Legislative Work

Advocacy

The Council is federally mandated under the Developmental Assistance and Bill of Rights to advocate for public policy change and community acceptance of all people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Council provides advocacy information to self-advocates, family members and organizations throughout the year. This hands-on learning experience is an opportunity for elected officials to meet children and adults with disabilities, family members and personnel working in the field of developmental disabilities. Please contact our offices for more information: 307-777-7230. 

Voting

In a democracy, citizens have the opportunity to vote on important issues and elect politicians and representatives. When more people vote, they increase the chance that the issues that are important to them are taken seriously. If a minority votes, there is a risk that their preferences do not represent the majority. This is an especially significant point for people in the disability community because you have the right to many different accommodations, and it is important to have your voice heard! 

Take a look at this handy information page on voting!   Voting Handout


WGCDD Legislative Update 2023

During the legislative Session the council provides a state legislative update on issues that may have an impact on the disability community. Please see the bills below.  This document is updated daily throughout the Legislative Session. The 2023 legislative budget session begins January 10, 2023. Click here to be taken to the State Legislative page.  

The Capitol is open for public tours Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00 pm.  Click here for a link to the tour booklet.  


Wyoming Legislation to Watch 2023

The council will review bills during the 67th Legislative General Session that could have an impact in the disability community. 

For a full list of bills, please visit https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2023

Leadership and Committee Assignments for the 67th Legislature can be found at this link: https://wyoleg.gov/MediaRoomDocs/Leadership%20and%20Committee%20Assignments%20Finalized%20for%2067th%20Legislature_final.pdf

Members of the 2023 Senate: https://wyoleg.gov/Legislators/2023/S

Members of the 2023 House: https://wyoleg.gov/Legislators/2023/H


Attending a Legislative Meeting 

General protocols for attending an in-person committee meeting


Protocol for attending a virtual committee meeting


Providing written materials to the committee at an in-person meeting during the legislative session


Other helpful information


How do I make an effective presentation to the committee?


2023 Legislative Bills 

2023 Bills in Progress.xlsx

Check out this great advocacy toolkit from the Iowa DD Council!

Advocacy Toolkit Iowa.pdf

National News

POTUS Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/



ABLE Age Adjustment Act

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1219?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22ABLE+Age+Adjustment%22%5D%7D&r=2&s=2#:~:text=Introduced%20in%20House%20(02%2F23%2F2021)&text=This%20bill%20increases%20from%2026,pay%20for%20disability%2Drelated%20expenses.


March 6, 2023

Senator Casey Introduces the Better Care Better Jobs Act

On January 26th, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act (S.100).  The bill is originally cosponsored by 39 Democratic Senators. The bill will increase Medicaid funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) with a 10 percent increase in the federal match, increased funding for administrative activities, provide more benefits for direct care workers, improve oversight, make spousal impoverishment protections permanent, and will make the Money Follows the Person program permanent. The bill will improve HCBS for millions of people with disabilities, their families, and direct support professionals. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Plain Language

Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act in the Senate. This bill makes changes to and gives states more money so they can improve HCBS. The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.


Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, Pensions Seeking Comments on Workforce Shortages

On February 16th, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing “Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go From Here?” The hearing looked to address the causes of the current healthcare workforce shortages, and to look for potential solutions. The HELP Committee is looking to identify bipartisan solutions to address our nation’s healthcare workforce shortages and develop these ideas into legislation. The HELP Committee is requesting input from all stakeholders to better understand the drivers of healthcare workforce shortages and hear ideas on potential solutions. You can submit your written comments and suggestions to HealthWorkforceComments@help.senate.gov by March 20th.

Plain Language

On February 16th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on how to increase the number of health care workers. The HELP committee is asking the public to submit ideas and solutions.  You can submit to HealthWorkforceCommittee@help.senate.gov by March 20th.


Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act

On February 27th, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA-5), and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) introduced the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (S. 533 / H.R. 1263). The bill will phase-out the use of subminimum wage that is currently legal under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill will also provide technical assistance to assist employers in transforming their business models to support people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment.

The introduction of this bill comes shortly after the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report titled Subminimum Wage Program: DOL Could Do More to Ensure Timely Oversight on the lack of oversight for subminimum wage programs. 

Plain Language

This bill that will stop employers from paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Current law allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities below the minimum wage. This bill will stop this from happening, so people with disabilities can have jobs and careers that pay a living wage.


The National Center on People with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions Seeks Steering Committee

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has launched a new Center to improve support for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have mental health conditions. The Center through a cooperative agreement with the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services is guided by people with lived experience and “will focus on capacity building by supporting state agencies with policy development, service design, and service coordination resources.”

The Center is recruiting for its steering committee. The steering committee of 12 people will meet 4 times per year. Steering committee members and, if needed, their support staff will be paid to participate. If you are interested in joining the committee, email snonnemacher@nasddds.org by March 17th. Learn more about the Center.

Plain Language

ACL has started a new Center to support people with I/DD who also have mental health conditions.  The new Center is looking for members to join a committee to help plan the work of the Center. If you are interested in joining the committee, email snonnemacher@nasddds.org by March 17th.


New Resource: Need Updated Data about People with Disabilities?

The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (NH UCEDD) has released the 2023 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, Annual Disability Statistics Supplement, and State Reports for County-level Data. The web-based tools provide a range of disability statistics.


Voting Information

Voting

Plain Language:

What this means to you:

Action steps: 


How could a federal shutdown affect people with disabilities? 


The link below will take you to the Social Security Administration's contingency plan for a shutdown:  

https://www.ssa.gov/agency/shutdown/materials/contingency-plan-09-25-18.pdf


This link will show how Food Stamps could be affected in a shutdown: 

https://www.freshebt.com/government-shutdown-ebt-food-stamp-benefits/


This link will show how housing assistance could be affected by a shutdown:

https://affordablehousingonline.com/shutdown


This link will show how the mail could be affected by a shutdown:

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/what-happens-to-the-mail-in-a-government-shutdown-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-holiday-packages-15543900


Here is a link to the IRS contingency plan and an article explaining how a shutdown could affect your tax return:

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/266/IRS-Lapse-in-Appropriations-Contingency-Plan_Filing-Season_2019-01-15.pdf

https://www.libertytax.com/tax-lounge/what-does-a-government-shutdown-mean-for-your-taxes/


Here are two links specific to how a government shutdown could affect Wyoming: 

Casper Star Tribune Article: 

https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/the-federal-government-shutdown-s-impacts-on-wyoming/collection_3e5dd5f9-9094-5f4c-a8c1-801ec7d45d7d.html


Wyoming Public Media: 

https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/term/government-shutdown#stream/0