SR1051: SR1051 Senate Study Committee on Comprehensive Services and Long-term Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities; create

26 LC 61 0490 Senate Resolution 1051 By: Senators Echols of the 49th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Gooch of the 51st, Bearden of the 30th and Goodman of the 8th A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Study Committee on Comprehensive Services and Long-term Outcomes1 for Individuals with Disabilities; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Georgia offers a variety of programs and services for persons with disabilities3 and their families, including federally funded programs and ser vices administered across4 multiple state agencies; and5 WHEREAS, persons with disabilities and their families report di fficulty identifying and6 accessing all of the programs and services for which they may b e eligible, including7 challenges related to fragmented systems, lack of centralized information, and inconsistent8 guidance; and9 WHEREAS, persons with disabilities and their families report co mplicated application10 processes, administrative burdens, and significant delays in enrollment and access to critical11 services, including Medicaid waiver programs and family support services; and12 WHEREAS, persons with disabilities frequently experience gaps and disruptions in services13 during key life transitions, particularly upon completion of secondary education and entry14 S. R. 1051 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0490 into adulthood, due to insufficient coordination among state agencies and service providers;15 and16 WHEREAS, schools are increasingly working to integrate students with disabilities into17 general education settings, and questions remain regarding the availability of appropriate18 supports, resources, and placements necessary to ensure successful integration, including the19 ability to appropriately address serious behavioral incidents and maintain a safe and effective20 learning environment for all; and21 WHEREAS, the New Options Waiver Program (NOW) and the Comprehen sive Supports22 Waiver Program (COMP) provide essential services but are limite d by waiting lists,23 workforce shortages, and administrative barriers; and24 WHEREAS, workforce shortages among direct support professionals, therapists, and other25 providers limit access to care and contribute to delays and reduced quality of services; and26 WHEREAS, families and caregivers often bear significant financial and caregiving burdens,27 including providing uncompensated care and navigating complex systems on behalf of their28 loved ones; and29 WHEREAS, parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities face increasing concern30 regarding long-term planning, including housing, guardianship, financial security, and31 continuity of care when such caregivers are no longer able to provide support; and32 WHEREAS, addressing the needs of persons with disabilities requ ires coordinated33 collaboration among all stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities, their families,34 S. R. 1051 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0490 educators and schools, service providers, communities, and the state agencies that administer35 programs and services; and36 WHEREAS, a comprehensive examination of programs, services, and long-term outcomes37 for persons with disabilities is needed to identify systemic challenges and develop effective,38 sustainable solutions.39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:40 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee41 on Comprehensive Services and Long-term Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities.42 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the43 Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The Pre sident shall designate a44 member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.45 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,46 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or47 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. Such study shall48 include, but shall not be limited to, addressing the following topics:49 (A) Access to services and administrative barriers, including:50 (i) Availability and accessibility of programs and services across state agencies;51 (ii) Application processes, enrollment time lines, and administrative burdens; and52 (iii) Opportunities to streamline processes and to improve access;53 (B) Transition services and continuity of care, including:54 (i) Gaps in services as individuals transition from school-based services to adulthood;55 and56 (ii) Coordination among the Department of Education, the Department of Behavioral57 Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, and58 the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency;59 S. R. 1051 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0490 (C) Medicaid waivers and service capacity, including:60 (i) Administration and availability of the NOW and COMP waiver programs;61 (ii) Waiting lists and planning lists and strategies to reduce such lists; and62 (iii) Flexibility in service delivery and barriers to access;63 (D) Workforce and provider capacity, including:64 (i) Workforce shortages in direct support professionals and specialized providers;65 (ii) Provider reimbursement rates and their impact on access to care; and66 (iii) Regulatory and administrative barriers affecting providers;67 (E) Interagency coordination and information access, including:68 (i) Coordination among state agencies administering programs and services; and69 (ii) Opportunities to develop centralized information systems and improve70 transparency for families;71 (F) Family and caregiver support, including:72 (i) Availability and adequacy of family support services;73 (ii) Financial and caregiving burdens on families;74 (iii) Access to early care and education programs for children with disabilities; and75 (iv) Barriers faced by providers and potential incentives to expand access;76 (G) Long-term planning and lifetime care, including:77 (i) Housing options, including community-based and integrated settings;78 (ii) Guardianship, supported decision-making, and long-term legal planning tools;79 (iii) Financial planning mechanisms, including special needs trusts, ABLE accounts,80 and estate planning tools, and coordination with public benefits eligibility; and81 (iv) Continuity of care when parents or caregivers are no long er able to provide82 support;83 (H) Data, reporting, and accountability, including:84 (i) Availability and use of data regarding services, outcomes, and system85 performance; and86 S. R. 1051 - 4 - 26 LC 61 0490 (ii) Opportunities to improve transparency and reporting;87 (I) Integration in educational settings, including:88 (i) The effectiveness and availability of appropriate supports in general education89 settings; and90 (ii) Resources, placements, and behavioral interventions to en sure successful91 outcomes for such students and a safe and effective learning environment; and92 (J) Any other issues the committee deems necessary to identify systemic challenges93 and develop effective and sustainable solutions related to the conditions, needs, issues,94 and problems mentioned above.95 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee96 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or97 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and98 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.99 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive100 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia101 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any102 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 103 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds104 appropriated to the Senate.105 (6) Report.106 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that107 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the108 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to109 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.110 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for111 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)112 of this paragraph.113 S. R. 1051 - 5 - 26 LC 61 0490 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of114 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.115 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with116 the Secretary of the Senate.117 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary118 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.119 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.120 S. R. 1051 - 6 -