Legislation To Provide Better Care for Disabled and Special Needs Individuals

Anyone with family members who have special needs or disabilities can rest a little easier after Senator Catharine Young announced that legislation to strengthen and improve assistance was passed through the Senate. More than one million individuals receive care from the state’s human services agencies and programs, and this legislation was created in response to allegations of abuse and neglect. The bill will create a Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs that will protect the safety, health and welfare of vulnerable individuals. The center will also improve the response to abuse and neglect with tools including operating a 24-hour hotline and developing standards to investigate allegations. The legislation will also strengthen laws and standards that make abuse against special needs and disabled individuals a crime. The bill will now be sent to the Assembly.