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1995 SESSION

LD4398476
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 631
Offered January 23, 1995
Requesting the Department of Medical Assistance Services, in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Health, Social Services, and Rehabilitation Services, to provide training on the availability of certain programs, services, and resources.
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Patrons--Van Landingham, Christian, Connally, Cooper, Darner and Van Yahres; Senators: Barry, Miller, Y.B. and Potts
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, pursuant to federal and state laws concerning the rights of individuals with disabilities, states are required to provide early identification of such persons and to deliver such individualized and specialized education, training, and related support services as they may require; and

WHEREAS, although certain legal mandates and advancements in medical care and technology have enabled many disabled persons to enjoy longer and more productive lives, many are concerned that the needs of disabled young adults who are no longer eligible for certain publicly funded services are not being met; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Continuation of Services to Young Adults Exiting Publicly Funded Programs, pursuant to HJR 103 (1994), has determined that each year many young persons with disabilities become ineligible for services designed to accommodate their special needs when they reach the age limit established in the eligibility criteria of certain programs and are released from custodial care or incarceration; and

WHEREAS, many of these persons continue to require special services throughout adulthood; however, appropriate services may not be available or accessible, and programs to ensure a proper transition for these young adults into adulthood may be necessary as required by federal and state laws; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of persons in many localities throughout the state are on long waiting lists for employment, residential, and other essential services, and in some cases these persons may have to wait from five to 30 years for services; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Subcommittee has determined that although more services are needed to meet the demand for them, many disabled persons may be served effectively if service providers are given an opportunity to learn and stay abreast of the standards and requirements of programs which serve disabled persons, and if they are made aware of public and private services and resources in the community designed to serve such persons; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Medical Assistance Services, in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Health, Social Services, and Rehabilitation Services, is requested to provide training on the availability of certain programs, services, and resources. The Department is requested to develop and coordinate opportunities to present information concerning standards and requirements of programs which serve disabled persons, and the availability of public and private services and resources in the community designed to serve such persons, to service providers requesting such assistance.

The Department shall complete its work in time to submit its plan for coordinating the training of service providers to the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Continuation of Services to Young Adults Exiting Publicly Funded Programs, the Governor and the 1996 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.