Arkansas Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

Arkansas Governor’s Council on DD Public Policy Federal Update

UPDATE: Monday, August 26, 2019

UPDATE FROM THE GCDD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

Arkansas Governor’s Council on DD Public Policy Federal Update

Budget and Appropriations

Congress in August recess. The House has passed the majority of its appropriations (spending) bills for 2020, the Senate is likely to wait until after the August recess. One of the major sticking points: bicameral agreement on spending caps. This will require fast-paced work in September when debt ceiling discussions will also be underway.

Independent Living, Respite and Autism

In mid-June, a Money Follows the Person funding extension passed the House (H.R. 3253). All eyes are on the Senate to pass the EMPOWER Care Act (S. 548). If the Senate passes its bill, states will have steady funding for this critically important and successful program funding the transition of individuals out of institutional care while providing community-based supports.

On July 11, the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously voted to approve the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2019 (H.R.1058); and the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019 (H.R.2035). The next hurdle: approval by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Tax Policy

On June 18, the Economic Mobility Act of 2019 (H.R.3300) was introduced in the House. This bill makes improvements to the earned income tax credit, child tax credit and dependent care assistance, most of which last for two years. Additionally, it repeals a provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that imposes a tax on non-profit organizations that provide transportation benefits to their employees.

Education

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing the underreporting of restraint and seclusion in public schools. The report states that 70% of the nation's school districts reported zero incidents of restraint or seclusion during the 2015-2016 school year. Further analysis found many school districts recorded zero when data was not collected or collected improperly.

Employment:

On June 3, bipartisan Representatives introduced the Customized Approaches to Providing and Building Independent Lives of Inclusion for Transition-aged Youth (CAPABILITY) Act of 2019 (H.R.3070). This bill creates competitive grants for six states to develop pre-employment transition services for people with I/DD that comply with requirements for competitive integrated employment.

In mid-June, the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) created a national online dialogue on the use of subminimum wages under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilites (NCCDD) submitted comments which reflected North Carolina’s commitment to Employment First and the Council’s 5-year plan goals of increased competitive, integrated employment and financial stability.

Eric P. Munson, Executive Director
Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities