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1998 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 170
Requesting the Disability Commission to establish a legislative oversight task force to study past progress, present status, and future delivery of services to people with disabilities in the Commonwealth.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 13, 1998
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 1998

WHEREAS, the Commission on the Coordination of the Delivery of Services to Facilitate the Self-Sufficiency and Support for Persons with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, known as the Disability Commission, was established in 1990 by the General Assembly to assess the delivery of services to persons with physical and sensory disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the Disability Commission issued its final report to the Governor and the 1992 General Assembly, including its comprehensive 10-year plan for addressing the identified services needs, legislative initiatives, and budget amendments in response to its findings and recommendations; and

WHEREAS, the 1992 report included the following recommendation: "A legislative oversight commission should be established in 1998 by resolution to review the progress of Disability Commission programs and funding recommendations and make recommendations for future direction for service delivery systems for persons with physical or sensory disabilities"; and

WHEREAS, the 1992 report also observed, "In 1998, a new Commission should evaluate the overall progress of the implementation of the Disability Commission recommendations. Additional needed services should be identified and appropriate funding recommended in order to address the unmet needs of persons with physical or sensory disabilities"; and

WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution No. 274, which in 1994 continued the Disability Commission, states that the Disability Commission "shall complete its study and submit a comprehensive report on the status of services for persons with physical and sensory disabilities to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Disability Commission establish a legislative oversight task force from its membership to study past progress, present status, and future delivery of services to people with disabilities in the Commonwealth. The task force shall evaluate the status of services for persons with physical and sensory disabilities and the implementation of the Disability Commission recommendations, and make recommendations for future activities of the Commission. The task force shall seek the advice and expertise of representatives of the Centers for Independent Living, local service providers, Disability Services Boards, and persons with sensory or physical disabilities or their family members.

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities shall provide staff support for the study.

The task force's plan for the study shall be approved by the Disability Commission by November 1, 1998. The study plan shall specify the methodologies to be employed to assess (i) the impact of the accomplishments achieved as a direct result of recommendations made in the 1992 and other Disability Commission Reports; (ii) the impact of recommendations from Disability Commission reports which have not yet been met, such as establishing a disability consortium and meeting the health-related needs of people with disabilities; (iii) the unmet service needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities, as well as prioritize unmet needs, and develop cost estimates associated with meeting these needs; and (iv) the effectiveness of the Disability Commission in accomplishing its recommendations, including consideration of the future of the Disability Commission itself.

The Disability Commission's task force shall complete its evaluation in time to make its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.