STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
April 25, 2018
11:30 – 2:30 pm
Walker Building 1st Floor
21 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 

Present:  Jeff Dickinson, Andrew Harmon, Dorine Pelletier, Joan Marcoux, Karen Sloper, Peggy Teravainen, Susan Wolf-Downes, Deborah Naumann- Lindsey, Erin Hall, Christopher Emerson, Jennifer Beaulieu, Bill Finn, Joan Holleran, Janet Bamberg
Absent: Marcia Golembeski, Charles Saia, Lorrie Ripley, Rose Prescott, Lindsey Phelan
The SPIL Work Groups began work at 11:30.

The full SILC meeting was called to order by Chair Jeff Dickinson at 1:00 PM. Attendance was taken by roll call and introductions were made, including Christopher Emerson who visited at the last SILC meeting and is awaiting formal appointment by the Governor and Jennifer Beaulieu the new SILC Administrative Assistant.

The minutes from the February 21, 2018 meeting were approved as written.

Clyde Terry was originally planning to attend the meeting, but will be attending the June meeting instead.

Changes at VR and Impact on the SILC
Coupled with Joan Holleran’s retirement and with no plans to replace her position, the recent announcements of restructuring and financial struggles at VR mean that there are some uncertainties in the immediate future for SILC. Jeff has requested a meeting with the Director of VR and the SILC is monitoring the developments announced in the recent press release related to instituting an Order of Selection.  The Order of Selection means that services will be provided based on level of need with criteria to be established for who gets services first.
SPIL Update
Goal 1 IL Services Expansion
The SILC gave the go ahead to work on the identified Impact Areas (per the SPIL). 
1.	Available work incentive programs for employers and individuals in NH need more visibility.
2.	More affordable and accessible housing is needed in NH.
3.	NH needs more accessible transportation to assure quality of life, employment and health care for all citizens
Peggy Teravainen reported that the group has outlined the components of these statements.  Peggy noted that the Goal 1 group will work with the Transportation Group on the 3rd impact area.  She also asked that the full SILC address the need for a Vision Statement as this will be important for the development of the Position Statements and is part of the SPIL. 

Goal 2 Transportation
Andrew Harmon reported that SILC members continue to participate in regional meetings so the activities of objective #1 are complete.  Andrew noted that the group is a little behind on the second objective related to ensuring that MCOs are meeting Medicaid client needs for accessible transportation and will begin gathering information on this topic.  The group is also looking into what other states are doing relative to accessible transportation. There was nothing new to report related to autonomous vehicles. 

Goal 3 Transition
Deb reported that the group discussed how the changes at VR might impact their work on School to Work and NH transition services. It was noted that SILC funding for Part B services should not be impacted.  It was reported that Wendi Aultman from BEAS will send a staff to work with the Transition group. Some potential partners such as Business Enterprise Program, transition programs at community colleges as well as PIC will be contacted starting in June.  

In terms of nursing home transitions research as yielded information that efforts to find funds to increase pay for direct care are limited, likely to advocacy opportunities.

SILC Policies and Procedures
Jeff reported that SILC members Dorine Pelletier and Erin Hall will draft written policies and procedures to meet the new SILC requirements.  They will report progress at the June meeting.

Legislative Update
National
Jeff reported that although the House passed the ADA Education and Reform Act, 60 Senators had signed on to stall the bill.  He will keep watching this, but noted that this was more positive than a couple of months ago.

State

•	HB 1459- Relative to operating autonomous vehicles was killed
•	HB 314 Was retained, the bill was amended and now testing, no widespread use as a first step.  This is expected to go to the full Senate on 4/26.
•	HB 1785 – Relative to terminology- Deaf or Hard of Hearing rather than Hearing Impaired- House Ought to pass and Senate passed and it is at the Governor’s desk.
•	HB 1589—An Act relative to actions against tenants for a caregiver under an agreement for a person with disabilities. This ought to pass in Senate 4/26
•	HB 1816 relative to Medicaid Managed Care and a certain waiver from CMS implementing enhanced eligibility and federal medical loss ratios.  This should be watched carefully as this bill would stop any further implementation of Step 2 of Medicaid Managed Care, including CFI. This is fairing pretty well so far.
•	HB 1807- relative to strengthening the law around exploitation of people with disabilities passed
•	SB 278- relative to to exempting PCA from registering as medical technicians.  This was tabled, removed from the calendar apparently deemed overly broad in an effort to address medication diversion.

Jeff reminded the group to be on the lookout for people who might make good SILC members. 

DSE Update
Part B RFP is in draft form

GCD Report
No report

The next SILC meeting is June 27, 2018 at 11:30 AM at 21 Fruit St. Room 100.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM.

Recorded by Janet Bamberg