"The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia""The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia"Home > Advocacy in Action > Legislative Agenda > Maintain funding for WVDRS Attendant Care Program
SB 526 provides the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) with a supplemental budget appropriation of $421,000 of which $49,100.00 is to be used to continue the attendant care program for enrolled participants through fiscal year 2004.
This bill passed both houses, completed legislative action on March 13, 2004, and is effective from passage date.
The WVDRS Attendant Care Program is currently funded at $130,000.00 for fiscal year 2004. We are requesting a supplemental appropriation of $49,100.00 to continue the attendant care program for enrolled participants through fiscal year 2004.
The purpose of this bill is to provide the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) with a supplemental budget appropriation of $421,000 of which $49,100.00 is to be used to continue the attendant care program for enrolled participants through fiscal year 2004. This bill passed the Senate on 2/17/04, was introduced in the House on 2/18/04 and is stalled in House Finance.
The WVDRS operates a long term attendant care program for individuals with disabilities who are working. This program provides funding assistance to 20 working West Virginians who have severe disabilities to pay for personal/attendant care services so they can work. Collectively these 20 individuals earn approximately $477,000 in wages per year and pay taxes on this income. This program is funded completely from state government appropriations to the WVDRS' unclassified line item.
Please call House Finance Committee members and request SB526 be placed on the agenda for their next committee meeting, passed out of committee and to the House Floor for a vote.
Also, please contact your Delegates and request they urge Chairman Harold Michael to put SB 526 on the Finance Committee agenda, pass it out of committee and to the House floor for a vote. West Virginia Delegates
Chairman Harold Michael, Vice Chair John Doyle, Minority Chair Mike Hall and Delegates Boggs, Browning, Campbell, Cann,Coleman, Frederick, Houston, Leach, Mezzatesta, Proudfoot, Stalnaker, Susman, Ron Thompson, Varner, Warner, H. K. White, Anderson, Ashley, Border, Carmichael, Evans and L. Gil White. West Virginia Delegates
Huntington - 304-525-3324
Beckley - 304-255-0122
Sistersville - 304-652-2116
OR visit our Web site at: www.mtstcil.org
Updated: March 13, 2004
