Representative Hazlewood leads advocacy efforts for wage increases
(NASHVILLE) — House Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) and House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R-Thompson’s Station) tonight applauded proposed wage increases for employees of the Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD).
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam included them as part of his proposed Fiscal Year 2019 budget, which he outlined in his final State of the State address inside the House chamber.
State Representative Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain) led advocacy efforts in securing this proposed funding. Last fall, Representative Hazlewood met with House leadership and the governor to push for its inclusion in the budget.
The DIDD’s mission is to help all Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities live fulfilling and rewarding lives. Services provided by the department include case management, behavioral and therapeutic services, medication administration, as well as job training and placement.
“These increases are long overdue for the men and women who provide vital services to Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Chairman Williams. “I am grateful to Representative Hazlewood for bringing this proposal to the governor; it was an honor to support her as she advocated for these increases to be included in the budget.”
“Representative Hazlewood has been a vocal leader on this very important issue,” said Majority Leader Casada. “Her knowledge, expertise, and advocacy clearly resonated with the governor. I am pleased that the employees who provide critical services to some of our neediest Tennesseans will now have a little more financial flexibility so they can provide for themselves and their families.”
“Having a family member with a disability and seeing the amount of care he required demonstrates the essential need to retain the best and brightest DIDD employees in communities across our state, “said Representative Hazlewood. “I am pleased that more of our vulnerable Tennesseans will have access to the services and people they depend on in order to live fulfilling lives.”
