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Governor's Council and ICC outline priorities: special-education funding, changing spaces, transit and prosthetics insurance
Summary
Members of the Governor's Council on Disabilities and the Interagency Coordinating Council told the caucus they will press for increased special-education funding, universal changing spaces, stronger public/community transit for people with disabilities, and expanded insurance coverage for prosthetics and orthotics.
Richard Savelle, staff to the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education, used the caucus appearance on Feb. 10 to outline several legislative priorities the council will pursue this session, separate from the infant-learning eligibility discussion.
Savelle said the council supports a bill to increase funding for special education services (referenced as a bill introduced by Rep. Josephson), noting the agency CISA provides consultation and training for districts and that funding pressure tied to declining average daily membership threatens service capacity in rural areas.
He also described HB141 (expanding access to universal changing spaces in public facilities) and said the council will seek support to require such facilities in public buildings. "All public buildings should have one of these changing spaces," Savelle said, explaining the goal is sanitary, dignified facilities for people with disabilities.
The council asked legislators to update an outdated assessment tool used by Senior and Disability Services and to engage on implementing recent long-term care rate study recommendations. Savelle also urged support for prioritizing public and community transit in Department of Transportation planning and for HB39 (education for deaf and hard of hearing), which the council said passed the House and is now in the Senate.
On insurance, Savelle raised a practical change: requiring insurers to cover a second prosthetic or orthotic for people with different activity needs to support health and recreation.
Savelle closed by asking caucus members to engage with the council in the coming days as they visit legislators to build support for these measures. No formal votes were requested or taken at the caucus.
