Advocates and staff with the Center for Disability Rights have been working hard to get support for the Community Choice Act. Upon hearing that several cities around the country, including New York City, and Binghamton, New York had already passed resolutions in support of the Community Choice Act, CDR launched the CCA Resolution Project at the end of 2008.

The aim of the Project is to get cities, towns, and villages in Monroe County to pass a resolution supporting the Community Choice Act.

It was thought that it would be easier to get local governments to adopt the resolution if either the New York State Assembly or Senate passed the CCA Resolution. Shortly after the inception of the CCA Resolution Project, the Center for Disability Rights approached Assemblyman David Koon and asked if he would be willing to introduce the resolution supporting the Community Choice Act before the New York State Assembly. Koon, a longtime supporter of disability rights, agreed to do so.

In January, 2009, the CCA Resolution was introduced before the New York State Assembly. Unfortunately, it did not pass last year. But that’s not the end of the story.

In February, 2010, Assemblyman Koon agreed to re-introduce the resolution even though the Assembly has been concentrating on the budget. On March 1, 2010 the New York State Assembly passed and adopted the resolution!

Senator Koon presents CDR COO Chris Hilderbrant with the resolutionOn March 19, 2010, Assemblyman Koon visited the Center for Disability Rights to formally present an official copy of the Assembly Resolution to Chris Hilderbrant during CDR’s Medicaid Matters Teach-In.

A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, and to each member of the New York Congressional Delegation.