2005 Legislative Budget Priorities

Supported Employment

Supported employment services enable people with disabilities to successfully enter employment and work, pay taxes, and become productive members of society. Supported employment provides extra support for an individual to learn and perform the duties of a job matched to his/her abilities and interests.

Mountain State Centers for Independent Living supports funding to maintain and/or increase the services provided by the following supported employment programs:

Support Employment Extended Services through the Division of Rehabilitation Services
Supported Employment Grants through the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Office of Behavioral Health Services

The funding for the Supported Employment Extended Services line item is decreased from $119,032 this year to $112,485 for next year.

Actions to be taken

Please contact your Senate and House Finance committee members and urge them to support a total funding level of $119,032 for Fiscal Year 2006 for the Supported Employment Services. Tell them that Supported Employment Services enable people with disabilities to successfully enter employment and work, pay taxes, and become productive members of society.

Senate Finance Committee members are: Senators Helmick, Sharpe, Bailey, Boley, Bowman, Chafin, Edgell, Facemyer, Guills, Love, McCabe, Minear, Plymaile, Prezioso, Sprouse, Unger, and Yoder.

House Finance Committee members are: Michaels, Doyle, Hall, Anderson, Ashley, Boggs, Border, Browning, Cann, Carmichael, Evans, Frederick, Houston, Kominar, Leach, Palumbo, Proudfoot, Stalnaker, Susman, Thompson, Varner, Wakim, H. K. White, Gil White and Williams.

You can call 877-565-3447 to leave a message with legislators. Emails and letters are equally important. Please follow the links for contact information for Delegates and contact information for Senators.

Updated: March 23, 2005