Nevada Governor Shelves Proposal to Centralize Disabled Services

Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn (R) has "shelved" a proposal that would have created a separate office to oversee programs and services for the disabled, the Nevada Appeal reports. The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation now oversees community-based and developmental disabilities programs, but the proposal would have created a separate Office of Disability Resources Development and Planning that would report directly to the Department of Human Resources. Several lawmakers "questioned" the proposal when it was introduced, saying it "appeared to reduce actual services in favor of planning." In opposition to the proposal, U.S. Administration for Children and Families Pacific Hub Director Sharon Fujii said the plan would violate the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act because it would put the governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities "under the control of the agency [the proposed Office of Disability Resources and Planning] it is supposed to monitor" (Dornan, Nevada Appeal, 3/2) The council, supported under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act, aims to "increase the independence, productivity, inclusion and integration in the community of people with developmental disabilities" (Administration on Developmental Disabilities Web site, 3/5). In a letter dated Feb. 8, Fujii said the council cannot be placed under the direction of an agency that could compromise its ability "to serve as an independent advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities." The letter "also charged" that Nevada failed to provide public comment on the proposal. Human Resources Director Charlotte Crawford said the governor's decision was not in response to the letter (Nevada Appeal, 3/2).