SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5768

               As Passed Senate, March 13, 1997

Title:  An act relating to supported employment for persons with developmental disabilities.

Brief Description:  Creating supported employment programs.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Senators Horn, Thibaudeau, Winsley, Anderson, Oke, McDonald, Wood, Fairley, Wojahn and Heavey).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  2/24/97, 3/5/97 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/13/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5768 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson, Franklin, Fraser and Heavey.

Staff:  Aurora Almeda (786-7488)

Background:  A joint report by the Department of Personnel (DOP) and the Department of Social and Health Services indicates there are limited employment opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities.  Supported employment is designed for persons with disabilities who need individualized and sometimes long-term supports, such as job coaches and restructuring of work, to maintain employment.  Historically, the private sector has provided more opportunities for supported employment than the public sector.

  Some have expressed concern about the lack of a state-supported employment program.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Personnel, and the Office of Financial Management must work together to identify appropriate state agencies that have positions and funding conducive to implementing supported employment positions.  The state agencies must designate a supported employment coordinator, and submit an annual update to the Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Personnel, and the Office of Financial Management of the supported employment program.  The three coordinating departments must consult with supported employment provider associations and other interested parties.  The Department of Personnel must make available, upon request of the Legislature, an annual report that evaluates the overall progress of state supported employment programs.

The creation of supported employment positions do not count against an agency's full-time equivalent employee positions.

"State agency" and "developmental disability" are defined.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 21, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Supported employment is an effective method to integrate persons with developmental disabilities into the mainstream workforce.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Trish Borden, Partnership 2000; Jane Boone, WA Association of Counties; Janet Adams, Arc of WA State; Joanne O'Neill; Edna Fund (w/concerns), DSHS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Toby Olson (w/concerns), Governor's Committee on Disability Issues; Bev Hermanson, WFSE; Eleanor Owen (w/concerns), WAMI.

House Amendment(s):  Agencies may only participate in the program if they can do so within their existing budgets.  Annual agencies= updates must include recommendations for expanding the program to persons with mental or other disabilities.