[FWD: Re: [VaIDEACompliance] Amendment to DRVD's Independence Bill]

[Guest guest]

ACTION NEEDED NOW!

DRVD will lose the ability to conduct investigation in schools under a

proposal expected to be made tomorrow.

House Bill 9 changes the Department for Rights of Virginians with

Disabilities from it's current status as agency of government. HB9 will

change DRVD into an independent state agency. The responsiblities and

authority of DRVD would remain similar. HB9 is supported by the disability

community as positive change.

Tomorrow (Thursday) an amendment to HB9 is expected to be offered. This

Amendment will prohibit DRVD from conducting investigations in schools.

Contact members of the Senate Education & Health Committee as soon as

possible and tell them why it is vital that DRVD maintain the authority to

investigate schools.

This Amendment is expected to come before the Senate Education & Health

Committee tomorrow at 8:30.

Phone calls and emails should be sent as soon as possible to the Senate

Education & Health Committee.

For more information call the Endependence Center at 757-461-8007 or contact

Maureen Hollowell at maureenhol@...

Maureen Hollowell

Endependence Center

Education and Health Committee Members

Committee Chair

Warren Barry

804-698-7537

wbarry@...

district37@...

Chichester

804-698-7528

district28@...

johnnchich@...

Saslaw

804-698-7535

vasenate35@...

district35@...

Lambert

804-698-7509

FAX 804-698-7956

district09@...

R. Houck

804-698-7517

FAX 804-698-7651

district17@...

ehouck@...

L. Louise Lucas

804-698-7518

Llucas@...

SenLucas@...

H. Potts, Jr.

804-698-7527

FAX 804-698-7651

Rpotts@...

Janet D. Howell

804-698-7532

Senhowell@...

district32@...

Frederick M. Quayle

804-698-7513

fquayle@...

fquayle@...

H.

804-698-7511

FAX 804-674-7241

district11@...

smartinva@...

D. Newman

804-698-7523

district23@...

S.

804-698-7521

jedwards@...

jsedwards@...

Bolling

804-698-7504

FAX 804-559-2595

bolling@...

district04@...

M. Ruff, Jr.

804-698-7515

ruff@...

district15@...

Margaret Whipple

804-698-7531

mmwhipple@...

district31@...

this is the latest impact statement in refernce to the bill as posted on the

web. I am still curious who initiated the amendment?

Heike

Department of Planning and Budget

2002 Fiscal Impact Statement

1. Bill Number HB9

House of Origin Introduced Substitute Engrossed

Second House In Committee Substitute Enrolled

2. Patron Hamilton

3. Committee

4. Title Create Office for Protection and Advocacy

5. Summary/Purpose:

The bill removes the Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities

from the executive

branch and makes it an independent state agency renamed the Virginia Office

for Protection

and Advocacy. The bill creates a governing board for the Office consisting

of 11 members

who are appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly for staggered

terms. The

Office is given the authority to access facilities and programs, receive

notification of deaths in

state facilities and to protect the confidentiality of records. In addition

to making it an

independent agency, the bill establishes within the Office an ombudsman

program and creates

the Protection and Advocacy Fund effective July 1, 2004.

6. Fiscal Impact Estimates are:

6a. Expenditure Impact:

Fiscal Year Dollars Positions Fund

2001-02 0 0 N/A

2002-03 $17,056 0 NGF

2003-04 $17,056 0 NGF

7. Budget amendment necessary: Yes, delete the old agency in Items 86-89

and establish the

new agency under Independent Agencies starting at Item 532

8. Fiscal implications: The proposal to create an independent agency from

the Department for

the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities (DRVD) can be accomplished with

minimal fiscal

impact that can be absorbed by the agency’s federal funding. Annual costs

for four meetings of

the governing board are estimated at $17,056 in federal funds.

The bill also requires the new agency to develop and establish an ombudsman

program and create

an ombudsmen section effective July 1, 2004. This unit would receive

complaints and conduct

investigations to resolve and mediate complaints regarding activities,

practices, policies, or

procedures of any hospital, facility, or program operated, funded, or

licensed by state or local

agencies that affect the health, safety, welfare, or civil or human rights

of any disabled person. It

is estimated that between three or four ombudsmen and one or two additional

staff for supervision

and support will be needed. Because the new program will not be enacted

until July 1, 2004,

there will be no fiscal impact during the 2002-2004 biennium.

9. Specific agency or political subdivisions affected: Department for

Rights of Virginians with

Disabilities

10. Technical amendment necessary: No

11. Other comments: None.

Date: 02/12/02 /amk

Document: G:\ 02 FISs\HB9E.DOC

cc: Secretary of Administration