Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Children & Family Services

HB 1251

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to community‑based services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors:  Representative Boldt.

Brief Summary of Bill

$All appropriations for community based services to persons with developmental disabilities will be administered by either county governments or local Arcs (Associations of Retarded Citizens).

$DSHS is directed to adopt rules for awarding contracts emphasizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposals by counties or Arcs.

$Contracted amounts must be the same as that administered by the Secretary for each county served during fiscal years 2001 and 2002, and be adjusted in future years.

Hearing Date:  2/1/01

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.

Community based services include residential settings and support, in-home assistance and family support, child development, employment and day services.  Expenditures for community based services represented 67% ($337 million) of the total expenditures by the Division in fiscal year 2000. 

Counties currently administer child development, employment and day services.

Summary of Bill: 

The Legislature declares its intent that all appropriations for community based services to persons with developmental disabilities will be administered by either county governments or local Arcs (Associations of Retarded Citizens), under contract with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Existing statutes setting forth the conditions for county applications to administer these funds are amended to allow the Arcs to compete on an equal footing.

The Secretary is directed to adopt rules establishing the eligibility of counties and Arcs to apply.  The rules must emphasize the efficiency and effectiveness of the applications, as determined by administrative costs, numbers of persons served and outcome measures.

The contract amount awarded must be the same as that administered by the Secretary for each county served during fiscal years 2001 and 2002.  The Secretary must adopt rules to adjust funding for changes in appropriations in subsequent years.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 23, 2001.