SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6702

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 5, 1998

Title:  An act relating to treatment and housing for persons with both substance abuse problems and mental disorders.

Brief Description:  Requiring a plan for treatment and housing for persons with both substance abuse problems and mental disorders.

Sponsors:  Senators Long, Hargrove, Stevens, Winsley and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/3/98, 2/5/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6702 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Long, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Franklin, Hargrove, Kohl, Schow and Stevens.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background:  Many of the clients serviced by the Department of Social and Health Services have both substance abuse problems and mental disorders.  This condition is commonly referred to a "dual disorder" or a "dual diagnosis."  The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse currently devotes approximately 10 percent of its budget to treat dual disorder clients in its mentally ill/chemically abusing (MICA) program.  Many experts believe there is a much greater need for integrated services for this population.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services must submit a plan which proposed to increase the money spent on treatment and housing for persons who have a dual diagnosis.  The plan must include incentives for programs that serve dual diagnosed individuals and give an emphasis to persons who have, as part of the dual diagnosis, a major mental illness.

The incentive plan must be for programs that are based on an integrated treatment model, provide for funding based on successful outcomes, include outreach and monitoring, provide for safe living arrangements, offer flexibility in treatment and housing services, and recognize the long-term nature of the disorders.

The plan must identify methods of providing ongoing training for caseworkers and identify any state or federal barriers to utilizing the integrated service approach.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The specific percentage requirement is removed.  The department=s plan must include an incentive component.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There needs to be a greater emphasis on treating dually diagnosed individuals in integrated treatment programs.  Additional money needs to be appropriated for these programs.

Testimony Against:  Specifying a specific percentage of treatment dollars is not an effective method of obtaining these changes.  An incentive approach would be much more effective.  We should not disrupt the current funding of existing programs.

Testified:  Senator Long, prime sponsor; Ken Stark, Jann Hoppler, DSHS (con); Linda Grant, Washington Association of Treat. Providers (concerns).