Legislature to deal with Beatrice abuses
By Sen. Annette Dubas
FROM THE GRAND ISLAND INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
In recent weeks the Legislature as well as the rest of the state has been made
aware of the grave situation at the Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC).
The Department of Justice investigate report sent to the Governor detailed
hundreds of cases of severe abuse and neglect to the residents. The report also
observed staff that is overworked, underpaid, and not properly trained for the
responsibilities of their assignments. This report outlined grave violations of
the civil liberties of our state's most vulnerable citizens.
According to the report, numerous conditions and practices at BSDC violate the
constitutional and federal statutory rights of its residents. The investigative
report states that the BSDC fails to provide residents with adequate protection
from harm, training and associated behavior and mental health services, health
care, including nutritional and physical management, discharge planning and
placement in the most integrated setting.
My time in the Nebraska State Legislature has allowed me various opportunities
to meet with members of ARC and other advocacy groups that speak for those with
a developmental disability. I have heard what their group is saying loud and
clear. According to the Department of Health and Human Services there are 1346
individuals with DD that are not receiving any services and are in need of
services, and another 1319 in some sort of community based services but who need
more extensive services. These groups continually report the challenges in
funding, recruiting and retaining qualified staff. Because of the highly
stressful demands on these employees and the low pay, burn out and turnover is
rampant. Beatrice is the extreme example of what is occurring in the community
based approach in servicing the mentally and physically disabled citizens of our
state.
Over the past seven years there has been an awareness of the BSDC situation
through multiple reports that have indicated violations. This does not fault any
one political office - but everyone who has chosen to ignore this issue. It has
been said that a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable
citizens. The most vulnerable happen to be our family members, our friends, our
neighbors and members of our community. They just happen to have a developmental
disability. The potential loss of 29 million dollars in federal funding and
lawsuits filed against BSDC and the state command our attention and serious
efforts to reexamine our community based approach with developmental
disabilities and in behavioral health
reform.
In response to this report the Nebraska State Legislature, under the leadership
of Speaker Mike Flood, introduced LR 283. The resolution calls for seven
Senators to be immediately appointed to serve on a commission that will be
called the Developmental Disabilities Special Investigative Committee. The
Commission would be given subpoena power to investigate the current and past
situations with BSDC. The Legislature also adopted two amendments aimed at
enhancing BSDC's budget, and their staff situation. The first provided $1.5
million dollars of additional federal funding for hiring bonuses and salary
increases. The second amendment provides funding for community based services
that are appropriate for those with developmental disabilities to live
productive lives in the community.
If you are interested in viewing this report, you can access it online at
http://content.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me with your comments or concerns.
Senator Annette Dubas
State Capitol
PO Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509-4604
adubas@leg.ne.
402.471.2630
www.annettedubas.