Recently bills for children w/ special health care needs, education & special education have favorably made it through the House & Senate Committees.  Each in turn got Favorable Reports and are now in Appropriations.  

Please support these important bills by doing the following steps TODAY/TONIGHT:

SB 246  An Act Concerning Home & Community-Based Services for Families w/ Special Needs Children.  To expand the offering of state programs available to families w/ special needs children.

SB 1324  An Act Concerning Healthcare Access, Quality & Family Support for Children with Special Health Care Needs.  To improve healthcare quality, access and family support for children w/ special health care needs.


ALERT...ALERT...ALERT
HB 7176  An Act Concerning Special Education.  There is specific language in this bill that is not appropriate for children w/ special health care needs or specific developmental disabilities.  This language calls for Special Education Services to TERMINATE on the child's 21 birthday (THAT DAY).  Currently, the child becomes ineligible at the end of his/hers 21st birthday school year, allowing them to complete that full year w/ services and support (Makes sense). 

If this language remains it will be a terrible burden on both the child and their families.  Writing to the appropriation committee is needed to amend this section of the bill.  And you can just add a line to Message 1.  Please voice your opinion. 


You can make a difference:  Copy Message 1 click on the highlighted link which will bring you to that committee e-mail list, and paste the message & e-mail to each member on the committee.
 
Message #1:  (they always want to hear from parents especially specific thing about your children so add something in if you choose but be brief they have a tremendous amount of e-mail coming across their screen...TITLE you e-mail w/ the Bill Numbers too)

Please vote to approve S.B. 1324 to improve state coordination, quality, oversight and results-based accountability for children with special health care needs, to maximize federal revenue, and to fund 20 Katie Beckett slots.  Please vote to approve S.B. 246 to reduce unnecessary institutionalization and bring in new federal funds to improve health care for our most vulnerable children.     


These bills are in the Appropriations Committee (member contact info. is at)
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/MemberList.asp?comm_code=APP&doc_type= 

The committee co-chairs are Sen. Harp and Rep. Truglia.
 

You can make a difference

 
By letting legislators hear our communities voice, we can make a difference for quality healthcare, services & supports for Children w/ Special Health Care Needs.



Elaine Davis