DRO Legislative Update: March 1, 2010

Developmental Disabilities Celebration - A Decade of Accomplishments

Last Wednesday, February 24th, hundreds of Oregonians came to the Capitol for a day of celebration.  The event marked the 10-year anniversary of the closure of Fairview Training Center, the recent closure of Eastern Oregon Training Center, and the remarkable fact that Oregon is now the only state that has no DD facilities and does not use facilities in other states for our residents. 

Throughout the day, tables and booths the Capitol Galleria offered information about a wide variety of goods and services for individuals with disabilities and their families.  Friends and allies had the chance to catch up and perhaps spot a legislator.

Festivities culminated at the noon hour with a ceremony honoring the community's achievements and some individuals who played key roles in getting them done.  Attendees filled basement Hearing Room 50 and three overflow hearing rooms where people watched on TV monitors.

Dr. Bruce Goldberg, DHS Director, was introduced by Bill Lynch from the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Dr. Goldberg noted that it was his honor to read aloud a proclamation from the Governor recognizing the community's achievements.  The proclamation emphasized that members of the DD community deserve to live in their own homes, and to make choices about work, hiring caretakers, and having full access to information and resources to protect themselves and their property.

Gayle Bernice Gardner presented the DD Coalition Special Award to James Toews and Marylee Fay, the DD Champion Award to Bob Clabby and the staff of Eastern Oregon Training Center, and the Parent Advocate Award to Jan Schroth and Katherine Palmer.

Summing up, Rep. Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis) spoke passionately about Oregon's progress and its future.  She recognized the hard work and collaboration of the DD Coalition.  Together, she said, we can ensure that Oregon continues to move in the right direction and to provide high quality supports and services for our citizens. 

Legislature Adjourns

At about 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 25, the House and Senate voted to adjourn the 2010 Special Session.  DRO will send out its official Wrap Up that highlights matters of interest to the disability community.  Meanwhile, here is a brief summary of some of the bills that passed:

• Senate Bill 991:  Allows parents to sign parental authority over to a respite worker by means of a Power of Attorney.
• Senate Bill 999:  Gives members or veterans of an armed service the opportunity to receive diversion from certain criminal penalties.
• Senate Bill 1046:  Makes Oregon has the first state to allow specially-trained psychologists to prescribe psychiatric medications without the supervision of a doctor.
• House Bill 3618:  Directs the names of people who provide home and community support services to clients with developmental disabilities, mental illness or medically fragile children to be collected by the state so that they may receive workers compensation insurance.  They will also have the option of joining home care workers in the Seniors and People with Disabilities sector who have opted to collectively bargain for wages and benefits.
  
• House Bill 3626:  School kids will get vision screening thanks to this bill.
  
• House Bill 3631:  Health insurers are prohibited from treating injuries resulting from sexual violence as pre-existing conditions.
  
• House Bill 3634:  Gives crime victims a legal right to notice and participation in post-conviction proceedings.
  
• House Bill 3642:  Allows Physician Assistants to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician's group, not just a single doctor.
  
• House Bill 3659:  Creates a new high-risk pool for Oregonians who cannot find health insurance coverage.
  
• House Bill 3664:  Extends OHP coverage to age 21 for kids who are in foster care at age 18.
  

You can check out these and all the other bills at: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bills_laws/