BILL REQ. #:  S-4534.2 

Read first time 01/24/2006.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to specifying roles and responsibilities with respect to the treatment of persons with mental disorders; amending RCW 71.24.045, 71.24.300, 71.24.320, 71.24.3201, 71.24.330, 71.05.300, 72.23.010, and 72.23.025; reenacting and amending RCW 71.24.035; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 71.24.045 and 2005 c 503 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     The regional support network shall:
     (1) Contract as needed with licensed service providers. The regional support network may, in the absence of a licensed service provider entity, become a licensed service provider entity pursuant to minimum standards required for licensing by the department for the purpose of providing services not available from licensed service providers;
     (2) Operate as a licensed service provider if it deems that doing so is more efficient and cost effective than contracting for services. When doing so, the regional support network shall comply with rules promulgated by the secretary that shall provide measurements to determine when a regional support network provided service is more efficient and cost effective;
     (3) Monitor and perform biennial fiscal audits of licensed service providers who have contracted with the regional support network to provide services required by this chapter. The monitoring and audits shall be performed by means of a formal process which insures that the licensed service providers and professionals designated in this subsection meet the terms of their contracts;
     (4) Assure that the special needs of minorities, the elderly, disabled, children, and low-income persons are met within the priorities established in this chapter;
     (5) Maintain patient tracking information in a central location as required for resource management services and the department's information system;
     (6) Use not more than two percent of state-appropriated community mental health funds, which shall not include federal funds, to administer community mental health programs under RCW 71.24.155: PROVIDED, That county authorities serving a county or combination of counties whose population is one hundred twenty-five thousand or more may be entitled to sufficient state-appropriated community mental health funds to employ up to one full-time employee or the equivalent thereof in addition to the two percent limit established in this subsection when such employee is providing staff services to a county mental health advisory board;
     (7) Collaborate to ensure that policies do not result in an adverse shift of mentally ill persons into state and local correctional facilities;
     (8) Work with the department to expedite the enrollment or re-enrollment of eligible persons leaving state or local correctional facilities and institutions for mental diseases;
     (9) If a regional support network is not operated by the county, work closely with the county designated mental health professional or county designated crisis responder to maximize appropriate placement of persons into community services; ((and))
     (10) Coordinate services for individuals who have received services through the community mental health system and who become patients at a state mental hospital to ensure they are transitioned into the community upon determination that they no longer need involuntary inpatient care; and
     (11) Evaluate all petitions for ninety and one hundred eighty-day involuntary commitments under chapter 71.05 RCW to determine whether the needs of the individual can be met through community support services in a less restrictive alternative to detention. Regional support networks must provide a less restrictive alternative to detention whenever it is determined that the needs of the individual can be met through community support services.

Sec. 2   RCW 71.24.300 and 2005 c 503 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     Upon the request of a tribal authority or authorities within a regional support network the joint operating agreement or the county authority shall allow for the inclusion of the tribal authority to be represented as a party to the regional support network. The roles and responsibilities of the county and tribal authorities shall be determined by the terms of that agreement including a determination of membership on the governing board and advisory committees, the number of tribal representatives to be party to the agreement, and the provisions of law and shall assure the provision of culturally competent services to the tribes served. The state mental health authority may not determine the roles and responsibilities of county authorities as to each other under regional support networks by rule, except to assure that all duties required of regional support networks are assigned and that counties and the regional support network do not duplicate functions and that a single authority has final responsibility for all available resources and performance under the regional support network's contract with the secretary. If a regional support network is a private entity, the department shall allow for the inclusion of the tribal authority to be represented as a party to the regional support network. The roles and responsibilities of the private entity and the tribal authorities shall be determined by the department, through negotiation with the tribal authority.
     (1) Regional support networks shall submit an overall six-year operating and capital plan, timeline, and budget and submit progress reports and an updated two-year plan biennially thereafter, to assume within available resources all of the following duties:
     (a) Administer and provide for the availability of all resource management services, residential services, and community support services.
     (b) Administer and provide for the availability of all investigation, transportation, court-related, and other services provided by the state or counties pursuant to chapter 71.05 RCW.
