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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Chris Shields 651-296-8873
Press/News Releases
PELOWSKI INITIATIVE EXPANDS SERVICES FOR DISABLED YOUTH
ST. PAUL - The House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee recently gave its approval to an initiative that could make a Winona program that provides out-of-school services to disabled youth, a model for the state. Rep. Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona), who chairs the committee, offered the plan as an amendment to a larger human services bill.
Home and Community Options (HOC) in Winona has operated a non-residential program for children with severe disabilities for the last seven years. They currently serve 70 families in the community.
"We are providing a home away from home for kids that provides the support they need to stay involved in the community while continuing to live with their families," said HOC Executive Director Dennis Thede.
It was recently discovered that the Department of Human Services doesn't have a specific license category for programs like HOC that work to integrate disabled children in the community.
Pelowski's legislation requires the department of human services to offer specific licensing non-residential programs like HOC's and help develop similar ones statewide.
"By allowing more opportunities outside school, disabled children can become more healthy, safe, independent, and part of their local community," Pelowski said. "We can also save millions in taxpayer dollars is these children can continue living at home."
Pelowski's legislation, now part of House File 911, carries bipartisan support and now heads to the House Finance Committee where Pelowski also sits.
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News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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