Case, I/DD Caucus unveil 2015 goals

The General Assembly’s Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled (I/DD) Caucus today unveiled its legislative priorities for the 2015 legislative session, seeking substantial changes in state funding and housing for intellectually and developmentally disabled state residents and their families.

I/DD Caucus Chairs Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford) and Representatives John Hampton (D-Simsbury) and Jay Case (R-Winsted) today announced that the 60-member bipartisan and bicameral caucus supports legislation designed to:

• Close the state Department of Developmental Services’ Southbury Training School by 2020 and move its remaining residents (approx. 320) to community-based settings; shift all of the Southbury closure savings (approx. $237,000 per-person) to community-based settings in order to reduce the waiting list of approx. 2,000 disabled clients seeking supportive housing; evaluate the best use for the Southbury property and buildings and conduct an environmental assessment.
• Maintain DDS funding at pre-rescission levels in the FY 2016-17 biennial state budget
• Study the creation of a client trust fund for individual spend-down requirements

The I/DD Caucus issued its goals today in advance of Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s February 18 biennial state budget address, which is expected to impact health and human services spending in Connecticut.

“I understand we are facing an uphill battle with a large budget deficit,” Rep. Case said. “But there are ways to streamline our current services while addressing real needs to a community of people who are among the state’s most vulnerable. We must address present concerns, responsibly plan for the future and support those who need it.”