H-1519.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1830

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representative Boldt

Read first time 02/11/97.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Revising procedures relating to review of placement decisions for persons with developmental disabilities.

    AN ACT Relating to developmental disabilities; and amending RCW 71A.10.050 and 71A.20.080.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 71A.10.050 and 1989 c 175 s 138 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) An applicant or recipient or former recipient of a developmental disabilities service under this title from the department of social and health services has the right to appeal the following department actions:

    (a) A denial of an application for eligibility under RCW 71A.16.040;

    (b) An unreasonable delay in acting on an application for eligibility, for a service, or for an alternative service under RCW 71A.18.040;

    (c) A denial, reduction, or termination of a service;

    (d) A claim that the person owes a debt to the state for an overpayment;

    (e) A disagreement with an action of the secretary under RCW 71A.10.060 or 71A.10.070;

    (f) A decision to return a resident of ((an [a])) a habilitation center to the community; and

    (g) A decision to change a person's placement from one category of residential services to a different category of residential services.

    The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

    (2) This subsection applies only to an adjudicative proceeding in which the department action appealed is a decision to return a resident of a habilitation center to the community.  The resident or his or her representative may appeal on the basis of whether the specific placement decision is in the best interests of the resident.  When the resident or his or her representative files an application for an adjudicative proceeding under this section ((the department has the burden of proving)) there is a rebuttable presumption that the specific placement decision is in the best interests of the resident.

    (3) When the department takes any action described in subsection (1) of this section it shall give notice as provided by RCW 71A.10.060.  The notice must include a statement advising the recipient of the right to an adjudicative proceeding and the time limits for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding.  Notice of a decision to return a resident of a habilitation center to the community under RCW 71A.20.080 must also include a statement advising the recipient of the right to file a petition for judicial review of an adverse adjudicative order as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 71A.20.080 and 1989 c 175 s 143 are each amended to read as follows:

    Whenever in the judgment of the secretary, the treatment and training of any resident of a residential habilitation center has progressed to the point that it is deemed advisable to return such resident to the community, the secretary may grant placement on such terms and conditions as the secretary may deem advisable after consultation in the manner provided in RCW 71A.10.070.  The secretary shall give written notice of the decision to return a resident to the community as provided in RCW 71A.10.060.  The notice must include a statement advising the recipient of the right to an adjudicative proceeding under RCW 71A.10.050 and the time limits for filing an application for an adjudicative proceeding.  The notice must also include a statement advising the recipient of the right to judicial review of an adverse adjudicative order as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.

    A placement decision ((shall not)) may be implemented ((at any level during any period)) during ((which)) an appeal ((can be taken or while an appeal is pending and undecided, unless authorized by court order so long as the appeal is being diligently pursued)) only if the department maintains space in the residential habilitation center for a resident who successfully appeals the secretary's action under this section.

    The department of social and health services shall periodically evaluate at reasonable intervals the adjustment of the resident to the specific placement to determine whether the resident should be continued in the placement or returned to the institution or given a different placement.

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