Bill that would require documentation of families moving off DHS waitlist advances

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A bill that would require the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to report families moving off the Department of Developmental Disability Services waiting list and document services those families are receiving recently passed the House floor.

The bill would also the department to identify what other supports may be available to help families while they are waiting for services.

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“My plan with HB 2716 is to give families information on how the waiting list is moving by tracking the number of families that are currently on the list, the average waiting time and how many families are moved off the waiting list and receiving services,” Rep. Ellyn Hefner added. “Because the waiting list was so long when we funded the elimination, tracking the progress and impact to families should be a priority for the state.”

Along with HB 4466 last year that appropriated $32.5 million to eliminate the DDS waiting list, Hefner hopes public reporting and tracking of this information will empower families and keep the list moving until there is no longer a waiting list.

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“This bill is about making sure Oklahoma families are healthy. It’s about making sure all families are supported. It’s about making sure families with children or adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities have the information they need to make the right decisions for a healthy, happy family,” Hefner said.

In order to be eligible for services from DDS, you need to be an Oklahoma resident, over 3-years-old, have an IQ of 70 or below, and have a qualified diagnosis of a developmental disability.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

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