ConceptualPR
12 April 2019
Thank You Broward County Representatives!
Representative Bobby DuBose (in the middle) is shown from left to right with Tony DePalma, Attorney at Disability Rights Florida; Dixie Sansom, Lobbyist for The Arc of Florida; Kirk Hall, CEO-Designee for The Arc of Florida; and Deborah Linton, CEO at the Arc of Florida as they prepare to pass House Bill 349.
Our sincerest thanks to Representative DuBose, who sponsored House Bill 349 to prohibit unsafe seclusion and restraint practices in public schools on children with disabilities. The bill passed out of the House last week. Senator Lauren Book has sponsored the companion bill in the Senate (SB 62) which is to be heard by one more committee in the Senate before going to the Senator floor for a vote. Bobbi Wigand, Executive Director of Victory Living Programs and Deborah Linton from The Arc of Florida are asking all families to reach out and thank This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for supporting this important legislation.
House Bill 349 is a joint advocacy effort between The Arc of Florida and Disability Rights Florida this legislative session.
In addition, Victory Living Programs and the Arc thanks Senator Aaron Bean for his efforts this session to raise the wages of the Direct Support Professionals. Senator Bean put approximately $16 million in his proposed Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill to try to raise the wages of our front line staff. We have also requested that Senator Bean and Representative Travis Cummings appropriate $4.5 million more in the appropriations process during the end of session in conference, to raise the wages of the front line workers in the Adult Day Training Programs.
Bobbi Wigand, Executive Director of Victory Living Programs and Deborah Linton from The Arc of Florida are asking all families to reach out and thank This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (the Senate Appropriations Chair) for their support of the increased rates under the Medicaid Waiver program. Ms. Linton commented on how wonderful it was to see Legislators listen to our advocacy and rate issues and respond so positively.