     (c) Provide within the boundaries of each regional support network evaluation and treatment services for ((at least eighty-five percent of)) all persons detained or committed for periods up to seventeen days according to chapter 71.05 RCW. Regional support networks with populations of less than one hundred fifty thousand may contract to purchase evaluation and treatment services from other networks. Insofar as the original intent of serving persons in the community is maintained, the secretary is authorized to approve exceptions on a case-by-case basis to the requirement to provide evaluation and treatment services within the boundaries of each regional support network. Such exceptions are limited to:
     (i) Contracts with neighboring or contiguous regions; or
     (ii) Individuals detained or committed for periods up to seventeen days at the state hospitals at the discretion of the secretary.
     (d) Administer a portion of funds appropriated by the legislature to house mentally ill persons in state institutions from counties within the boundaries of any regional support network, with the exception of persons currently confined at, or under the supervision of, a state mental hospital pursuant to chapter 10.77 RCW, and provide for the care of all persons needing evaluation and treatment services for periods up to seventeen days according to chapter 71.05 RCW in appropriate residential services, which may include state institutions consistent with (c) of this subsection. To the extent that use of the state hospitals by the regional support networks is authorized by the secretary in (c) of this subsection, the regional support networks shall reimburse the state for use of state institutions at a rate equal to that assumed by the legislature when appropriating funds for such care at state institutions during the biennium when reimbursement occurs. The secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives on the efforts to implement this section by October 1, 2002. The duty of a state hospital to accept persons for evaluation and treatment under chapter 71.05 RCW is limited by the responsibilities assigned to regional support networks under this section.
     (e) Administer and provide for the availability of all other mental health services, which shall include patient counseling, day treatment, consultation, education services, employment services as defined in RCW 71.24.035, and mental health services to children.
     (f) Establish standards and procedures for reviewing individual service plans and determining when that person may be discharged from resource management services.
     (2) A regional support network may request that any state-owned land, building, facility, or other capital asset which was ever purchased, deeded, given, or placed in trust for the care of the mentally ill and which is within the boundaries of a regional support network be made available to support the operations of the regional support network. State agencies managing such capital assets shall give first priority to requests for their use pursuant to this chapter.
     (3) Each regional support network shall appoint a mental health advisory board which shall review and provide comments on plans and policies developed under this chapter, provide local oversight regarding the activities of the regional support network, and work with the regional support network to resolve significant concerns regarding service delivery and outcomes. The department shall establish statewide procedures for the operation of regional advisory committees including mechanisms for advisory board feedback to the department regarding regional support network performance. The composition of the board shall be broadly representative of the demographic character of the region and shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumers and families, law enforcement, and where the county is not the regional support network, county elected officials. Composition and length of terms of board members may differ between regional support networks but shall be included in each regional support network's contract and approved by the secretary.
     (4) Regional support networks shall assume all duties specified in their plans and joint operating agreements through biennial contractual agreements with the secretary.
     (5) Regional support networks may receive technical assistance from the housing trust fund and may identify and submit projects for housing and housing support services to the housing trust fund established under chapter 43.185 RCW. Projects identified or submitted under this subsection must be fully integrated with the regional support network six-year operating and capital plan, timeline, and budget required by subsection (1) of this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 71.24.320 and 2005 c 503 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary shall initiate a procurement process for regional support networks in 2005. In the first step of the procurement process, existing regional support networks may respond to a request for qualifications developed by the department. The secretary shall issue the request for qualifications not later than October 1, 2005. The request for qualifications shall be based on cost-effectiveness, adequate residential and service capabilities, effective collaboration with criminal justice agencies and the chemical dependency treatment system, and the ability to provide the full array of services as stated in the mental health state plan, and shall meet all applicable federal and state regulations and standards. An existing regional support network shall be awarded the contract with the department if it substantially meets the requirements of the request for qualifications developed by the department. If, after completion of the request for qualifications process, an existing regional support network is found to have not substantially met the requirements, the regional support network shall have an additional six months to come into substantial compliance through implementation of a plan of correction.
