HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2345
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Early Learning & Human Services
Title: An act relating to group training homes.
Brief Description: Concerning group training homes.
Sponsors: Representative Kilduff; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Early Learning & Human Services: 1/19/18, 1/24/18 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & HUMAN SERVICES |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Kagi, Chair; Senn, Vice Chair; Dent, Ranking Minority Member; McCaslin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Eslick, Frame, Goodman, Griffey, Kilduff, Klippert, Lovick, Muri and Ortiz-Self.
Staff: Luke Wickham (786-7146).
Background:
The Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) provides services to individuals who:
have a diagnosis that presents before age 18, is expected to continue through a person's lifetime, and includes activities of daily living;
have a functional need for services; and
meet income and asset standards.
If an individual meets Institutional Level of Care (ILC) standards and other eligibility, the individual is entitled to services through the Medicaid State Plan. These state plan options include:
Residential Habitation Centers (Fircrest, Rainier, Yakima Valley, and Lakeland Village); and
Community First Choice (personal care and other services in a nonresidential setting).
If an individual does not meet the ILC standards, but meets other eligibility criteria, he or she may be served by a Medicaid waiver such as:
individual and family services;
Basic Plus;
Core;
Children's Intensive; and
Community Protection.
Developmental Disability Administration Residential Services.
Certified residential services are offered in integrated settings and provide supports that vary from a few hours per month to 24 hours per day of one-on-one support. The level of support provided is based on individual need and the sharing of support within a household.
Group Training Homes.
Group training homes are community based residential facilities that serve two or more adults. Individuals pay a participation fee to the provider for room and board. Group training homes are certified by Residential Care Services and contract for services with the DDA. Group training homes must be operated on a nonprofit basis for the full-time care, treatment, training, and maintenance of persons with developmental disabilities. Special eligibility and payment provisions must be developed by the DDA for group training homes where parents are actively involved as a member of the board and who provide for some of the services required by a resident. There are currently two group training homes in the state.
Day Training Centers.
Day training centers are facilities equipped, supervised, managed, and operated at least three days per week on a nonprofit basis for the full-time care, treatment, training, and maintenance of persons with developmental disabilities. There are currently no day training centers in the state.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The requirement that group training homes be operated on a nonprofit basis is removed. The requirement that special eligibility and payment provisions for group training homes where parents are actively involved as a member of the board of the group training home is also removed. If there is a group training home board, parents or family members may request to be involved as members of the board.
The requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) determine the type of services and the amount that the DSHS will pay for services in a group training home based on the needs of the person and the ability of the parent or guardian to contribute to the payment of the monthly cost of those services is removed, and the DSHS is provided authority to establish a payment structure for those services.
References to day training centers are removed from statute.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill removes day training centers from statute and indicates that if there is a group training home board, parents or family members may request to be involved as members of the board.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is agency request legislation from the DDA. The bill streamlines regulations and brings group training homes and group homes under the same regulatory structure. The bill also allows for-profit organizations to operate group training homes.
This law modernizes provisions regarding day training centers and group training homes. There are currently processes established through waivers that establish payment structures. Group homes are licensed and certified, while group training homes are certified. Many of the individuals served by group training homes are older and do not have parents involved in a board. This bill is good for clients, good for the DDA, and good for providers. All components of the licensing requirements will be covered by the certification process.
This bill brings the statute into the modern age and provides greater flexibility.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Kilduff, prime sponsor; Evelyn Perez, Department of Social and Health Services; and Melissa Johnson, Community Residential Services Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.