Arizona Bills

Requires all intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities—run governmentally or privately—to be licensed as a health care facilities and be certified under federal code.

Ability360 SUPPORTS SB1211 as it closes the loophole that allowed privately run Intermediate Care Facility Hacienda HealthCare to operate without a state license—thus state inspection—for over twenty years. SB1211 passed the Senate on 2/27/19 and the House Rules Committee on 4/9/19. SB1211 is now awaiting the approval from the House Committee of the Whole.

States that a landlord’s acceptance of a “housing assistance payment” does not constitute an acceptance of a partial payment of rent or a waiver of a landlord’s right to terminate the rental agreement for any breech by the tenant.

Ability360 OPPOSES HB2358 as it would disproportionately affect people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and working families who may need to use “housing assistance payments” for a few months to stabilize their housing.

HB2358 could increase evictions and homelessness amongst these populations and may discourage entities from providing “housing assistance payments” if the tenant may be evicted regardless.
HB2358 has already passed the House on 2/25/19 and through the Senate Rules Committee on 4/9/19. HB2358 is now awaiting the Senate Committee of the Whole.

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Federal Bills

Extends the funding for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program for five years. MFP allows people with disabilities and seniors to return to and remain in their own communities without being needlessly forced into institutions. Funding for MFP expired in September 2016, and the Medicaid Extenders Act provided only three months of funding. Without continuation of this funding, people who had already successfully reintegrated from facilities or those who are at risk of entering facilities may lose their independence.

H.R. 1342 and S. 548 encourage community-based services that allow individuals to remain in their communities, which increases quality of life, happiness, independence, and integration in society.

H.R. 1342 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on 2/25/19, and its Senate Version S. 548 has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee on 2/25/19.

Ensures people with disabilities have a right to live and receive services in their own homes and protects people with disabilities from being forced into costly institutional settings. It would also require that public entities address the need for affordable, accessible, integrated housing.

The Disability Integration Act would clarify that every individual who is eligible for Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) has a federally protected right to a real choice in how they receive those services and supports.

H.R. 555 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on 1/31/19 and to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Justice on 2/25/19. It currently has a majority of the House of Representatives signed on as co-sponsors.

Its Senate Version, S. 117, has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on 1/15/19.