(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 32–
Senators Titus and Rawson

 

April 11, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study concerning Nevada’s program for providing services to persons with disabilities. (BDR R‑937)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study concerning Nevada’s program for providing services to persons with disabilities.

 

1-1     Whereas, The State of Nevada ranks 51st among all of the states and

1-2  the District of Columbia in providing per capita support services for

1-3  persons with disabilities, as published in The State of the States in

1-4  Developmental Disabilities, 2000 Study Summary by the University of

1-5  Illinois at Chicago; and

1-6     Whereas, Persons with disabilities represent greater than 21 percent of

1-7  Nevada’s population; and

1-8     Whereas, The United States Supreme Court has determined that the

1-9  unnecessary segregation and institutionalization of persons with disabilities

1-10  constitutes discrimination and violates the requirements for integration set

1-11  forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act; and

1-12     Whereas, It is the goal of the State of Nevada to enable persons with

1-13  disabilities to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs;

1-14  and

1-15     Whereas, There is an enormous fragmentation of services provided to

1-16  persons with disabilities in this state, with programs scattered across state

1-17  government—the Aging Services Division and the Division of Mental

1-18  Health and Developmental Services of the Department of Human

1-19  Resources, and the Rehabilitation Division of the Department of

1-20  Employment, Training and Rehabilitation—and dozens of other state,

1-21  county and local programs; and

1-22     Whereas, One agency providing services to persons with disabilities

1-23  may not be aware of the services provided by another agency, resulting in

1-24  the duplication of services; and

1-25     Whereas, The Governor, in his recent State of the State Address before

1-26  this body, urged the creation of an Office of Disability to combine the

1-27  many existing services in one location and develop a long range plan to

2-1  better provide services to persons of all ages who have disabilities; now,

2-2  therefore, be it

2-3     Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

2-4  Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is hereby directed to

2-5  appoint a study committee, consisting of three members of the Senate and

2-6  three members of the Assembly, to conduct an interim study of Nevada’s

2-7  program for providing services to persons with disabilities; and be it

2-8  further

2-9     Resolved, That the study committee shall review the state’s

2-10  compliance with and the impact of federal initiatives, such as the

2-11  Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities

2-12  Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the

2-13  Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, the Medicaid Act,

2-14  the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act, the

2-15  Developmental Disabilities Act, and all federal block grants to the state;

2-16  and be it further

2-17     Resolved, That the study committee shall conduct a full review of the

2-18  current system in Nevada which delivers services to persons with

2-19  disabilities, including, employment, social services, medical and personal

2-20  assistance, education, public transportation, handicapped parking, housing,

2-21  child care and respite services, and the state laws relating to persons with

2-22  disabilities; and be it further

2-23     Resolved, That the study committee shall examine the possible options

2-24  to improve the delivery of those services to maximize resources,

2-25  consolidate duplicating and overlapping services, expand community-

2-26  based services, increase consumer choice, input and review, increase

2-27  outcomes per cost of service, unify advocacy and appeal processes, and

2-28  increase cooperation between state and local programs and community

2-29  providers; and be it further

2-30     Resolved, That the study must also include an in-depth examination of

2-31  the coordination of the various services offered to persons with disabilities

2-32  in this state to ensure that a full range of services is provided to such

2-33  persons, that available funding is used to its maximum advantage and that

2-34  services provided by the state are coordinated with community services

2-35  that are available through such organizations as the United Way, the

2-36  Nevada Community Enrichment Center and Opportunity Village for

2-37  Retarded Citizens; and be it further

2-38     Resolved, That the study committee shall also explore the feasibility

2-39  of establishing a single state agency to coordinate services provided to

2-40  persons with disabilities including careful study and substantial public

2-41  input on a wide range of related issues to ensure that no interrelated

2-42  services are overlooked; and be it further

2-43     Resolved, That it is the intent of the Nevada Legislature for the results

2-44  of the study to be used to develop a comprehensive, effective working plan

2-45  to ensure that qualified persons with mental and physical disabilities and

2-46  pervasive developmental disorders receive services in the least restrictive

2-47  setting appropriate to their needs; and be it further

2-48     Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the study

2-49  committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate

3-1  and a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to the study

3-2  committee; and be it further

3-3     Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a report of

3-4  the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the

3-5  72nd session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

3-6  H