     (2) If an existing regional support network ((chooses not to respond to the request for qualifications, or)) is unable to substantially meet the requirements of the request for qualifications and chooses not to implement a plan of correction, the department shall utilize a procurement process in which other entities recognized by the secretary may bid to serve as the regional support network in that region. The procurement process shall begin with a request for proposals ((issued March 1, 2006)).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a performance audit of the request for qualifications process. The audit should include assessments of: (a) The extent to which the request for qualifications requirements comport with, exceed, or fail to address federal or state law; (b) the consistency of scoring across regional support networks; (c) the extent to which the evaluation criteria were uniformly applied; (d) the extent to which the request for qualifications requirements add new administrative costs not required by federal rules and state law; and
(e) the extent to which the process impacted the availability of resources for direct services.
     (2) A preliminary report of the performance audit must be submitted to the legislature by September 30, 2006. A final report must be submitted to the legislature by December 1, 2006.

Sec. 5   RCW 71.24.3201 and 2005 c 503 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of social and health services shall enter into a contract with regional support networks for the period ending August 31, 2006. The department shall issue a request for proposal to the extent required by RCW 71.24.320 and the contract shall be effective September 1, 2006. As of September 1, 2006, contracts shall be effective as follows:
     (a) Regional support networks that substantially met the requirements of the request for qualifications shall be awarded a contract with the department effective September 1, 2006;
     (b) Regional support networks that were unable to meet the requirements of the request for qualifications and that implement a plan of correction by July 1, 2006, shall receive a contract extension until September 1, 2007;
     (c) Regional support networks that were unable to meet the requirements of the request for qualifications and chose not to implement a plan of correction shall be subject to the request for proposals process as negotiated between the department and the regional support network as provided in RCW 71.24.320.
     (2) This section expires June 30, ((2007)) 2008.

Sec. 6   RCW 71.24.330 and 2005 c 503 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Contracts between a regional support network and the department shall include mechanisms for monitoring performance under the contract and remedies for failure to substantially comply with the requirements of the contract including, but not limited to, financial penalties, termination of the contract, and reprocurement of the contract.
     (2) The procurement process shall encourage the preservation of infrastructure previously purchased by the community mental health service delivery system, the maintenance of linkages between other services and delivery systems, and maximization of the use of available funds for services versus profits. The procurement process shall provide that public funds appropriated by the legislature shall not be used to promote or deter, encourage, or discourage employees from exercising their rights under Title 29, chapter 7, subchapter II, United States Code or chapter 41.56 RCW.
     (3) In addition to the requirements of RCW 71.24.035, contracts shall:
     (a) Define administrative costs and ensure that the regional support network does not exceed an administrative cost of ten percent of available funds;
     (b) Require effective collaboration with law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and the chemical dependency treatment system;
     (c) Require substantial implementation of department adopted integrated screening and assessment process and matrix of best practices; ((and))
     (d) Maintain the decision-making independence of designated mental health professionals which does not limit the regional support network's responsibility to provide less restrictive alternatives to detention when appropriate under RCW 71.24.045; and
     (e) Except at the discretion of the secretary, require regional support networks to pay the state for the costs associated with individuals who are voluntarily or civilly committed under chapter 71.05 RCW, being served on the grounds of the state hospitals, and not receiving long-term inpatient care as defined in RCW 72.23.010.

Sec. 7   RCW 71.05.300 and 1998 c 297 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     The petition for ninety day treatment shall be filed with the clerk of the superior court at least three days before expiration of the fourteen-day period of intensive treatment. At the time of filing such petition, the clerk shall set a time for the person to come before the court on the next judicial day after the day of filing unless such appearance is waived by the person's attorney, and the clerk shall notify the ((county)) designated mental health professional. The ((county)) designated mental health professional shall immediately notify the person detained, his or her attorney, if any, and his or her guardian or conservator, if any, and the prosecuting attorney, and provide a copy of the petition to such persons as soon as possible. The designated mental health professional shall also immediately provide a copy of the petition to the regional support network and the state hospital.
