Week 17 Action Alert: HB 233

 
Photo of Montana Capitol building.
 

Please contact Governor Gianforte regarding HB 233.

*If you have already contacted Governor Gianforte regarding HB 233, please contact his office again to show your support.

HB 233, “Revise funding for students with disabilities” has successfully passed both state legislative chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support. It is now at its last step: signature by the Governor. The bill extends the maximum allowed school age for students with disabilities from age 18 to 20. Currently, school districts can offer services for these students, but they are not funded to do so under the state school funding formula. This will allow those districts that choose to offer the services to be reimbursed for the cost.

The extra two years will provide critical life-skills training – learning to live more independently,  building the self-assurance and self-sufficiency critical to being successful in adulthood. This is sponsored by Rep. Fred Anderson.

Please do one of two things today:              

  • Call the Governor’s office at 406-444-3111 and leave a message with the front desk in your own words, something like: “Please ask the Governor to sign House Bill 233 to extend educational opportunities for Montana high school students with disabilities, a bill that passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support this session.”

OR

  •   Email the Governor with the same message by clicking here. 

Click here to read this bill.

 

How to Contact Legislators During the Session

Online Messaging

Use the online messaging form to message a legislator (click button below). This is one of the quickest and most effective ways of contacting your legislator. 

Phone Call

Regular office hours during the session are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays. Callers may leave messages for legislators or acquire general legislative information by calling the Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. Callers may leave messages for up to 5 individual legislators or 1 legislative committee per call.

Not sure who represents you in the Montana Legislature? Click Here 

 

To listen to audio/video streaming of committee hearings, click here.

 

Stay Informed

We will be posting an electronic newsletter each Friday during the 2021 legislative session. We will give you information about upcoming budget and general bill hearings, developments for other bills we are following and action alerts when these bills are coming up for votes.  

 

If you have accessibility needs and would like to receive the newsletter in another format, please contact Disability Rights Montana at advocate@disabilityrightsmt.org or call 800-245-4743.

 

Do You Have the Assistive Technology You Need to Participate in the 2021 Legislative Session?

Do you have what you need to share your story or voice support of bills that impact the lives of Montanans with disabilities? Borrow equipment from MonTECH for 30-60 days so you'll be prepared to write, call, or testify.

MonTECH houses a wide range of equipment to help you get connected. Borrow iPads, adapted keyboards, hands-free mice, laptops, wearable speakers, headphones, webcams, voice amplifiers, or devices that allow hands-free video calls with motion tracking. Spotty or nonexistent internet? If you’re in range of a cellular tower, borrow a Jetpack Mobile Hotspot and connect up to 15 devices! MonTECH provides free shipping and return shipping anywhere in Montana, and serves any Montanan who has a disability (including learning disabilities). The program is easy to use and does not require medical verification of a disability to borrow this type of equipment. Call or write if you have questions or need help accessing our program: montech@mso.umt.edu, 1-877-243-5511. We look forward to helping ensure you are heard during the 2021 legislative session!

 
 

Protection & Advocacy Service Training

We are more than happy to provide training and workshops to others. We welcome nonprofits, clients, workplaces, and more, to reach out to us if you would like for us to present about our services, and how we can provide assistance. Call 406-449-2344 or email Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org.

 

"Advocating for justice is our individual and collective responsibility."

Executive Director,
Disability Rights Montana
Bernie Franks-Ongoy
406-449-2344

Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org

 

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Disability Rights Montana protects and advocates for the human, legal, and civil rights of Montanans with disabilities while advancing dignity, equality, and self-determination.

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Disability Rights Montana
1022 Chestnut Street  | Helena, Montana 59601
406-449-2344 | Advocate@DisabilityRightsMT.org

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