Legislature passes bill to require plan to serve people with disabilities in most integrated settings

Lincoln, May 21, 2019 – On May 14^th the Legislature voted to pass LB 570 which requires the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop an “Olmstead Plan” to insure that services are provided to Nebraskans with disabilities in the “most integrated” community-based settings.  This includes people who experience intellectual / developmental disabilities and / or mental illness.  The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 17, 2019.

The bill sets out a completion date of December 15, 2019 for the plan and requires DHHS to hire an independent consultant to assist with its continued analysis and revision.  The bill would also include State funding to support the process.

The Olmstead Plan is intended to address the United States Supreme Court ruling from 1999 that held that the unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes segregation, and that public entities must provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when:

1. Such services are appropriate;
2. The affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and
3. Community-based services can be reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available and the needs of others who are receiving disability services.

States without Olmstead Plans are vulnerable to lawsuits from the private entities or the federal government. However, more than the plan itself is needed to protect the State from legal action.  The plan must also be implemented and shown to be effective by demonstrating that individuals have been successfully moved into integrated settings. As a result, LB570 requires that progress on the plan’s implementation must be reported to the Legislature every three years beginning December 15, 2021.

 Advocates, including Disability Rights Nebraska and Nebraska’s Developmental Disability Network*, worked with State Senator Lynne Walz (Fremont) to craft LB570.  The Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities provided funding to implement the early phase of developing the plan, in the absence of a funding commitment from the State.

“We are extremely pleased that the Legislature and Governor recognize the importance of having a good Olmstead plan in place for Nebraska,” said Disability Rights’ Senior Staff Attorney Dianne DeLair.  “This provides the opportunity for Nebraskans to be actively engaged in the development of an Olmstead plan that is right for Nebraska.  By having a good plan in place, along with making a good faith effort to implement the plan, we may be able to avoid protracted and costly litigation in order to ensure that all Nebraskans with disabilities are able to fully exercise their right to choose to live in the most integrated community settings.”

An overview of the Olmstead decision and additional resources can be found at https://www.disabilityrightsnebraska.org/what_we_do/olmstead-decision/olmstead-plan-bill-passed.html

Why Invest Common Sense, Passion, and Persistence in Citizen Advocacy?

·         The images created about people with disabilities by the media, human service efforts, and in literature often create and support negative, stereotypical attitudes.  From these attitudes comes our conscious or unconscious action or our choice not to act.  Personal relationships between people allow us to reassess our stereotypes.

·         Many people who are seen and treated as negatively different will need to be protected from conscious and unconscious prejudice and discrimination.

·         Abuse and neglect exist in all human services effort.  The involvement of ordinary citizens in relationships with people who have disabilities is one way to monitor and decrease this reality.

·         The most predictable outcome of current human services spending and practice is organized segregation, which has kept people apart and unknown to one another.  Personal relationships between people help to overcome fear, myth, and discomfort that comes from people not knowing one another. Continue reading Why Invest Common Sense, Passion, and Persistence in Citizen Advocacy? →