LINCOLN- Advocates for the developmentally disabled filled the Capitol Rotunda this week to rally for adequate funding for service providers. Multiple service providers said their agencies have been forced to close locations and stop offering services due to inadequate state reimbursement for services. The rally came as floor debate began in the Nebraska Legislature on the state budget.

The budget calls for a $27.5 million increase in funding for services for the developmentally disabled, of which $10 million comes from state funds and the rest from federal funds. Advocates, during the noisy rally, called for an increase in that funding to $52 million, with $25 million in state funds attracting $27 million in matching federal funds. Proponents said the increase would address the state's DD waitlist.

State Sens. Ben Hansen of Blair, Tony Vargas of Omaha, Myron Dorn of Adams and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln attended the rally. Advocates are backing a bill introduced by Lincoln Sen. George Dungan that would provide $52 million in funding for DD services, about double what is in the proposed budget currently.

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