“Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”

–Thomas Jefferson

Thank you to our friends at the ARC for forwarding a list of legislative bills that they felt would be of interest to families of children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities.   The bold text is the bill, who introduced it, and an official description of the bill.  The italicized words are the thoughts and concerns presented by the ARC representative and shared with us.  We would like to encourage our community to use this list as a reference for which bills to investigate and we’d also ask you to please form your own opinions.

LB 821 – Health and Human Services Committee – To create the Nebraska Children’s Commission and require legislation to create the Department of Children’s Services.

This bill attempts to address the Foster Care Crisis. It could add some structure and organization where it is really needed as well as provide oversight to service deliver in places it is significantly lacking in.  It would also focus all Kids programs and issues in one place: the Department of Children’s Services which could be a good thing.

LB 825 – Dubas – Establish local offices for access to public benefit programs. This bill was written to address the issues Individuals are having when they attempt to use Access Nebraska (an online process where people sign up for public benefits)  This would establish local offices where individuals can now go to register for public benefit programs if they cannot get Access NE. online  to work.  This would be a good thing.

LB 826 – Dubas – Change provisions relating to legislative consideration of proposed rules and regulations under the Medical Assistance Act. My interpretation of this bill is that it attempts to address the proposed Medicaid cuts by saying that Health and Human Services Medicaid program cannot just propose and make cuts without legislative approval first.  It is a step in the right direction but this bill in its entirety may not change the more immediate situation of the cuts– it seems to be looking more towards stopping cuts in the future without legislative approval.  I would support this bill but give more  of my support to LB 952 (see below )which does a better job of addressing the Medicaid cuts right NOW.

LB 900 – Lathrop – Requires a report concerning individuals in need of multiple division services from the Department of Health and Human Services. When an individual is receiving more than one service for example Medicaid, Developmental Disabilities services AND behavioral health services  all the different entities involved with this individual would need to  report on why the individual  is eligibile to receive their services. What is happening is that one department is passing the individual off to another department saying they are better served there… and individuals are not being served appropriately when this happens especially if they need a variety of services.

LB 901 – Lathrop – Designate funds to be used for services for persons with developmental disabilities. This bill is to fund the Wait List in Nebraska.  Important bill that should be supported.—Call your senators.

LB 952 – Nordquist – Change appropriation provisions relating to the medical assistance. This bill is very important!!!! It addresses the proposed cuts to Medicaid. It speaks to eliminating each proposed cut and it includes an E-Clause (Emergency Clause) which means that when this bill is passed it becomes effective immediately.—Call  your Senators with support for this bill.

LB 1113 – Flood – Adopt the Nebraska Uniform Power of Attorney Act. This bill speaks to one of the options you have concerning substituted judgment. It is a Bill to monitor and get more information on before deciding what position to take– although it looks like it might be a good bill.

LB 1129 – Coash – Provide requirements for insurance coverage of Autism Spectrum Disorders. This bill is a bill to support on behalf of individuals with Autism.

LB 1144 – Ashford – Provide for Career Academy Schools. Seems like this bill is about establishing Career oriented schools for students (7^th through 12^th grades) that know they are not going to attend  college and want to have hands on experience with non-college related careers.  Could this be something students with disabilities who are not going to college might be interested in??—We might want to get more information and monitor this bill.