HB2381 - 451R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2381

appropriation; developmentally disabled; mentoring

Sponsors: Representative Knaperek

dpa	Committee on Human Services
x	Committee on Appropriations
	Caucus and COW	This bill as introduced contains *an Appropriation clause.*
	As Passed the House

HB 2381 appropriates a blank sum in FY 2001-02 from the state general fund to the Department of Economic Security (DES) for the Developmentally Disabled Mentoring Program (Program).

History

Arizona Revised Statutes section 36-551, paragraph 17 defines the term developmental disability as either a strongly demonstrated potential that a child under the age of six years is developmentally disabled or will become developmentally disabled, as determined by a test performed pursuant to section 36-694 or by other appropriate tests, or a severe, chronic disability which:

(a) Is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism.

(b) Is manifest before age eighteen.

(c) Is likely to continue indefinitely.

(d) Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity:

(i) Self-care.

(ii) Receptive and expressive language.

(iii) Learning.

(iv) Mobility.

(v) Self-direction.

(vi) Capacity for independent living.

(vii) Economic self-sufficiency.

(e) Reflects the need for a combination and sequence of individually planned or coordinated special, interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration.

There are substantial similarities between the state and the federal definition of developmental disability. The most notable difference is that the state definition limits the diagnosis attributable to only mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism, whereas the federal definition is attributed to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of mental and physical impairments before the age of 22.

The latest Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Annual Report to the federal government states that there are approximately 83,000 persons in Arizona deemed to be developmentally disabled per the state definition.

Provisions

· Appropriates a blank sum from the state general fund in FY 2001-02 to DES for the Program.

· States that the monies are exempt from lapsing.

HB 2381 was amended in the Human Services Committee as follows:

· Renames the program as the Mentoring Program for the Developmentally Disabled.

· Appropriates $100,000 in each of the FYs 2001-02 and 2002-03.

· Requires the Governor's Council on DD to provide an additional $20,000 each FY to the Program.

· States that DES is responsible for establishing the Program and that the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is responsible for administering the program.

· Establishes minimum guidelines for the Program.

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· 45th Legislature