AN ACT Relating to regional service centers for the deaf; reenacting and amending RCW 43.20A.360; adding new sections to chapter 43.20A RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.04 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends within available resources to assure quality human services to enhance the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the state by providing:

(1) Communication accessibility through interpreters and other information services;

(2) Quality human services for deaf and hard of hearing citizens;

(3) Coordination among private and public agencies, the office of deaf services, regions, and the deaf community; and

(4) Training and consultative services to public and private agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The following definitions apply throughout sections 1 through 6 of this act:

"Deaf person" means a person with severe or complete absence of auditory sensitivity whose primary effective receptive communication mode is visual or tactile or both.

"Hard of hearing person" means a person with some absence of auditory sensitivity who has residual hearing that may be sufficient to produce linguistic information through audition with or without amplification under favorable listening conditions, or a person with other auditory handicapping conditions.

"Department" means the department of social and health services.

"Office" means the office of deaf services within the department of social and health services.

"Secretary" means the secretary of the department of social and health services.

"Region" means one of five geographical areas comprised of adjoining counties within the state.

"Regional advisory committee" means a group of persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or advocates and, by appointment or vote, are delegated to represent the interest of the deaf community within a region.

"State advisory committee" means the advising committee for state programs for the deaf.

"Regional service center" means a community-based center located within a region that provides service delivery to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The state advisory committee for the state programs for the deaf shall consist of one representative of the office of deaf services, one representative of each regional service center, two representatives of each regional advisory committee, and other members as designated by the secretary, who by appointment or vote are delegated to represent in the development of programs the interests of the regional advisory committee, the office of deaf services, and the regional service centers. Members of the state advisory committee shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(2) The state advisory committee shall meet quarterly to discuss and monitor the programs and activities of the regional service centers. The committee shall quarterly report its findings along with recommendations to the department through the office of deaf services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) A regional service center shall be established within each of the following regions:

"Region I" includes the counties of Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin.

"Region II" includes the counties of Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Klickitat, and Walla Walla.

"Region III and IV" includes the counties of King, Jefferson, Clallam, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan.

"Region V" includes the counties of Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Kitsap.

"Region VI" includes the counties of Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, and Pacific.

(2) Regional service centers shall meet criteria established by the office of deaf services and hold articles of incorporation for nonprofit organizations established by the secretary of state.

(3) Regional service centers shall establish advisory committees for each region to meet regularly. Members of the regional advisory committee must be voting members of the board of directors of the regional service centers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The office in consultation with the state advisory committee shall recommend programs to regional service centers, and ensure, through direct services or contractual means, that regional service centers provide baseline programs in the areas of individual and family counseling, interpreter services, and vocational rehabilitation. Additional programs can be maintained or established by regional service centers in consultation with their regional advisory committees. The office shall establish criteria for and award contracts to qualified regional service centers representing the deaf and hard of hearing population within each region.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A regional service center is prohibited from performing activities that are regulated under chapter 18.35 RCW. A regional service center shall provide, upon request, a deaf person or hard of hearing person with a list of persons in the geographic area of the center licensed under chapter 18.35 RCW to provide services regulated under chapter 18.35 RCW. The deaf person or hard of hearing person may voluntarily select any person from the list to perform the services. A regional service center may in no manner recommend or refer one person on the list over another person on the list.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The taxes imposed in sections 8 through 10 of this act are intended to provide a funding source for the purposes of deaf centers and other deaf programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

There is levied and shall be collected from every person for the act or privilege of engaging within this state in business as a manufacturer an additional tax equal to the value of audio tapes, audio records, and audio compact disks manufactured multiplied by the rate of four-tenths of one percent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

There is levied and shall be collected from every person for the act or privilege of engaging within this state in the business of making sales at wholesale an additional tax equal to the gross proceeds of sales of audio tapes, audio records, and audio compact disks multiplied by the rate of four-tenths of one percent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

There is levied and shall be collected from every person for the act or privilege of engaging within this state in the business of making sales at retail an additional tax equal to the gross proceeds of sales of audio tapes, audio records, and audio compact disks multiplied by the rate of four-tenths of one percent.

Sec. 11. RCW 43.20A.360 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 214 and 1989 c 11 s 14 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The secretary is hereby authorized to appoint such advisory committees or councils as may be required by any federal legislation as a condition to the receipt of federal funds by the department. The secretary may appoint state‑wide committees or councils in the following subject areas: (a) Health facilities; (b) children and youth services; (c) blind services; (d) medical and health care; (e) deaf services; (f) drug abuse and alcoholism; ((~~(f)~~)) (g) social services; ((~~(g)~~)) (h) economic services; ((~~(h)~~)) (i) vocational services; ((~~(i)~~)) (j) rehabilitative services; and on such other subject matters as are or come within the department's responsibilities. The secretary shall appoint committees or councils advisory to the department in each service delivery region to be designated by the secretary. The state‑wide and the regional councils shall have representation from both major political parties and shall have substantial consumer representation and appropriate geographical representation. Such committees or councils shall be constituted as required by federal law or as the secretary in his or her discretion may determine. The members of the committees or councils shall hold office for three years except in the case of a vacancy, in which event appointment shall be only for the remainder of the unexpired term for which the vacancy occurs. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

(2) Members of such state advisory committees or councils may be paid their travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended. Members of regional advisory committees may, in the discretion of the secretary, be paid the same travel expenses as set forth above.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. The sum of one million seven hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, to carry out the purposes of this act. The appropriation shall be distributed to the regions based upon their need and taking into consideration the availability of other state and local funding sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections 1 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 43.20A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. This act is null and void unless by June 30, 1991, taxes providing revenue for the purposes of this act are contained in this act or in another act referencing this act specifically by bill number.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. Section 12 of this act is null and void if by June 30, 1991, the omnibus operating budget appropriations act for the 1991-93 biennium provides specific funding for this act, referencing this act by bill number.