State DD Council asks appropriations panel to fund new staff, will reallocate some federal grants

State Developmental Disabilities Council Executive Director Julianne Horntevant told the House Appropriations Committee’s Human Resources Division that the council is seeking to hire additional staff and will shift some federal grant dollars to cover new positions.

Horntevant said the council, which receives federal funds under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and is administered through the Administration for Community Living, currently operates with about 1.5 full-time equivalents (one full-time staff and a part-time self-advocacy position) and is asking to increase that staffing to the equivalent of three FTEs by adding a full-time position and two part-time positions.

The move, Horntevant said, is intended to bring more project work in-house so the council can directly lead inclusion initiatives, public policy projects and technical-assistance efforts instead of funding outside contractors. "We have a 70 30 ratio as a rule of the funds, which means a max of 30% can be spent on our admin costs," Horntevant told the committee. She added…