The sixth quarterly status conference required by the conditionally approved settlement agreement was held on January 22, 1999. Counsel for all parties and members of the Quality Review Panel were present.

The state defendants made an oral presentation regarding the implementation of the settlement agreement and on progress of the defendants in complying with each of the paragraphs of the settlement agreement scheduled to be discussed in the sixth quarterly status conference in the schedule of implementation. Rick Campbell also gave a presentation on the matters discussed at the fifth status conference.

The parties and members of the Quality Review Panel were given the opportunity to question the state defendants regarding the implementation of the settlement agreement and the reports arising from issues raised during the fifth status conference.

There were concerns and issues raised during the status conference and the parties agreed to address these issues and supply additional information to the Court and the parties.

The next status conference will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 1999.

Wadley Heads DOH, Ferguson to Coordinate Departments

Governor Don Sundquist announced on February 22 that Dr. Fredia Wadley is the new commissioner for the Department of Health. She replaces Nancy Menke who became senior health care advisor to the governor earlier last month.

The governor also said effective February 22, the DMHMR, the TennCare Bureau and the Department of Health began reporting to Finance and Administration Commissioner John Ferguson.

Brent Appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner

Barbara Brent has been appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner of DMRS effective January 30, 1999 while a nationwide search is conducted to fill the position recently vacated by Tom Sullivan. Prior to this appointment, Brent was Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Program Services.

At the February Title 33 Revision Commission meeting, eight study committees were named to review broad areas of the law.

One of the eight is the Mental Retardation Services Committee chaired by Elise McMillan. Other commission members on this committee are Lee Chase, Gaylon Booker, Barbara Brent, Carolyn Cowans, Bonita Scott and Carol Westlake.

Other members and their affiliation include

• Mindy Schuster, CMRA
• Randy Moore, Compass Coord.
• Dr. Steve Warren, Kennedy Ctr.
• Don Redden, Dev. Services of Dickson County
• Ron Butler, parent
• Doria Panvini, parent
• Bill Harrison, parent ¥ Julie Jones, self-advocate
• Wanda Willis, DD Council
• Gail Thompson, TennCare
• Sharon Houser, Opportunities Unlimited
• Jennifer Hann, Legal Services
• William Edington, DMRS
• Laura Lloyd, parent/researcher

• Andrew Bradley, DMHMR Board of Trustees and
• Joe Fisher, Dept. of Education

Serving as a resource to the committee are Floyd Dennis, Doug Fain, Joe Marshall, Craig Kennedy and Kristine Jolivette.

MR Law Analysis

Robert Gettings, executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, presented a mental retardation law analysis to the commission in February.

Public Hearings

The Title 33 Revision Commission was appointed by Governor Sundquist and charged with reviewing Title 33 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, the law that governs the provision of services to citizens with mental illness and/or mental retardation.

Regional public hearings are being held across the state to allow for input into that review. The commission is expected to submit recommendations to the governor by January 1, 2000.

For information about Title 33 revision, call the Commission Office at (615) 253-3051.