Advocacy Opportunities &
Resources |
Welcome to our Advocacy Opportunities & Resources email detailing updates from the Texas Legislature as well as available opportunities and resources of interest to members of The Arc of Texas.
The opportunities and resources listed below are related to issues that could have an impact on Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). All times are listed in Central Standard Time. |
The Arc of Texas Members at the Capitol
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Last week, members from The Arcs of Greater Beaumont, Gulf Coast, and Wichita County came to Austin to meet with key members of the Texas Legislature and their staff. Below are some of the moments captured during their time
here.
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Committee Hearings The
following section includes a sample of the hearings that we are monitoring this week. During these hearings, legislative committees will consider important disability-related bills. You can find live and archived broadcasts of committee hearings on the House and Senate websites. Tuesday, March 7 House Human Services | Public Hearing Notice 8:00 AM | E2.030 - HB 54 | Relating to the personal needs allowance
for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities.
- HB 140 | Relating to the provision of certain co-navigation services to individuals who are deaf-blind.
House Criminal Jurisprudence | Public Hearing Notice 10:30 AM or upon adjournment | E2.016 - HB 279 | Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of trafficking of
persons.
Wednesday, March 8 House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence | Public Hearing Notice 8:00 AM | E2.016 - HB 446 | Relating to the terminology used in statute to refer to intellectual disability and certain references to abolished health and human services
agencies.
- HB 272 | Relating to the terminology used to refer to an individualized education program team.
Senate Health and Human Services | Public Hearing Notice 8:00 AM | Senate Chamber - SB 576 | Relating to the definition of exploitation for purposes of investigating reports of exploitation by certain providers against certain elderly
individuals and individuals with disabilities receiving services from those providers.
Senate Committee on
Education | Public Hearing Notice 9:00 AM | E1.028 - SB 133 | Relating to prohibiting the physical restraint of or use of chemical irritants on certain public school students by peace officers and school security personnel under certain circumstances.
- SB 891 | Relating to excused absences from public school for a student's mental or behavioral health.
Senate Committee on Finance | Public Hearing Notice 1:00 PM or upon adjournment | E1.036 - SB 30 | Relating to supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.
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Bill Filing Deadline Approaching
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Friday, March 10 is the last day for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions, other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency matters submitted by the governor. The Arc of Texas will be sharing all
the key bills we are tracking this session on our website next Monday.
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March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
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Join The Arc of Texas as we celebrate March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This month is a great time to connect with and learn more about Texans with developmental disabilities. Get Involved You can get involved and celebrate throughout March by accessing resources available on The Arc’s website and social media channels; connecting with legislators; and connecting with local Arc chapters throughout the state. Read the Official Proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott In an official proclamation from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declaring March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the governor stated, “Texas is stronger when all her
citizens are fully integrated into their communities. To this end, when students with developmental disabilities are included in classroom settings outside of special education, they are more likely to achieve their full academic potential, and when adults with disabilities are given opportunities in our workforce, they are able to earn a competitive wage, work as part of a team, and support their local economy. This spirit of inclusion brings with it benefits at the societal, community, and
individual levels, and it enables people with developmental disabilities to lead longer, healthier lives, engage more fully with the world around them, and give back to others.”
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Find out about our top three budget priorities for the 88th Texas Legislature on our website. Get the talking points you need in your advocacy for interest lists, direct care worker wages, and special education funding.
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Medicaid Waiver Interest List Maps
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As of January 2023, over 156,000 Texans are on waitlists for home and community-based service waivers. Funding for more waiver slots is sure to be a topic of discussion throughout the legislative session. We have produced helpful maps showing how many Texans on waiver lists live within each House, Senate, and Congressional district in the state. Unsure of the district you’re in? You can check on the Capitol website.
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Texas Partners in Policymaking
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Texas Partners in Policymaking, an advanced leadership training program coordinated by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, is accepting applications for its 2023-2024 program year. The program helps self-advocates
and family members acquire skills and connections to take their disability advocacy to the next level. The deadline to apply is March 25. The program consists of six two-day training sessions held monthly from September 2023 to March 2024. Sessions may be held in person or online via video conference. To learn
more about the program and to apply, visit Texas Partners in Policymaking.
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Advocating doesn't have to be hard, boring, and only done by professionals. Are you looking to support our mission to promote, protect, and advocate for the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (IDD)? Try playing our new monthly Advocacy Bingo game! Complete any row or column (the middle square is free), reach out to us at media@thearcoftexas.org, and we will send the first 20 winners a
prize!
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