Senator Judith G. Freedman (R-26) today joined other legislators, community service providers and advocates in calling for the adoption of legislation to financially stabilize the state’s community provider system and create a long term strategy for funding community agencies that care for Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens.

“We are here today because it is time for the state to recognize that our private community providers are the backbone of Connecticut’s human service system. We have to realize that if we want to ensure that these agencies are able to continue to provide care for our disabled citizens, we have to provide a responsible, adequate, level of state funding,” said Senator Freedman.

Senator Freedman, a long time supporter of community service providers, recently submitted written testimony to the General Assembly’s Human Services Committee in support of SB 413, An Act Establishing A Community Provider Rescue Fund Account And Community-Based Services. Specifically, the legislation calls for providing $135 million to stabilize the community provider system, providing $65 million in capital improvement funds, and creating a commission to develop a long-term community provider funding strategy. The legislation is awaiting action by the Human Services Committee, and ultimately, final legislative action by the General Assembly.

“As I have said before, these community agencies provide excellent care and homes for our disabled citizens and deserve to be fairly compensated for their work. We failed, repeatedly, to accommodate these providers with realistic monetary increases they need to continue to provide services to the persons who depend upon them,” said Senator Freedman.

“We have a responsibility to all of our citizens, including those who receive services from community providers and those who provide those services. A cost of living increase should not be a policy decision or a negotiating chit in the budget. We owe it to everyone – the persons who depend on services, their families, and the people who provide services – to responsibly fund private providers,” said Senator Freedman. "This is the year we must do something and the Rescue Fund is an excellent vehicle for addressing the issues facing the community providers.”