Arizona House Takes Bold Step to Safeguard Services for Residents with Disabilities

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has declared a veto stance on all bills until House Bill 2945 is enacted. The bill, recently passed by the state House of Representatives, aims to bridge a funding gap at the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and prevent service cuts for Arizonans with disabilities.

House Bill 2945 ensures emergency funding for DDD while limiting the number of paid hours parental caregivers can receive to 40 per week. The House approved it with a significant vote of 46-11-1.

The DDD serves nearly 60,000 individuals with disabilities across Arizona, including those with autism and cerebral palsy. Current funding is on track to expire by the end of April, primarily due to a surge in enrollment and increased payments to family caregivers.

This announcement follows Governor Hobbs’s recent moratorium on signing bills, a direct response to contentious legislation that sought to reduce paid caregiver hours from 40 to 20. Critics argue that changes like this could force many disabled Arizonans into institutional care.

The bill now advances to the state Senate. Its passage there would lift the governor’s moratorium, allowing other legislation to progress.

Representative Nancy Gutierrez, representing Tucson, praised the bipartisan effort after the vote. She emphasized the bill’s importance in safeguarding vital services for vulnerable populations without undermining initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness.

In a parallel response, Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro commended the House for adopting a plan to fully fund the developmental disabilities program. He highlighted the bill’s provisions for increased transparency and stability in funding, ensuring the program’s longevity.

This legislation is seen as a crucial step in overcoming the funding crisis faced by families dependent on the DDD, fostering accountability and service continuity.