax credits, income used to calculate benefit levels, Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, Transitional Medical Assistance, protections for Native Americans, and transfers of assets. The attachment lays out program changes organized by ARRA section.

The Network consists of 10 regional centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The mission is to provide information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals, organizations and employers. They provide training materials, referrals, and a searchable database of legal documents, fact sheets and checklists.

ADAPT is a group of self-advocates working for civil rights for people with disabilities. Follow the link to see their arguments and evidence in support the Community Choice Act. The Act would establish a national program of community-based attendant services and supports, regardless of a person’s age or disability, and allow them to choose where they receive services. Materials include talking points, summaries, links to the bills, and updates on status and actions related to the Act.

Meant for individuals with disabilities and entities that have obligations under disabilities law, the handbook provides basic information about disability rights and resources for finding out more. The book is in a Q and A format while the website is organized by topic. Employment, services and programs, public accommodations, housing, education, transportation, and technology and communications are all discussed.

Recognizing caregivers' needs, many federal and state lawmakers have spent the past several years introducing legislation to provide supports to caregiving families. Unfortunately, fiscal crises and other pressing social concerns have meant that few of these proposals have actually passed or been enacted. Trends in caregiver legislation introduced in 2007 and 2008 are summarized and those that have been successful are highlighted.

CA’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) aims to keep people in their homes by paying for personal care services approved by social workers. SB 1104 was introduced in 2004 to ensure and measure delivery of services and program integrity. The report examines whether the elements of the bill were enacted. It also describes alternative models for in-home service delivery, including the Cash & Counseling model and one wherein private companies provide IHSS. Sample timecards and handbooks are given.

As part of this Act, requirements were instituted involving the state's ADRCs and the global budgeting process used to support them. The Act provides specific directives that address financing and management plans, implementation and operation of the Medicaid LTC expenditure reforms, and requires an annual report, one of which is also included here, that documents reallocation of funds to home and community based care.