Clark County signals support for developmental-disability legislative priorities, asks staff to refine language
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Summary
The council generally supported adding the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board’s 2026 priorities — protecting Medicaid funding, raising provider rates, boosting accessible housing and developing aging services — but requested wording changes (e.g., replacing 'abolish' with training/guidance on restraint/seclusion practices).
Clark County Councilors on Dec. 3 indicated support for adding the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board’s legislative priorities to the county’s 2026 tracking list, with council guidance to refine some language.
Jordan Bogie, senior policy analyst, presented a list of priorities developed by the advisory board, including protecting Medicaid and existing funding streams, adjusting provider rates to reflect costs, protecting early-childhood and IDEA services, expanding accessible affordable housing, reducing or providing stronger guidance around restraint/seclusion/isolation practices in schools, and developing aging-adult services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Bob Friedland, vice chair of the advisory board, told the council the board’s top priority is preserving Medicaid-funded supports that enable community participation. Patricia Bisher, program manager and staff to the advisory board, said the board is focused on inclusion and expressed interest in tracking bills and educating professionals so alternatives to restraint and isolation can be used.
Councilors asked for smaller, actionable wording changes. One councilor suggested that ‘‘abolish restraint, seclusion and isolation in schools’’ be reframed as support for training, guidance and measures to reduce misuse; councilors asked staff to add the word ‘‘accessible’’ to the housing priority. Jordan Bogie said staff would log the priorities with the county’s lobbyists and provide weekly legislative updates during session.
Next steps: staff will add the refined priorities to the county’s legislative watch list, coordinate with lobbyists and bring specific bills and technical information to council as the short 60-day session begins in January 2026.