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2008 Legislative Session

To follow all the happenings in the 105th General Assembly visit our News Blog or check out our listing of disability related bills from the 2008 Legislature.

Our Public Policy Agenda

The Coalition and its member agencies work together to advocate for public policy that ensures self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion. From the ADA to Long-Term Care, from Education to Health, from Housing to Employment, from Personal Assistance to Assistive Technology, the Coalition focuses on legislative and administrative supports that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.

If you have any questions, requests for information or guidance related to the Coalition's Public Policy program then contact Todd Hash at (615) 383-9442.

Olmstead Work Group

This group of approximately 25 Tennesseans composed of Coalition board members, partners and friends recently began work to address Tennessee's historical reliance upon institutions.

Its goal, in part, is to begin tackling the obstacles that force many Tennesseans to needlessly rely upon institutional care such as nursing homes and ICF/MRs when available home and community based services could provide greater freedom, less cost and better outcomes for our state's seniors and people with disabilities.

2007 Legislative Session - recap

• Due Process - The Coalition worked with Special Education Advocates to help pass legislation to reinforce and strengthen a parent's rights under the IDEA.

• Voters with Disabilities - The Coalition passed legislation updating the Tennessee Code as it pertains to voting with people first and ADA language.

• Police & Mental Health Training - The Coalition consulted on legislation that would require greater training of police officers so that they can better respond to individuals with a mental health problem.

• Vision Screenings - Legislation was passed that authorized schools to provide eye examinations for students who cannot afford one.

• Handicap Parking Placards - Legislation as passed that exempts persons with a permanent disability from having to furnish a physician's statement with each renewal.

2006 Legislative SessioN - Recap

This session was in many ways a quiet one whose results were a mixed bag. Among the highlights:

• Passage of the Autism Equity Act - This should make it easier for many Tennessee children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to get the treatment they need. For more information about Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders visit the Autism Society of Tennessee at www.autismmidtenn.org.

• TennCare Improvements - Legislators stepped up to improve access to health insurance for many Tennesseeans who are uninsurable and were cut from TennCare last year. The Odom/Jackson bill will provide assistance for 20,000 to 25,000 of the 67,000 uninsurable people in need. Legislators can add additional funds next year once the program gets started. The administration has committed to begin working on this immediately and legislators want to see this program started as soon as possible. To learn more about the state of TennCare visit the Tennessee Health Care Campaign at www.tenncare.org.

• Developmental Disabilities Services - The legislature passed legislation establishing a departmental task force to conduct statewide assessment to study needs of persons with a developmental disability other than mental retardation for whom comprehensive home and community based services do not exist and to develop plan to provide cost-effective home and community-based services for such persons.

However, there were disappointments.

• Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation Expansion - In 2005 the legislature passed a resolution supporting a move away from our state's dependence on institutionalization so that we can focus our attention more effectively on home and community-based services. However, this session a bill was passed that continues our historical reliance on instutitions by increasing the number of private ICF/MR beds in the state. It does this with no provisions for moving individuals out of ICF/MRs or for increasing or even studying ways to improve access to home and community-based services. In fact, the legislation may open the door to legitimizing even more ICF/MR beds down the road.

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