This petition is in response to Florida Senator Aaron Bean's Bill SB 82 which seeks to reduce iBudget Waiver services and redefine Support Coordinator services.

The iBudget Waiver is a supplement to Florida State Plan Medicaid services.  The iBudget Waiver provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  These individuals are able to choose from a variety of services that help the individual stay safe, help with their daily living needs, help with access to healthcare professionals and help the individual live in their community leading productive lives.

At this time, individuals receiving iBudget Waiver services can choose who provides their services, including their Waiver Support Coordinator.  The Support Coordinator contracts with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities as either an individual (solo) or person working with an agency.  The role of the Support Coordinator is critical to the success of the individual and oversight of Waiver services. 

Florida Senator Aaron Bean has introduced a bill (SB 82) which is in review at the Florida Senate.  This bill seeks to reduce funding for Waiver services, places limitations on critical Waiver services, reassigns the oversight of certain funding roles to outside contractors and changes the definition of a Support Coordinator to mandate the Support Coordinator be "an employee of a qualified organization".   At present time, a Support Coordinator is defined as a "person".  

If passed, Bill SB 82 would mandate the Agency for Persons with Disabilities procure bids from 2 or more qualified organizations for Support Coordinator services.  This service would then be awarded to the most cost-effective bidder.  The impact of this mandated change would be devastating for individuals currently receiving Support Coordinator services, because the individual would not be able to choose who provided this critical service.

Florida currently has 1000+ Support Coordinators that will lose their jobs if the language of Bill SB 82 is not revised for Support Coordinators to be defined as "either a person working independently or a person working as an employee of a qualified organization".  There are no provisions in Bill SB 82 for current Support Coordinators to be hired by the "qualified organization". 

Bill SB 82 is quickly moving through the Florida Senate and time is running out!   

Please sign this petition to let Senator Aaron Bean and his constituents know you do NOT agree with the changes he is seeking to make to either iBudget Waiver or Support Coordinator services.   Please let him know you do NOT support Bill SB 82. 

We call upon the Florida Senate to help save iBudget Waiver services and Waiver Support Coordinator jobs.

We call upon every elected official of the Florida Senate to represent the interests of iBudget Waiver recipients and Support Coordinators by opposing Bill SB 82. 

You may also contact Senator Aaron Bean via phone in Jacksonville Florida at (904) 757-5039 or via fax 1-888-263-1578 or in Tallahassee Florida via phone at (850) 487-5004 or fax (850) 410-4805.  Email addresses for Florida Representatives have also been provided below.  

Thank you!

Ron.DeSantis@myflorida.com

bean.aaron@flsenate.gov

Harrell.Gayle@flsenate.gov

diaz.manny@flsenate.gov

albritton.ben@flsenate.gov

baxley.dennis.web@flsenate.gov

benacquisto.lizbeth@flsenate.gov

berman.lori.web@flsenate.gov

book.lauren@flsenate.gov

bracy.randolph@flsenate.gov

bradley.rob@flsenate.gov

brandes.jeff@flsenate.gov

braynon.oscar@flsenate.gov

broxson.doug@flsenate.gov

cruz.janet@flsenate.gov

flores.anitere@flsenate.gov

gainer.george@flsenate.gov

galvano.bill@flsenate.gov

gibson.audrey@flsenate.gov

gruters.joe@flsenate.gov

Hooper.Ed@flsenate.gov

Hutson.Travis@flsenate.gov

lee.tom@flsenate.gov

mayfield.debbie@flsenate.gov

montford.bill@flsenate.gov

‎passidomo.kathleen@flsenate.gov

perry.keith@flsenate.gov

pizzo.jason@flsenate.gov

powell.bobby@flsenate.gov

rader.kevin.web@flsenate.gov

rodriguez.jose@flsenate.gov

rouson.darryl@flsenate.gov

simmons.david@flsenate.gov

simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov

stargel.kelli.web@flsenate.gov

stewart.linda@flsenate.gov

taddeo.annette@flsenate.gov

thurston.perry.web@flsenate.gov

torres.victor@flsenate.gov

wright.tom@flsenate.gov