BILL REPORT

EHB 1851

BYRepresentatives Sayan, Zellinsky, Leonard, Ballard, Scott, Patrick, Braddock, S. Wilson, Cole, Grimm, Locke, Brooks, D. Sommers, Moyer, Grant, K. Wilson, Sprenkle, Rust, Dorn, Cooper, Rasmussen, Jones, Meyers, Sutherland, Nutley, Spanel, Appelwick, Lux, Fuhrman, Pruitt, Hine, Nealey, Ebersole, Brekke, Todd, Nelson, Cantwell, B. Williams, Miller, H. Sommers, Rayburn, Anderson, Butterfield, Winsley, Schoon, Silver, Sanders, Basich, Dellwo, Brough and O'Brien

Removing age restrictions for certain state residential schools.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer, Padded, H. Sommers, Sutherland and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 16, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Current statute defines the need for the state residential schools for the developmentally disabled who are exceptional in their needs for care, treatment, and education.  The chapter includes a listing of the schools now referred to as residential habilitation centers, duties of the various officers of the centers, programs and services provided, payment agreements, alternative placements, parental procedures, discharge processes, etc.  Frances Haddon Morgan is the only center where the word "Children's" appeared in the formal title and thus the only center where an age restriction was placed upon the residents.  This age restriction was never placed in statute or in rule but promulgated through the Department of Social and Health Services written policies.  At one time the upper age limit was fourteen.  Currently that age limit is twenty-one.  Some of the reason for this is the relative newness of treating the autistic population and the evolving knowledge about its developmental course as children suffering from this disability grow older.  When Frances Haddon Morgan was first founded as the State's one institution serving the autistic population, its residents were all children.  Over the years that population has aged as the younger children suffering from autism receive more services in the community, and the majority of residents at the center are now teenagers.  The state does not currently have a specialized program for autism outside of the center and residents who reach the age of twenty-one are discharged when they may still require the intensive care and treatment only available at the center.

SUMMARY:

The word "Children's" is stricken from the formal title of Frances Haddon Morgan Center. No age restrictions shall be placed on eligibility for care at any of the state residential habilitation centers.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Removal of age limits at state residential schools is only allowed for one year.  The Department of Social and Health Services shall evaluate removing the age restriction at Frances Haddon Morgan Center along with a plan for housing residents who reach age twenty-one.  The Department shall report to the Legislature by January 1, 1989.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 28, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Chris Maigine, Frances Haddon Morgan Parent Organization; Betsy Clark, advocate.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Sue Elliott, Department of Social & Health Services.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This is an equity issue.  Frances Haddon Morgan is the only state residential habilitation center that has an age limit.  There are no adequate facilities for this population when they are discharged at age twenty-one.  Frequently they end up in places where they are drugged and put into restraints simply because there is no one trained to deal with the specific conditions arising from autism. The state center should be required to keep this population for as long as is necessary when there is no other suitable placement for them.  The population at Frances Haddon Morgan is aging and is going to have to have suitable plans made for them in the near future.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The Department of Social and Health Services is opposed to this legislation because they will not have beds to place younger persons suffering from autism if they are required to keep persons over twenty-one.  There are adequate community placements for those who are over twenty-one.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:    Representative Smith C