A number of states enacted State Lifespan Respite legislation to establish statewide Lifespan Respite Programs. Copies of the legislation can be found here.

Alabama - To recognize the Alabama Lifespan Respite Network and establish the Alabama Respite Coalition.

Arizona  (never funded)

Nebraska

Oregon  (no longer funded)

Texas

Wisconsin

For more information, see Fact Sheet on Original Lifespan Respite Programs as Best Practices. 

Other legislation successfully advocated for by State Respite Coalitions:

Colorado

• Authorizing a surcharge on persons convicted of crimes against at-risk persons. Funds generated by the surcharge to be used for respite services 

• Creation of a Respite Care Task Force

Coalitions in Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Wisconsin successfully advocate for state budget line items or other forms of legislative action to support respite services.

• The Colorado Respite Care Program, with the help of Easterseals Colorado and in partnership with the Colorado Respite Coalition, successfully advocated for $350,000 State General Funds for State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2016 and 2017, an increase from $250,000 in 2015 and $150,000 in 2014. The funds were designated for Lifespan Respite supports, with the majority distributed as community grants and family respite vouchers.

• The Idaho Caregiver Alliance (ICA) and the Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA) gathered survey and assessment data over a three-year period to publish the Idaho Lifespan Caregiver Action Plan, which gained unanimous support from the 2017 Idaho Legislature, and includes objectives to enhance the state’s Lifespan Respite system and funding strategies.

• The all-volunteer Nebraska Respite Coalition focuses almost exclusively on advocacy and public awareness. They host events for state legislators to ensure that state funds for the Lifespan Respite Program and Lifespan Respite Subsidy are maintained and partner with the NE Lifespan Respite Network to provide family caregiver education events to support family caregivers who in turn help with advocacy efforts.

• South Carolina has built state level respite care funding by maintaining funding for respite vouchers for individuals caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and successfully advocating in 2015 for $1 million for respite vouchers as a recurring line item in the Department of Aging budget. By state FY 17-18, with advocacy from respite champions and coalitions across the state, the total state appropriation was further increased to $2.4 million in recurring respite funds.