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Arizona Autism Coalition Board President, Ann Monahan, and Coalition member, Irene Fischer, along with several other community partners were invited to attend and participate in a press conference earlier today hosted by Senator Linda Lopez at the State Capitol. Click here to read more.

Information provided by Raising Special Kids

Legislative Developments

The Legislature is in session, here are some new bills to take a look at:

HB 2533 (developmental disabilities; contracted care providers)

HB 2655 (developmental disability services; providers; monitoring)

These are both called “administrative burden reduction” bills by their proponents.  HB 2655 will be heard 1/25/2012 in Health and Human Services Committee at 9:00 A.M. in room HHR 4.

SB 1047 and SB 1048 on School Tuition Organizations, to further expand and establish tax credits for tuition contributions; both passed the Senate on a party-line vote.

Background: As defined by statute, a school tuition organization (STO) is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that allocates at least 90 percent of its annual revenue for education scholarships or tuition grants to allow children to attend any qualified school of their parent’s choice. SB 1047 and SB 1048 provide a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to School Tuition Organizations.

Parents of children with disabilities who use the scholarships to attend private schools should be aware that they can also lose their parental rights to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

On Tuesday, January 24^th at 2 PM the House Appropriations Committee will hear presentations by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) on the Department of Health Services and Department of Economic Security budgets.

HB 2010

Parents of infants/children with/at risk of developmental delays would pay 15% of early intervention programs service costs if family income is equal or greater than 150% of the federal poverty line.

To voice your opinion, find your representatives on this List of Arizona Legislators, and contact the bill sponsor: Rep. Fillmore (R)

HB 2011

Would allow teachers to remove students from the classroom or to suspend them without review or interference by any other person or entity.

To voice your opinion, find your representatives on this List of Arizona Legislators, and contact the bill sponsor: Rep. Fillmore (R)

HB-2013

Would permanently limit the number of respite hours available from ALTCS to 360 hours annually.

To voice your opinion, find your representatives on this List of Arizona Legislators, and contact the bill sponsor: Rep. Fillmore (R)

Check this page from the Arizona Center for Disability Law for more bills related to disability issues.

Click here to learn more about this free program for DDD/DES participants.

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at UC Davis has developed a free, online training series called ADEPT–Autism Distance Education Parent Training Interactive Learning. ADEPT is a 10-lesson interactive, self-paced, online learning module that gives parents the tools and training to more effectively teach their child with autism using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques.