U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F D E F E N S E DoD-State Liaison Office www.usa4militaryfamilies.dod.mil Working with states on issues important to Service members and their families! Thank-you for what you have done (and are doing)!!!!
Key Issues Impacting Service Members and Their Families(2013) Active Issues: Facilitate Service members receiving licensure and academic credit for military education, training and experience Facilitate military spouse transition through licensure portability Increase access to quality, affordable childcare for military families Provide authority for establishing Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) Promote consumer protections and enforcement of the predatory lending regulation Waive required waiting time to establish residency for separating Service members so they can obtain in-state tuition rates Assign an identifier for military children in education data systems Near Completion: Improve absentee voting for military members and their families Ensure Deployment Separation Does Not Determine Child Custody Decisions Minimize school disruption for military children during transition and deployment Eligibility for unemployment compensation Comport state laws with DoD rules on disposition Under Development: Allow Service members to retain their earned priority for receiving Medicaid home and community care waivers Create state-wide MoUs between the DoD and the state child welfare agency to standardize relationships among local courts, agencies and military communities USA 4 Military Families Initiative 2
Legislative Trends 200 150 100 50 0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Active Sponsors 2012 Active Bills 2012 Enacted Bills 2012 Active Sponsors 2013 Active Bills 2013 Enacted Bills 2013 Pre-file and introduce bills Hearings Conferences Prep Assist legislators Educate & build relationships 96 total statutes so far in 2013; 14 by members of this Task Force USA 4 Military Families Initiative 3
Active Issue/Sub-Issue Status Issue Separating SM Licensure 42 (34) Spouse License 38 (16) Veterans Treatment Court 35 (7) Child Care 41 (5) Predatory Lending 45 (1) Sub-Issues and Number of States Responding to Date Licensing credit for military education Extension of license while on active duty Endorsement of existing license Academic credit for military education 33 31 15 36 License by endorsement Temporary license Expedited processes 29 34 24 Focus on treatment Open selection Maximize coverage 35 31 20 Annual inspections Background checks 28 26 Enforcement of the Military Lending Act Information sharing through FTC 37 31 In-state tuition 26 (9) Military Student ID 2 (2) USA 4 Military Families Initiative 4
Nearly Completed Issue/Sub-Issue Status Issue Voting 50 (5) Child Custody 47 (9) Sub-Issues and Number of States Responding to Date 45 day ballot Electronic transmit Accept FWAB Eliminate notary Auto request Single state POC Overseas US citizen Adopt UMOVA 46 21 38 47 23 4 28 13 Military absence not sole basis No permanent order for mil absence Reinstate custody order upon return Delegate visitation rights Expedite hearing Electronic testimony 41 36 36 33 36 32 Compact 46 (5) Unemployment 44 (0) Compensation PADD 42 (3) USA 4 Military Families Initiative 5
Medicaid Waivers Transient nature of military life makes Medicaid waiver 1915(c) difficult to access (Home-based care) An assignment generally lasts about 3 years waiting periods are longer Start at the bottom of state waiting lists at the next assignment DoD provides a supplemental health plan through Tricare called ECHO 47% currently enrolled in ECHO supplies, respite care specialized equipment listed as most significant shortfalls 1 Majority of respondents said if Tricare ECHO was adequate, Medicaid would not be needed while on active duty 1 Vast majority said having the option to sign up for Medicaid while on AD to access when separated or retired would be helpful 1 Availability of Medicaid services for an exceptional family member was listed as second most important factor for choosing a state behind finding employment 1 1 Results of STOMP survey of 147 EFMP families 74% active duty, 26% retirees USA 4 Military Families Initiative 6
Possible solutions Active duty solutions: Bank a group of waivers for active duty family members to use while in the state (drop coverage when moving to the next state) Allow active duty Service members to use their state of legal residence to sign up an exceptional family member, remain on the list until eligible and then receive benefits in other states (paid by state of legal residence) Retirement/separation solution: Allow active duty Service members to use their state of legal residence to sign up an exceptional family member, remain on the list until eligible and then receive benefits upon returning to the state USA 4 Military Families Initiative 7
www.usa4militaryfamilies.dod.mil Goal is to partner with states to help our members and their families!