legislative news

The Virginia Rehabilitation Association has been active during the 1999 General assembly session that ended at the end of February. During the months of November and December the legislative committee, VRA officers and board members along with our legislative advocate (Jim Rothrock) developed a legislative packet which was approved in January.

The following is a summary of the legislative package:

• create an "Employee with Disabilities Tax Credit
• approve the Information Technology Access Act
• require parity for mental health insurance coverage
• expand the independence and autonomy of DRVD
• promote continued education for those at risk of dropping out of school
• command local and state housing authority to increase the use of federal funds for housing options for persons with disabilities

The following were the funding initiatives supported by VRA:

• $5.7 million for "2000 jobs by 2000"
• $1 million to expand Assistive Technology Loan Fund
• funding increases for community mental retardation services

VRA can take great pride in having a great success this year and many thanks goes to Jim Rothrock, as well as all the VRA members who e-mailed, made calls, and talked to their representatives. The following bills were passed:

• HB 1676 - Employee Tax Credit
• HB 1115 - Information Technology Access for individuals who are blind
• SB 430 - Health Insurance for mental health coverage
• HB 2414 - Person with mental retardation , developmental disabilities. DRVD becomes an independent state agency
• SJ 456 - Study housing for person with disabilities.

Most of the funding items were passed with the biggest being 2000 jobs by 2000, long term employment support service dollars as well as funds for CIL's, long term care management Brain Injury service, VATS, personal assistance services and a number of funding items for services to individuals with mental retardation.