SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5654

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Providing that community mental health practitioners achieve salary parity with state workers by 1995.

SPONSORS:Senators West, Moore, Vognild and Pelz.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Staff:  Don Sloma (786‑7414)

Hearing Dates:February 26, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Chapter 205, Laws of 1989, section 3, subsection 18 required the Secretary of Social and Health Services to report to the Legislature on the recruitment, training and compensation of mental health professionals in the community.  The report contains several relevant findings in these areas, including that "Average salaries for community mental health staff are lower than other private sector jobs.  In addition, they are 38.4 percent less than salaries received by public sector (state-hired) staff."

SUMMARY:

Beginning July 1, 1991, the Secretary of Social and Health Services must include funds in the regional support networks' (RSNs) allocation to ensure that community mental health practitioners in positions comparable to state workers be paid salaries equivalent to those of state workers.  Salary parity must be achieved by July 1, 1995, and maintained thereafter.

RSNs must provide funds to licensed service providers to achieve the same goals.

Licensed service providers must submit plans showing how they will achieve salary parity for community mental health practitioners with comparable state workers by July 1, 1995.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 15, 1991