Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-6860
Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2022-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Civil actions and liability
Community life and organization
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Housing supply and affordability
Intergovernmental relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Low- and moderate-income housing
Medicaid
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: 

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 

2022

 
This bill prohibits government entities and insurance providers from denying community-based services to individuals with disabilities that require long-term service or support that would enable such individuals to live in the community and lead an independent life. 
 
Specifically, these entities may not discriminate against such individuals in the provision of community-based services by such actions as imposing prohibited eligibility criteria, cost caps, or waiting lists or failing to provide a specific community-based service. Additionally, community-based services must be offered to individuals with such disabilities prior to institutionalization. Institutionalized individuals must be notified regularly of community-based alternatives. 
 
The bill requires the Department of Justice to issue regulations requiring government entities and insurance providers to offer community-based long-term services to individuals with such disabilities who would otherwise qualify for institutional placement. Government entities must ensure sufficient availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that is not a disability-specific residential setting or a setting where services are tied to tenancy. 
 
Regulations shall also (1) require government entities and insurance providers to perform self-evaluation on current services, policies, and practices and concerning compliance with requirements of this bill; and (2) require government entities to submit a transition plan. The bill provides funds for FY2022 for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance with respect to transition plans.
 
The bill allows civil actions by individuals subjected to, or about to be subjected to, a violation of its requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-02-28
text: Introduced in House