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Advocates report Richmond trip and bills to protect waiver eligibility, voting rights and criminal-record relief
Summary
Lucy reported a Richmond delegation of roughly 70 advocates and said a bill to prevent automatic loss of waiver eligibility when parents die is advancing; advocates also highlighted bills on affirmative defense, expungement for disability-related charges, and preserving voting rights during guardianship proceedings.
Lucy (advocacy lead) reported on a large Richmond advocacy delegation and several bills the group is tracking. She said one priority bill would prevent people from losing waiver eligibility when parents die and is moving through the legislature with no votes opposed. "The bills that we are focused on most closely this year... are... where people lose waiver eligibility when their parents die and they start to receive their parents' SSDI benefits. That is sailing through with no votes opposed," Lucy said.
Lucy also described justice-related bills: an affirmative-defense measure to consider disability in prosecution, expungement options for cases dismissed or deferred, and legislation to ensure guardianship proceedings do not automatically strip voting rights. She urged families to save the date for a March 20 session where attorneys will provide one-on-one assistance applying for Social Security. "We're doing a session with 2 attorneys... they'll help families apply for Social Security," Lucy said.
Advocates in the meeting discussed SRAP funding and the need for supports that let people move out of family homes into inclusive housing; committee members emphasized outreach so families know about local day-program options and self-directed services that can supplement waivers.
