urgent request for early intervention funding

Below is a letter from the WEECARE coalition regarding the Infant and Toddler Equity Act. Unfortunately this early intervention funding bill was not successful, but we can still work for funding through the Ways and Means committee.

Cecile Lindquist (an amazing leader in the developmental disability movement and a pioneer in special education laws) just called me and asked that we let our Whatcom County senator (Brandland...who serves on Ways and Means) know how important this bill is to our children. When I talked with Brandland's office, they suggested I also call the committee chair (Prentice).

Thank you everyone for your urgent response to this important issue...read below for further details.


Dear WEECARE supporters:

We are sorry to tell you that HB 2900 and SB 6713 did not get hearings in Appropriations Committee or Ways and Means Committee. So the while the bills are dead for this year, we have not given up hope for getting money in the budget to assist with this important need for infants and toddlers with disabilities. We are hoping to get funding put into the budget by the Ways and Means Committee. We know you all did an excellent job of getting your messages to where they needed to go, but we knew it was going to be a short session and difficult year to pass our bills. That being said we would ask you to not give up but contact the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

ACTION: Tell them to please put money in the budget for infants and toddlers to assist the Developmental Disabilities County Programs in being equitable and support the efforts of providing this entitlement. Please stress this is a CORRECTION TO AN EXISTING PROGRAM. Please call and/or email the members below and request funding in the budget to support infants and toddlers with disabilities.

Senate Ways and Means Committee members listed below.

Senator Margarita Prentice, Chair
360-786- 7616
prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov

Senator Karen Fraser, Vice Chair
360-786-7642
fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov

Senator Craig Pridemore
360-786-7696
pridemore.craig@leg.wa.gov

Senator Joseph Zarelli
360-786-7634
zarelli.joseph@leg.wa.gov

Senator Dale Brandland
360-786-7682
brandland.dale@leg.wa.gov

Senator Mike Carrell
360-786-7654
carrell.mike@leg.wa.gov

Senator Darlene Fairley
360-786-7662
fairley.darlene@leg.wa.gov

Senator Brian Hatfield
360-786-7636
hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov

Senator Mike Hewitt
360-786-7630
hewitt.mike@leg.wa.gov

Senator Steve Hobbs
360-786-7686
hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov

Senator Jim Honeyford
360-786-7684
honeyford.jim@leg.wa.gov

Senator Karen Keiser
360-786-7664
keiser.karen@leg.wa.gov

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
360-786-7670
kohl-welles.jeanne@leg.wa.gov

Senator Eric Oemig
360-786-7672
oemig.eric@leg.wa.gov

Senator Linda Evans Parlette
360-786-7622
parlette.linda@leg.wa.gov

Senator Marilyn Rasmussen
360-786-7602
rasmussen.marilyn@leg.wa.gov

Senator Debbie Regala
360-786-7652
regala.debbie@leg.wa.gov

Senator Pam Roach
360-786-7660
roach.pam@leg.wa.gov

Senator Phil Rockefeller
360-786-7644
rockefeller.phil@leg.wa.gov

Senator Mark Schoesler
360-786-7620
schoesler.mark@leg.wa.gov

Senator Rodney Tom
360-786-7694
tom.rodney@leg.wa.gov

Thank you for all your hard work for infants and toddlers with disabilities. If you need information, please email weecare@olywa.net or call Cecile at 206-524-6564.

Sincerely,

Cassie Johnston and Cecile Lindquist