2011 Legislative Platform Summary

Managed Care for Basic State Plan Health Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
The Council’s Position:
Establish and require a pre-determined set of requirements for Medicaid managed care plans for basic health care services that serve individuals with developmental disabilities.

Health Care Transition
The Council’s Position:
The Council supports the development of a comprehensive approach to building an effective health care transition system for adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities and special health care needs as they move to an adult-oriented system.

Protect Early Steps, Florida’s Part C Program
The Council’s position:
The Council supports funding the 12.6 million dollar shortfall to preserve the Early Steps Program and the over 44,000 children who will receive those services in 2011-2012.

Work to Eliminate the DD/HCBS Waiver Waitlist
The Council’s Position:
The Council supports a specific effort by the Florida Legislature to work toward eliminating the Waitlist by both increasing non-waiver supports and services, and making a meaningful long-term commitment to meet this growing service need, thus reducing the number of people on the waitlist.

Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services Waiver and the iBudget
The Council’s position:
The Council supports and endorses the implementation of the iBudget process. In order to prevent more crisis situations, the Florida Legislature must avoid further service cuts. Partnerships between state and local public agencies are encouraged to maximize non-waiver services that can be developed to fill service gaps that are not covered by the DD/HCBS Waiver.

Employment First
The Council’s Position:
The Council supports a system where current funding for employment programs shift away from sheltered workshops and other non- competitive and move towards a system where supported and integrated employment is the first option available for all individuals with developmental disabilities.

Transportation Availability for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
The Council’s Position:
• The Council supports the creation of more transportation options for individuals with developmental disabilities that optimize an individual’s choice of provider and route. These options include a real choice voucher pilot program that could reimburse any available provider, and the utilization of volunteers.
• The Council supports funding for transportation for those with developmental disabilities that is, at a minimum, kept at the current level.

Guidelines for the Prevention and Reduction of Restraint and Seclusion
in the Public School System
The Council’s Position:
• Physical restraint and monitored seclusion should be used only as a last resort, when there is a demonstrable and imminent physical danger to the student or others and implemented by trained staff who have gone through a nationally accredited program.
• Prohibit schools from including restraint or seclusion as planned interventions in education plans for students with disabilities. These plans include a student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan, because restraint and seclusion should only be used in cases of imminent danger and is not evidenced based therapeutic practice.