On behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), the Nation Institute of Mental Health is seeking comments to inform the annual update of the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research, as required by the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-416). The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input from…
Final State Budget in Sight
The Senate and House Democrats have reached agreement to raise nearly $990 million dollars in revenue to restore some of the most harmful budget cuts in Health and Human Services and Education. The revenue plan calls for a 1-cent increase in the sales tax, a 2 percent surcharge on personal and corporate income tax, a…
As we work to keep the needs of people with autism and their families in front of our state legislators this session; we are also working on federal autism legislation. This week, staff were invited to meet with Sen. Hagan’s NC State Director, Deputy Director and her DC Health Policy staffĀ (who joined the meeting by…
The Case for Raising Revenue
Without additional revenue, let’s review what is at stake: (The Autism Society of North Carolina supports this analysis from the Arc of NC.) LME services cuts ($65 million ): This includes a $50 million dollar cut to services without specifics, a $16 million cut to services to people with DD who also have a CAP…
Federal Autism Legislation
While ASNC staff are advocating at the N.C. General Assembly on behalf of people living with autism, we are also monitoring federal autism legislation. Once the N.C. state budget is finalized, we will be visiting with our N.C. Congressional Delegation members to solicit their sponsorship and support for several federal autism bills (listed below). Please…
Bullying Bill Passes N.C.House
Last night, the N.C.House passed the Bullying Bill, SB 526 /HB 548: School Violence Prevention Act, by a one vote margin. Since the bill was already passed by the Senate, the bill now moves to the GovernorĀ for her signature. Our state legislators stood up and voted on what is right for all students, especially the…
Please pass the bullying bill!
If I have to note all of the reasons bullying by anyone to anyone is wrong, this blog would be very long. Today, our state house can demonstrate to all kids who have ever been bullied and to any child who will in the future, that the protection of children is one of the most…
Bullying Bill – 2nd vote completed. Action Needed today prior to final vote.
SB 526/ HB 548: School Violence Prevention Act (Bullying Bill) passed its second reading in the House on a close 59-57 vote last night (6/22). For a complete list of how members voted click here. http://ncleg.net/gascripts/voteHistory/RollCallVoteTranscript.pl?sSession=2009&sChamber=H&RCS=817 The final House vote will be sometime today. We need one more day of calls to our House Representatives….
Budget Update and Advocacy Events
The budget bill that restores some of services for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness and addictive disease is expected to pass in the House by Saturday morning. This is a solid step in the right direction but the budget process – and our advocacy efforts – are still not over. The budget process does…