Approved Council Meeting Minutes

Ian Bott
Janice Carson
Amy Cunningham
Jenna Garrett
Jennifer Johnson
Maria Juarez
Rochelle Larsen
Mike MacGuffie
Marilu Moreno
Natali Pellens
Emily Petersen
Danielle Reff – DR
Michael Sandvig
Stephanie Walters
Nicholas Wyatt
Edgar Zuniga

Adrienne Seamans
Michael Case
Carly Saxe
Karren Streagle
Deedra Hunt

Marieke Edwards
Trisha Hammond
Christine Pisani
Miguel Juarez
Richelle Tierney
Jill Smith

Hillarie Hagen, Policy Associate, Idaho Voices for Children
Joe Earnest, Attorney, Disability Rights Idaho
Amy Cunningham, Executive Director, Disability Rights Idaho
Amanda Bartlett, Principal Evaluator, Office of Performance Evaluation
Sasha O’Connell, Office of Performance Evaluation
Sara Stover, Director of Cabinet Affairs, Governor Brad Little

Nina Spiro, interpreter
Alma Lopez, interpreter
Ruth Brown, Idaho Public Television
Anna Quon, Parent

Welcome, Introductions, Ground Rules, and Perfection of Agenda

DR Reff, Council Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:03 AM.

Agenda updates included removing the discussion on Adult Protection statute and rules. Sara Stover from the Governor’s Office will be joining our lunch discussion.

Guests were welcomed and guidelines were reviewed.

Natali Pellens, Vice Chair, reviewed the ground rules for meeting protocol. 

Presentation: Policy Review

Richelle Tierney, Policy Analyst, facilitated presentations from Hillarie Hagen, Health Policy Analyst with Idaho Voices for Children on Medicaid Expansion; Joe Earnest, Attorney, with Disability Rights Idaho who presented potential voting related legislation; and Amanda Bartlett, Principal Evaluator, with the Office of Performance Evaluation, who provided an update on the study on Creating a Sustainable Direct Support Workforce for Home and Community Based Services.

Stephanie Walters, Council Member, Division of Maternal and Child Health, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, suggested the Council monitor proposed legislation relating to the mortality of mothers in Idaho. Elke Shaw-Tulloch, Administrator, Division of Public Health, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will present this proposed legislation to the 2023 Legislature regarding the sunset date for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee which is currently scheduled to end on June 30, 2023.

Presentation: Executive Director Evaluation Process

Sara Stover, Director of Cabinet Affairs, Governor Brad Little’s Office joined virtually to present her responsibilities to oversee state directors with the modernization of human resources through the Idaho Division of Human Resources.  Council Members’ input on the Executive Director’s performance evaluation was discussed.  Ms. Stover requested the Council Chair reach out to her in writing through e-mail with additional questions. 

ACTION ITEM:

• Amy Cunningham moved that the Council request the Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities be invited to attend an ad hoc committee to address concerns regarding the Council’s non-interference clause that guides the operation of the Council. Amy also suggested that the salary level guidelines should also be considered for the Executive Director.
• Natali Pellens seconded.
• Ian Bott voted against it.
• Motion passed.

Council Discussion:

Christine Pisani, Executive Director, requested postponing the discussion about the proposed rules and proposed statute changes for Adult Protection until the Council has had an opportunity to review the written comments of other organizations. This will give the Council the ability to present a more informed set of comments for the Council to consider. Christine all for the ways in which the Council has supported individuals and families opportunities to inform the Office of Performance Evaluation study on the Direct Support Workforce study. 

Richelle Tierney, Policy Analyst, shared the timeline for legislative activities following the election. She will provide updates to members by email as information becomes available. Council members are encouraged to call with any questions.     

Presentation: Update on the Office on Performance Evaluation Study on the Direct Support Worker Shortage

Amanda Bartlett, Principal Evaluator, thanked the Council and staff for the assistance they have provided in reaching individuals and families to support their study.  They received 1000 survey responses in addition to the other forms of information gathering they have been conducting. The goal of the Office of Performance Evaluation staff is to help Legislators better understand how the direct support workforce has some unique considerations that are different from the general staff shortfall that the medical community is experiencing. For additional information or to contact the office: https://legislature.idaho.gov/ope/.

ACTION: Determine Policy Priorities

• Emily Petersen moved that Medicaid Expansion legislation be a Priority 2.
• Nick Wyatt seconded.
• Motion passed.

• Nick Wyatt moved that legislation regarding voting access be a Priority 2.
• Mike Sandvig seconded.
• Motion passed.

• Emily Petersen moved that any potential legislative work in 2023 because of recommendations from the Office of Performance Evaluation study on the Direct Support Worker Shortage be supported by the Council as a Priority 1.
• Ian Bott seconded.
• Motion passed.

Council Meeting Evaluation

Marieke Edwards, Research Analyst, provided the Council Meeting evaluation to members. 

ACTION Adjourn

DR Reff, Council Chair, entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.

• ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Mike MacGuffie moved to adjourn.
• Edgar Zuniga seconded.
• Motion to adjourn passed at 3:15 pm.