TheWisconsin Senate Health Committeevoted 5-0 to passSenate Bill (SB) 380. The bill lifts the caps on Family Care, IRIS, Partnership, and PACE and rolls out the programs statewide. Many phone calls, e-mails, and visits to Committee members and other Senators helped make this vote happen. This is a major step towards ending waiting lists for long-term supports in Wisconsin.

But more work is needed. SB 380 still needs to pass the full Senate. Also, the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee has not scheduled a hearing on the Assembly version of the bill,Assembly Bill (AB) 477.

If these bills dont pass, the caps will stay in place and people with disabilities wont have access to the services they need.Here are some actions you can take to lift the caps, expand the programs statewide, and end waiting lists:

• Contactyour own Representativeand ask him or her to contact Rep. Dan Knodl, chair of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, and request a hearing on AB 477. A hearing is needed as soon as possible.
• ContactRep. Knodland the other members of theAssembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee. Tell their staff why you want a hearing on AB 477 to lift the caps and end wait lists.

Time is running out. These bills both die if they are not voted on by March 15. Thank you for your advocacy!

Thank you toDAWN (Disability Advocates: Wisconsin Network), an initiative of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD), for this information.