January 28, 2014
DREDF joined with other members of the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities to oppose the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 3717). While the bill purports to aid families of individuals with serious mental health conditions, it actually contains numerous provisions that would eliminate significant and necessary protections for these individuals.
Category: Legislative Position
DREDF Opposes California’s AB 241 Unless Amended
August 6, 2013
AB 241will have a negative impact on people with disabilities who, as a constituent group, are as economically and socially marginalized as domestic workers, equally at risk of exploitation and abuse…
Strengthening America’s Schools Act (SASA)
June 9, 2013
SASA eliminates the 2% modified achievement standards and ensures that only students for whom the alternate assessment based on alternate academic standards (AA-AAS) is appropriate may have their progress measured by this standard. It also affirms performance targets for all students, clarifies the size of subgroups as being 15 students, requires data collection to improve school climate and measure academic growth, and ensures that schools implement multi-tier assessments and universal design for learning.
Medicare DMEPOS Market Pricing Program Act of 2013
May 22, 2013
Consumers, physicians and clinicians all agree that the current bidding program is disrupting the continuum of care by restricting consumers from going to their providers of choice in order to receive the appropriate items and services that they need. Enacting a market-based auction program will ensure that beneficiaries receive high-quality service and equipment that they have become accustomed to receiving and will lower health care costs by enabling beneficiaries to stay in their homes with the products and services on which they depend.
Enhance Rehabilitation Research at the National Institutes of Health
May 22, 2013
DRRC and DREDF enthusiastically support the introduction of S. 1027 because we believe the time is now to enhance the stature and visibility of rehabilitation research at the world’s premier medical research agency and, by so doing, send a clear and unequivocal message that rehabilitation services and devices are critical to the health of people with disabilities, chronic conditions, illnesses and injuries. Access to rehabilitation is the key to full functioning, independent living, return to work and a high quality of life.
Affordable Accessible Housing for Low-Income People With Disabilities
April 23, 2013
SB 550 is a modest bill which will help California meet the needs of its rapidly growing population of seniors, its veterans, and all low income people with disabilities who need affordable homes which meet their needs and enable them to stay out of institutions and be part of their communities.
Keeping All Students Safe Act (reintroduced)
April 22, 2013
Efforts to reduce restraint and seclusion should be part of a strategy for school-wide safety and should include the development of district-wide policies, training for all educational staff, crisis preparation, interagency cooperation and student/parent participation. Proactive approaches need to be used, e.g., positive behavior interventions and supports that are safe, effective, and evidence-based. Research demonstrates that the use of preventative and positive approaches is a cost-saving approach that changes how schools respond to students, improving student behavior by promoting and reinforcing desired behaviors and eliminating the unintended reinforcement of and need to respond to problem behaviors.
The Government Code – Relating to Employment
April 18, 2013
In Harris v. City of Santa Monica the high court specified that an employee must prove that unlawful discrimination is a “substantial factor” motivating adverse employment action, but did not provide detail relevant to that requirement. SB 655 would codify a definition of “substantial factor” for “mixed motive” cases that is consistent with other high court precedent offering such detail. This bill would also confirm availability of FEHA remedies intended to compensate for the harmful effects of experiencing discrimination and to deter inappropriate employer conduct.
Amend Section 12011.5 of the Government Code
April 15, 2013
Currently, Cal Govt. Code ยง12011.5 mandates the collection of demographic data relative to ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation to be provided by all judicial applicants. AB 1005 incorporates disability and veterans’ status into the list of demographic data that is collected.
Amend Section 32282 of the Education Code
April 10, 2013
SB 549 requires school and school districts within their school safety plans to better define the role of police officers on campus in order to promote effective strategies towards school safety that better support a healthy school climate and student achievement. It additionally prioritizes funding for school counselors and administrators before police officers.