Episode 111: Jeff Strand from TDC- 113th TN General Assembly

Raising Kellan

Jeff Strand Coordinator of Government and External Affairs from the Tennessee Disability Coalition will discuss the Priority Bills for Part 2/2 of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. Here is a link to what we discussed last year (2023) on Episode 78

TDC Priority Bills for 2024

1) TennCare for Working Adults, where persons with disabilities can potentially buy into TennCare services (like HCBS) by paying a premium. Eligibility to participate in this program will exclude present income and asset thresholds, making Tennessee the 47th State that could allow for this provision.

2) Paid Family Caregiving Resolution. As Jeff explains, this resolution would urge TennCare to work with community stakeholders to develop a comprehensive statewide paid family caregiving policy and program. If TennCare is unable to provide a solution in 2024, then TDC could write a Bill and bring this before lawmakers in 2025.

3) Right to Repair, Part 2. This Bill will require payors to pay for wheelchair maintenance and make provisions for "less complex" repairs, like flat tires, to be made by independent repair persons.

4) HB 2497/SB2146 will exempt two organizations from building dormitory-style, congregate living spaces within the State and bypass the State's anti-institutionalization laws, which prohibit the residence of more than four unrelated persons with disabilities in a group home or less than 500 yards from another group home.

Wins: The Tennessee Drivers Placard language was cleaned up to modernize the language of the law.

The transcript of our conversation will be available at www.raisingkellan.org