SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 1090

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES,

                               FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Creating a state wide system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities or special needs.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Leonard, Ferguson, Pruitt, Holland, Rayburn, Prentice, Brekke, Appelwick, Anderson, Silver, Scott, R. Johnson, Wineberry, Inslee, Hargrove, Sprenkle, Dorn, Spanel, Dellwo, R. King, Winsley, Phillips, Riley, Haugen, Vance, Kremen, Rasmussen, Franklin, Basich, Jacobsen, Fraser, Broback, Edmondson, D. Sommers, Roland, Jones, Chandler, Ludwig, Mielke, Nelson, Miller, Wood, Cooper, Bray, Ogden and Morris)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Stratton, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Mich'l Prentice Needham (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1992

BACKGROUND:

In 1982, Washington State was selected by the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs to participate in an initiative designed to promote effective interagency planning for coordinated services to disabled children from birth to three years of age.  Since 1985, federal grants and state appropriations have encouraged continuation of the initiative as the Birth-to-Six State Planning Project.  The project has encouraged interagency coordination and developed the foundation of a statewide plan for infants and toddlers with disabilities. 

SUMMARY:

The Birth-to-Six Interagency Coordinating Council is created to ensure the coordination and collaboration of state agencies providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities.  The Governor will appoint the council members.  Agencies providing early intervention services may not use funds received for early intervention services to replace funds from other sources.

Participating state and local agencies will have formal interagency agreements defining their relationships and financial responsibilities for services in each county.  The agreements will include procedures for resolving disputes, provisions establishing maintenance of effort requirements, and any additional components to ensure collaboration and coordination.

The council will work with county early childhood interagency coordinating councils to coordinate and enhance existing services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Prevention and early intervention is becoming increasingly important.  Early intervention services help children and families.  Providing collaborative, coordinated services will also help families.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Mary Jo Wilcox, President of the Washington Assembly for Citizens with Disabilities; Julia Bell, Wee Care Coalition; Sandy Loerch, DSHS, Birth to Six State Planning Project; Clarice McCartan, Developmental Disabilities Planning Council