Disability Rights

Bills can be introduced in either legislative chamber and typically move through committees before a full vote. To become law, they must pass both chambers and be signed by executive authority. The bills listed below aim to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, with companion legislation introduced in both chambers to support their advancement.

State Legislation

Bills We Support

A2550

Disability Rights Bills Pass with Unanimous Support

Bills passed in the Assembly and the Senate

Stephen Komninos' Law

Enacted in 2017, the Stephen Komninos’ Law strengthens protections for adults with developmental disabilities in all DHS-funded programs and requires employees and volunteers to follow its rules, while enhancing communication with guardians and families.

NEW! DHS Drug Testing Program PowerPoint - The Stephen Komninos' Law

Commissioner Johnson’s letter to families

Commissioner Johnson’s letter to providers

Stephen Komninos’ Law Fact Sheet

The Stephen Komninos’ Law PowerPoint Overview for Providers

(Video) The Stephen Komninos’ Law Provider Overview Webinar

(Video) The Stephen Komninos’ Law Employee Training Webinar

Flyer for Direct Support Professionals

The Stephen Komninos’ Law “Report Abuse” Flyer

New Jersey Public Law 2017, Chapter 238, the Stephen Komninos’ Law

Federal Legislation

H.R. 6137 / S. 3211 Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act

This legislation requires the federal government to create a separate job category for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), which will improve data, recognition, and workforce tracking for people who support individuals with disabilities. This is not about funding programs, it’s about better classification to help address staffing shortages over time.

HCBS Settings Rule

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provide long-term care in home and community settings instead of institutions under Medicaid. Services include medical and non-medical supports like personal care, case management, habilitation, and respite. In 2014, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the HCBS Settings Rule, setting new standards for where HCBS are delivered.

Key Provisions

Community Integration: The rule emphasizes that individuals receiving HCBS should have full access to the benefits of community living. This includes opportunities to interact with people without disabilities and participate in community activities.

Person-Centered Planning: Services must be tailored to the individual’s preferences and goals. This person-centered approach ensures that individuals have a say in their care and living arrangements.

Rights and Protections: The HCBS rule protects individuals' rights to make choices about their lives, including where they live, who they live with, and how they spend their time. It also requires that individuals have privacy, dignity, and respect in their living situations.

Compliance Requirements: States must comply with the HCBS settings criteria to continue receiving federal Medicaid funding. This includes ensuring that settings where services are provided meet specific standards that promote community integration and individual rights.

Transition Period: The transition period for states to comply with the HCBS settings criteria ended on March 17, 2023. States are now required to be fully compliant with the rule's requirements.

Settings Rules Resources: How can I find out what rights I have under the HCBS Rule? (Plain Language)

Settings Rules Resources: Who can I talk to if someone isn’t respecting my rights? (Plain Language)

Settings Rules Resources: What are my rights in the type of setting I live in? With checklists (Plain Language)

H.R. 2540 / S.1234 SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act

The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act is a bipartisan bill that updates outdated financial eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program supporting people with disabilities.

Raises asset limits:
- From $2,000 → $10,000 for individuals
- From $3,000 → $20,000 for couples
Indexes limits to inflation:
Ensures these caps increase over time instead of staying fixed for decades.
Reduces “marriage penalty”:
Allows married SSI recipients to keep more savings without losing benefits.

The bill removes rules that penalize people for saving money or working, promoting financial independence and stability while maintaining access to benefits like Medicaid. The bill modernizes SSI by letting recipients build modest savings without risking their benefits, addressing rules that haven’t been updated in nearly 40 years.