HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1811

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to supported employment.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to supported employment for persons with severe disabilities.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Children & Family Services (Originally sponsored by Representatives Tokuda, Boldt, D. Sommers, Kenney and Ogden; by request of Department of Social and Health Services).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/17/99, 2/24/99 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/9/99, 93-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate:  4/15/99, 47-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The supported employment program will also be available to people with significant disabilities.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Carrell.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services, in conjunction with the Department of Personnel and the Office of Financial Management, identify state agencies that can participate in a supported employment program for people with developmental disabilities.

Summary of Bill:

Eligibility for the supported employment program is expanded to also include people with a significant disability.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The Department of Personnel is not required to collect data on participants in supported employment by disability type.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The supported employment program should be available for people with significant disabilities as well as people with developmental disabilities.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  (In support)  Jann Hoppler, Department of Social and Health Services;  Jeanne Munro, Department of Social and Health Services;  Brad Boswell, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill;  Elenor Owen, Washington Advocates for the Mentally Ill;  Joe Whaley; and Donna Patrick, Developmental Disabilities Council.