2015 Virginia General Assembly
The disAbility law Center of Virginia will be monitoring developments in the legislature that may be of interest to people with disabilities. We are available to educate policy makers about the potential impact of legislative proposals. Please let us know of any legislative proposals or budget issues that you think we should be following. Contact us at info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 804-225-2042.
One potential budget item of concern to the disability community is a proposal to limit personal care attendant services, under the consumer directed Medicaid waiver, to 56 hours for a single attendant who works more than 40 hours per week, prohibit an “employer of record” from acting on behalf of more than one person with a disability, and prohibit an attendant from working for more than one individual. This proposal is intended to limit the amount of overtime that the Department of Medical Assistance Services may be required to be responsible for.
The mission of the disAbility Law Center of Virginia is, through zealous and effective advocacy and legal representation, to protect and advance the legal, human and civil rights of people with disabilities, to combat and prevent abuse, neglect and discrimination, and to promote independence, choice and self-determination by persons with disabilities.
The 2015 legislative session in Virginia begins at noon on January 14, 2015. This is a “short” session, meaning that the legislature plans to be in session for 45 days, rather than the 60 days of the “long” session.