2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 68
BY SENATORS GATTI, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, HEWITT,
JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY,
MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE AND
REPRESENTATIVES BAGLEY, COX, JACKSON, LEBAS, MAGEE
AND WILLMOTT
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the United States Department of Defense and the Louisiana Department
of Health and Hospitals to coordinate efforts to provide information to military
families regarding services for individuals with intellectual or developmental
disabilities.
WHEREAS, our military families make great sacrifices to protect the rights and
freedoms that make this country the greatest nation in the world; and
WHEREAS, part of that sacrifice includes moving frequently, uprooting families and
starting anew in different states or different countries every few years; and
WHEREAS, for families with children who have intellectual or developmental
disabilities these sacrifices can often be an added challenge as many states have waiting lists
for services available to their children that often outlast the families' duration in the state,
forcing them to start at the bottom of the waiting list each time they are required to relocate;
and
WHEREAS, to help mitigate this challenge, it is imperative that military families
know of all options available to them through both federal and state agencies; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense established the TRICARE
Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) program to provide $36,000 of additional coverage
for active duty sponsored family members with condition-specific developmental disability
needs; and
Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 68 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals administers the New
Opportunities Waiver (NOW), Residential Options Waiver (ROW), Supports Waiver (SW)
and the Children's Choice Waiver (CC) which provide home-and-community-based services
for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that regardless of the entry point into the developmental
disability system, military families be informed of all options available to them in order to
make informed decisions about their health care; and
WHEREAS, appropriate referrals should be made by the United States Department
of Defense and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to ensure that military
families are aware of the services available to them and are able to apply for and secure
services or placement on waiting lists.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the United States Department of Defense and the Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals to coordinate efforts to provide information to military families
regarding services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies share informational brochures and
fact sheets regarding their programs and services for individuals with intellectual or
developmental disabilities that can easily be provided to military families regardless of
where they present themselves to apply for services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies work together to address the unique
needs of our military families that are in need of services for individuals with intellectual or
developmental disabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
United States Department of Defense and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 2 of 2