For more than two months the Tennessee Disability Coalition, its friends and partners have mobilized to defeat legislation that was filed specifically to cut funding to Coalition programs like Family Voices, Project Brain as well as support for other disability organizations.

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We are happy to report that your voices were heard. The calls, the faxes, the e-mails and personal visits made a difference. On Tuesday, April 23rd Senator Tim Burchett moved the legislation to “General Subcommittee.” Typically moving a bill to “general sub” means that no further action will be taken on the bill during the current spring meeting of the General Assembly.


This doesn’t mean the legislation is dead, because it may be revived in January 2008. However, it gives us breathing room to focus on real legislation that can have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities, their family and friends. Legislation such as the Coalition’s Long-Term Care Identification and Assessment Bill; the Arc of Tennessee’s Seclusion and Restraint legislation; and so much more.

Things are a little different in the House. The House version of the legislation, HB 457, is still alive but we do not anticipate that it will be brought up in Committee for the remainder of this spring.

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In conclusion, it is a day to celebrate and say thanks! Thanks to all of our friends and partners who took time to support us and thanks to the legislators who stood up for the disability community.

In the meantime, if you are a constituent of Senator Tim Burchett or live in the Knoxville area, please drop him a line or give his office a call and thank him for sending SB 441 to the General Subcommittee. His office line is (615) 741-1766 and his staff contact is Alice.