AN ACT Relating to a deaf-blind service center; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) Deaf-blind people experience the dual sensory losses of hearing and sight. Although there is tremendous diversity in this population in terms of interest and abilities, life experiences, and expectations, there is also the common unifying thread of a feeling of isolation from the world at large. The lack of vital information, the struggle for opportunity (educational, vocational, and personal), and the challenge of the very basic, vital right of all individuals to take control over their lives, are directly attributable to the restrictive communication and mobility barriers that arise from their hearing and vision loss;

(2) Deaf-blind citizens can effectively participate in a full range of community and life activities given the assistance of appropriate services and meaningful opportunities;

(3) Coordinated and individually tailored services are important to deaf-blind citizens' efforts to become productive, contributing members of society; and

(4) The purpose of this chapter is to establish a deaf-blind service center to assist the efforts of deaf-blind adults to become full participants in society.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A deaf-blind service center shall be established by the department of social and health services and the department of services for the blind by July 1, 1985. The purpose of the deaf-blind service center is to coordinate and provide a wide range of services tailored to the needs of individual deaf-blind persons. Its responsibilities shall include:

(1) To assist deaf-blind citizens' access to services provided by state agencies and other public and private programs;

(2) To provide other services for which the deaf-blind person is not otherwise eligible, to the extent funding is available, including but not limited to reading services, peer counseling, professional interpreting, advocacy, transportation, and purchase of equipment, and other services that promote full participation by deaf-blind individuals in community life; and

(3) To promote appropriate services, meaningful opportunities, and full participation for deaf-blind citizens of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The divisions of vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities of the department of social and health services and the department of services for the blind shall:

(a) Provide adequate funding for administrative costs of the deaf-blind service center; and

(b) Develop specific policies and procedures to ensure the timely, effective provision of appropriate case service funding to eligible deaf-blind clients served by the service center.

(2) All state, local, and private agencies are encouraged to cooperate with and assist the operation of the deaf-blind service center by:

(a) Responding promptly and constructively to inquiries about services;

(b) Assisting in the development and funding of service plans where appropriate; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The divisions of vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities and the department of services for the blind shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the deaf-blind service center.

(2) A monitoring board shall be appointed jointly by the directors of the department of services for the blind, the division of vocational rehabilitation, and the division of developmental disabilities to:

(a) Provide counsel to the director of the service center in developing, reviewing, and making recommendations on the operations of the service center, major policies which affect the quality or quantity of services to deaf-blind individuals, budget requests or proposals, and permanent rules concerning services to deaf-blind citizens;

(b) Undertake annual reviews with the service center director and make recommendations to the directors of the departments of vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities, the department of services for the blind, and the service center of the needs of deaf-blind citizens, the effectiveness of the services and priorities of the unit to meet these needs, and the measures that could be taken to improve the center's services; and

(c) Advise and make recommendations to the directors of the divisions of vocational rehabilitation and developmental disabilities and the department of services for the blind on the criteria and qualifications pertinent to selection of a service center director.

(3) The director of the service center shall consult in a timely manner with the monitoring board on the matters enumerated in subsection (2) of this section.

(4) The monitoring board shall be made up of at least four individuals who are or who represent deaf-blind consumers, two other individuals with expertise in deaf-blind services and needs, and one representative each from the department of services for the blind, the division of vocational rehabilitation, and the division of developmental disabilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This chapter shall expire on June 30, 1991, subject to the procedures provided in chapter 43.131 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The department of services for the blind shall report to the legislature by December 1, 1986, on the implementation of the deaf-blind service center, its impact on services for deaf-blind citizens, and other issues affecting opportunities for deaf-blind citizens.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. There is appropriated to the department of services for the blind the sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, for the purposes set forth in section 2(2) of this act. These funds shall not be used to supplant any funds currently being provided through other appropriations or to fund any services for which deaf-blind citizens are entitled under state and federal statutes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.