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2016 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Floor Approved)

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Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Study Group (language only)

Item 313 #8s

Item 313 #8s

Health and Human Resources
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Language

Page 281, after line 26, insert:

"T. 1. The Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) shall convene a joint study group to recommend: (i) the essential components of a quasi-public Institute on Community Inclusion with statewide responsibility for: (a) furnishing providers of segregated day and residential services with the training and technical assistance they need to transition to community agencies capable of supporting individuals with I/DD in fully integrated community settings; (b) assisting DBHDS in recruiting high-quality out-of-state providers of integrated daytime and residential services; (c) gathering and disseminating best practice information gleaned from the experiences of exemplary in-state providers as well as providers in other states and nations; and (d) reporting annually to the Governor, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the General Assembly on the Commonwealth's progress in developing capacity to support individuals with I/DD in integrated living, employment, social and recreational settings; and (ii) the component parts of a joint, cross-agency plan to eliminate the state's present reliance on sheltered workshops and other segregated employment programs by no later than July 1, 2020. The plan shall set forth cross-agency roles and responsibilities as well as the timelines for achieving stated goals.

2. The study group shall include representatives of relevant state agencies along with representatives of non-governmental organizations and individuals representing advocates and providers of community I/DD services as well as Community Services Boards.  State agency representatives shall constitute no more than one-third of study group members.  The group shall hold hearings in at least four geographic areas of the state to obtain input from disability stakeholders, including disability advocates, providers of disability services, Community Services Boards, local elected and appointed officials and other interested citizens. The group shall provide an opportunity for public comments on the interim report summarizing its findings, conclusions and recommendations on or before July 1, 2017. Interested members of the public will be allowed 30 days in which to submit written or electronic comments on the interim report and the final report that summarizes the public comments received and the study group's response to such comments shall be completed by no later than October 1, 2017.

3. The Commissioner of DBHDS shall update the department's existing I/DD community housing plan, in collaboration with Department of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Housing Development Authority, to ensure that it is consistent with the requirements of the federal home and community based services settings rule, as promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on January 17, 2014, and the statewide transition plan designed to ensure compliance of these regulatory provisions by no later than March 17, 2019."



Explanation

(This amendment creates a study group to review and make recommendations to improve the system of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.)