HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1659

 

 

 

As Reported by House Committee On:  

Children & Family Services

 

Title:  An act relating to establishing a pilot project to provide community‑based services through a public‑private based partnership for persons with developmental disabilities.

 

Brief Description:  Establishing a pilot project to provide community‑based services through a public‑private based partnership for persons with developmental disabilities.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Talcott, Tokuda, Boldt, Pflug, Carrell, Veloria, Jackley, Anderson, Mitchell, Casada, Miloscia, Edwards, Lantz, Conway, Morell, Santos, Bush, Hurst, Dunn and Campbell.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity: 

Children & Family Services:  2/7/01, 2/22/01 [DPS].

 

  Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

 

$Authorizes the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to develop and evaluate a pilot project in Region V using private and public funding to expand service options and support services to twenty persons with developmental disabilities.

 

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

 

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Boldt, Republican Co‑Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co‑Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Morell, Republican Vice Chair; Ballasiotes, Campbell, Darneille, Dickerson, Miloscia and Pflug.

 

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

 

Background:

 

The Division of Developmental Disabilities of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) serves over 30,000 persons monthly through five state operated Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs), and an array of state operated and contracted community-based services.

 

A group of stakeholders has been meeting over the last three years to recommend changes to the existing service delivery system for persons with developmental disabilities.  A primary feature of these recommendations is an emphasis on individual choice and self-determination.

 

 

Summary of  Substitute Bill: 

 

The Legislature authorizes DSHS to develop a pilot project using private and public funding to expand service options and support services to persons with developmental disabilities.

 

The pilot project will be sited in Region V (Pierce & Kitsap counties) and will feature individual choice and self-determination.  The project will serve 20 persons with developmental disabilities.

 

The DSHS will evaluate the pilot and report to the Legislature by December 1, 2002 and again on December 1, 2003.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

 

The bill deletes the requirement that providers be licensed and modifies the appropriations section of the bill.  Previously this section implied a general fund-state (GF-S) obligation of $1.7 million for the biennium.  The revised section shows a biennial general fund-state (GF-S) obligation of $877,000 and federal funds of $893,000.

 

 

Appropriation:  The Sum of $361,000 GF-S in FY 2002; $517,000 GF-S in FY 2003.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  We need to try a new approach to services for persons with developmental disabilities.  This project is a person-centered model that will be funded by private and public funding.  My son is 25 years old and has to live with us because his salary is not sufficient to support his needs in his own home.  This project would allow him to transition to a place of his own, with familiar friends, that is safe and secure.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  (In support) Representative Talcott, prime sponsor; Monica Meyer and Kim Hyder, Autism Community Services; Sandy Silveria, Self Determination Project - Clark County; F. Paul Carlson, parent of developmentally disabled son; Diane Fueston, parent of developmentally disabled son; Bill Fueston, self-advocate; Carol Buchholz, parent of developmentally disabled daughter; and Monika Buchholz, self-advocate.