Brief Description: Creating a commission to study care for persons with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Darneille, Morrell, O'Brien and Kenney.

Hearing Date: February 28, 2005.

Staff: Cynthia Forland (786-7152).

Background:

The Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS) provides or purchases a broad array of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in the state. Currently, approximately 1,000 individuals with developmental disabilities are served in the state's five Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) and approximately 4,200 receive residential services in the community. Residential services in the community are provided in a range of settings, including adult family homes, boarding homes, community nursing facilities, companion homes, and supported living.

Summary of Bill:

A commission is created in the Governor's Office to review the need for, and existing capacity of, residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities in the state, including RHCs and community residential settings. The commission is required to develop a plan for meeting the residential care needs of these individuals. The commission must take into consideration the research conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee relating to the state's RHCs.

In developing the residential plan, the commission must consider, at a minimum, the following factors:

• the needs of the current residents of existing facilities;
• staff expertise and specialization of care at existing facilities;
• utilization level of existing RHCs;
• capacity for growth of each of the existing RHCs and community residential facilities;
• the relative costs and benefits of serving individuals in RHCs and community residential facilities;
• the geographic factors associated with each RHC and its proximity to dense populations as well as other similar facilities; and
• costs and savings related to the consolidation or closure, or both, of RHCs.

The commission is to consist of 11 members as follows:

• one representative each of the Governor's Office, the Office of Financial Management, the DSHS, and the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the Governor;
• one representative of organized labor;
• one representative of an advocacy organization for residents of RHCs and their families, and one representative of community residential care providers, appointed by the Governor; and
• two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom must be a member of the majority caucus and one of whom must be a member of the minority caucus, and two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom must be a member of the majority caucus and one of whom must be a member of the minority caucus. The legislative members of the commission are to be ex officio, nonvoting members.

The commission is to select a chairperson from among its members. Legislative members of the commission are to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state law. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state law.

The commission is required to provide its residential plan to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2006.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 22, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.