HB 2705-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

Finds that: There are unmet needs for community-based services for persons with developmental disabilities and excess resources at residential habilitation centers unrelated to current residential habilitation center operations; funding shortfalls in the 2003-2005 biennium and beyond may adversely impact the ability of the state to fund programs for growing numbers of unserved persons with developmental disabilities who need community-based services; and statistics generated by the department of social and health services' division of developmental disabilities demonstrate a growing caseload with insufficient funding and planning to address this growth.

Finds that the December 4, 2002, capital study of the division of developmental disabilities residential habilitation centers by the joint legislative audit and review committee identifies options to dispose of excess property at Lakeland Village, Rainier School, and Yakima Valley School that would not impact current residential habilitation center operations.

Declares an intent to allow use of these excess capital properties at residential habilitation centers for persons with developmental disabilities and to place the proceeds from their use into a perpetual trust account for unserved persons with developmental disabilities waiting for community-based developmental disability services.

Provides that excess property identified in the 2002 joint legislative audit and review committee capital study of the division of developmental disabilities residential habilitation centers must be managed to provide as much income as feasible and this income deposited into the developmental disabilities community trust account created in this act. Income may come from lease of the land, conservation easements, sale of timber, or other activities short of sale of the property.

Requires the department to report on its efforts and strategies to provide income to the developmental disabilities community trust account from the excess property identified in this act from the lease of the property, sale of timber, or other activity short of sale of the property. The department shall report by June 30, 2005.

Does not apply to the portion of excess property at Rainier school under the cognizance and control of Washington State University used for extension services and not a dairy.