Senate passes bill expanding services to Floridians with disabilities: ‘A huge difference’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate unanimously passed legislation to expand services to Floridians with disabilities Wednesday.
Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, carried SB 1758. A similar bill is working its way through the House.
The bill modifies the application process for Agency for Persons with Disabilities services, adding an online application process and streamlining the timeframe to determine eligibility.
The bill reduces the age requirement for a person’s caregiver from 70 years of age to 60 years or older.
This will allow more individuals to be included in special category of the pre-enrollment prioritization list.
“It’s going to make a huge difference in the lives of those who are the most vulnerable,” Brodeur said.
The legislation was a key goal of the Senate’s 2024 “Live Healthy” initiative, led by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.
Constituents of Passidomo, Stephanie Nordin of Autism Collier and her family, along with college student JJ Holmes, a constituent of Brodeur, were among those present for the bill’s passage.
Passidomo said the legislation was inspired by Holmes to increase services for people living with disabilities, ensuring more opportunities for home-based care as family members and other caregivers age.
Passidomo said it was a “joy” to have Nordin and Holmes on the Senate floor.
“JJ and Stephanie have worked so hard to advocate for those with disabilities,” Passidomo said.
“JJ is a hero to me and to so many others across our state. His courage, tenacity, and good humor have inspired and uplifted me on so many occasions,” she said. “He is making a difference in the lives of people living with disabilities as well as their family members and caregivers.”
Earlier this week, Passidomo presented Holmes with the 15th Annual Idelio Valdes Leadership and Advocacy Award, the state’s top honor recognizing an individual with a developmental disability.
As part of the legislation, individuals may also be eligible for the consumer-directed care program, or CDC+, which is an alternative to the iBudget program.
In the CDC+ program, individuals can use a monthly budget allocation to purchase the long-term care services they feel are the best fit for their needs.
The bill requires iBudget waiver support coordinators to inform iBudget clients of the option to apply for the CDC+ program when creating family or individual support plans.
The bill appropriates $38 million in funding to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including funds to expand the number of Floridians with Disabilities who receive home and community-based care waiver services.
