Our mission, at the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. We are available to educate policy makers about the potential impact of legislative proposals.
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, the House and the Senate money committees announced their proposed amendments to Virginia’s current two year budget. The specifics of those proposals did not become available for public view until yesterday.
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the two bodies will debate that various proposals. Each house must complete their work on the proposals by the end of session on Thursday.
Some of the items we are watching include:
In the House proposal (HB 1600):
Item 125- 5h adds $52.8 million to the funds that support the state share of Special Education instructors and to support each special education student.
Item 296 – 5h provides $2.0 million to support pilot programs for individuals with dementia or geriatric individuals who may otherwise be admitted to a state facility.
Item 314- 2h supplies an additional $1.0 million to enhance community services for individuals with brain injuries.
In the Senate proposal (SB 800):
Item 288 – 14s provides funding to develop a 25-bed facility for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The neurobehavioral and neurorehabilitation facility shall be considered as a specialized institutional placement for individuals with a traumatic brain injury diagnosis.
Item 301- 1s funds the possible creation of skilled nursing beds at Southeastern Virginia Training Center to support transfers from Hiram Davis Medical Center on its planned closure.
Item 314 – 2s provides an embarrassingly tiny increase in funding to the state’s Independent Living Centers – slightly more than 17,000 per center.
Item 329 – 3s requires the Department of Social Services to study the feasibility of requiring local departments to apply for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of eligible children in foster care and require local departments that are representative payees for children in foster care to conserve such federal benefits in an appropriate trust instrument.