In the near future, I intend to introduce a bill to strengthen the dedicated funding stream that pays for services provided to individuals with intellectual disabilities. This proposal will be very similar to House Bill 700, introduced by Representative Kerry Benninghoff.
 
Over the past several decades, the Commonwealth has been closing the one-size-fits-all state centers for individuals with intellectual disabilities and re-integrating those former residents into the community. This helps provide these individuals with the services that best fit their needs while keeping them closer to their families and loved ones.

In Act 54 of 2022, the General Assembly established the Home and Community-Based Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Augmentation Account. Under that law, the proceeds of the sale of a former state center for individuals with intellectual disabilities and the annual reductions in the appropriation for state centers would be redirected to fund reductions in the waiting list for home and community-based services.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, this funding stream generated $10,783,000 for waitlist reductions, which supplemented the amounts appropriated in the annual budget. However, at a time when the waiting list for home and community-based services reaches nearly 13,000 individuals, more progress needs to be made. 

This legislation would strengthen that dedicated stream of funding by requiring ALL savings from closing the state centers -including avoided maintenance costs, upkeep, and operational costs that would otherwise have been expended for the state center – be redirected towards efforts to reduce the waitlist for community-based services. It would also require the total savings to the appropriation for state centers from the highest fiscal year to be redirected to the waitlist.

I ask that you join me in taking the next step toward keeping our commitment to those with intellectual disabilities by ensuring they receive the supportive services they need and deserve to live healthy, productive lives.