SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1520

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,

                                 APRIL 1, 1991

Brief Description:  Correcting the name of a residential habilitation center.

SPONSORS:Representatives Leonard, Winsley and Riley; by request of Dept. of Social and Health Services.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, L. Kreidler, and Niemi. 

Staff:  Suzanne Brown (786‑7483)

Hearing Dates:March 28, 1991; April 1, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Frances Haddon Morgan Children's Center (FHMCC) is a state-operated Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) serving 56 persons diagnosed with autism.  The institution was originally designed to serve children up to the age of 14.  The age limitation was extended to age 21 in 1983.  By the end of the 1991-93 biennium, 43 residents will be 18 years of age or older.  The lack of community resources for autistic persons and the aging of the residents has led the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to allow this facility to be used for both adults and children.

SUMMARY:

The word "Children's" is deleted from the title of the Frances Haddon Morgan Children's Center.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill will allow current and future Frances Haddon Morgan Center residents to continue living at the center after the age of 21.  This bill represents the first step in implementing recommendations of the Frances Haddon Morgan Center Task Force regarding the care of our state's autistic citizens.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Bev Hermanson, Washington Federation of State Employees (pro); Michelle Carter, Frances Haddon Morgan Center (pro); Sue Elliott, DSHS (pro); Bill Looney, parent of Frances Haddon Morgan Center client (pro)