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                            ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6432

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senators L. Smith, West and Sellar

Read first time 01/30/92.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.Providing coordinated services for children with disabilities.

     AN ACT Relating to early intervention services for infants and toddlers; and adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that there is an urgent and substantial need to:

     (1) Enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities in the state of Washington in order to minimize developmental delay and maximize individual potential and enhance the capacity of families to meet the needs of their infants and toddlers with disabilities and maintain family integrity;

     (2) Coordinate and enhance the state's existing early intervention services to ensure a state-wide, community-based, coordinated, interagency program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families; and

     (3) Facilitate the coordination of payment for early intervention services from federal, state, local, and private sources including public and private insurance coverage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.      For the purposes of implementing this chapter, the governor shall appoint a state birth-to-six interagency coordinating council and ensure that state agencies involved in the provision of, or payment for, early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families shall coordinate and collaborate in the planning and delivery of such services.

     No state or local agency currently providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities may use funds appropriated for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities to supplant funds from other sources.  No state or local agency may delay, interrupt, or divert funds appropriated for early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities from those programs.

     All state and local agencies shall ensure that the implementation of this chapter will not cause any interruption in existing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

     Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit the restriction or reduction of eligibility under Title V of the Social Security Act, P.L. 90-248, relating to maternal and child health or Title XIX of the Social Security Act, P.L. 89-97, relating to medicaid for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.      State and local agencies or entities receiving public money for providing or paying for early intervention services shall enter into formal interagency agreements that define their relationships and financial responsibilities in the provision of services within each county.  Such interagency agreements must include procedures for resolving disputes and all additional components necessary to ensure collaboration and coordination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.      The state birth-to-six interagency coordinating council shall identify and work with county early childhood interagency coordinating councils to coordinate and enhance existing early intervention services and assist each community to meet the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.      Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.