A House bill passed unanimously today by the Senate would make a wide range of rights — including privacy, personal power and choice, healthcare information, the ability to file complaints, and access to advocates — more accessible to people with developmental disabilities.

“These are important rights and they have been in place for some time, but not everyone knows them,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), the sponsor of identical legislation in the Senate. “This bill will help people to know their rights and have access to the appropriate advocates when they need extra support.”

House Bill 1651 covers a broad range of services and programs for people with developmental disabilities administered by the state Developmental Disabilities Administration within the Department of Social and Health Services.

Having already passed the House, the bill now goes to the governor to be signed into law.