     At the time set for appearance the detained person shall be brought before the court, unless such appearance has been waived and the court shall advise him or her of his or her right to be represented by an attorney and of his or her right to a jury trial. If the detained person is not represented by an attorney, or is indigent or is unwilling to retain an attorney, the court shall immediately appoint an attorney to represent him or her. The court shall, if requested, appoint a reasonably available licensed physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist, designated by the detained person to examine and testify on behalf of the detained person.
     The court may, if requested, also appoint a professional person as defined in RCW 71.05.020 to seek less restrictive alternative courses of treatment and to testify on behalf of the detained person. In the case of a developmentally disabled person who has been determined to be incompetent pursuant to RCW 10.77.090(4), then the appointed professional person under this section shall be a developmental disabilities professional.
     The court shall also set a date for a full hearing on the petition as provided in RCW 71.05.310.

Sec. 8   RCW 71.24.035 and 2005 c 504 s 715 and 2005 c 503 s 7 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department is designated as the state mental health authority.
     (2) The secretary shall provide for public, client, and licensed service provider participation in developing the state mental health program, developing contracts with regional support networks, and any waiver request to the federal government under medicaid.
     (3) The secretary shall provide for participation in developing the state mental health program for children and other underserved populations, by including representatives on any committee established to provide oversight to the state mental health program.
     (4) The secretary shall be designated as the regional support network if the regional support network fails to meet state minimum standards or refuses to exercise responsibilities under RCW 71.24.045.
     (5) The secretary shall:
     (a) Develop a biennial state mental health program that incorporates regional biennial needs assessments and regional mental health service plans and state services for mentally ill adults and children. The secretary shall also develop a six-year state mental health plan;
     (b) Assure that any regional or county community mental health program provides access to treatment for the region's residents in the following order of priority: (i) The acutely mentally ill; (ii) chronically mentally ill adults and severely emotionally disturbed children; and (iii) the seriously disturbed. Such programs shall provide:
     (A) Outpatient services;
     (B) Emergency care services for twenty-four hours per day;
     (C) Day treatment for mentally ill persons which includes training in basic living and social skills, supported work, vocational rehabilitation, and day activities. Such services may include therapeutic treatment. In the case of a child, day treatment includes age-appropriate basic living and social skills, educational and prevocational services, day activities, and therapeutic treatment;
     (D) Screening for patients being considered for admission to state mental health facilities to determine the appropriateness of admission;
     (E) Employment services, which may include supported employment, transitional work, placement in competitive employment, and other work-related services, that result in mentally ill persons becoming engaged in meaningful and gainful full or part-time work. Other sources of funding such as the division of vocational rehabilitation may be utilized by the secretary to maximize federal funding and provide for integration of services;
     (F) Consultation and education services; and
     (G) Community support services;
     (c) Develop and adopt rules establishing state minimum standards for the delivery of mental health services pursuant to RCW 71.24.037 including, but not limited to:
     (i) Licensed service providers. These rules shall permit a county-operated mental health program to be licensed as a service provider subject to compliance with applicable statutes and rules. The secretary shall provide for deeming of compliance with state minimum standards for those entities accredited by recognized behavioral health accrediting bodies recognized and having a current agreement with the department;
     (ii) Regional support networks; and
     (iii) Inpatient services, evaluation and treatment services and facilities under chapter 71.05 RCW, resource management services, and community support services;
     (d) Assure that the special needs of minorities, the elderly, disabled, children, and low-income persons are met within the priorities established in this section;
     (e) Establish a standard contract or contracts, consistent with state minimum standards and RCW 71.24.320 ((and)), 71.24.330, and 71.24.3201, which shall be used in contracting with regional support networks. The standard contract shall include a maximum fund balance, which shall be consistent with that required by federal regulations or waiver stipulations;
     (f) Establish, to the extent possible, a standardized auditing procedure which minimizes paperwork requirements of regional support networks and licensed service providers. The audit procedure shall focus on the outcomes of service and not the processes for accomplishing them;
     (g) Develop and maintain an information system to be used by the state and regional support networks that includes a tracking method which allows the department and regional support networks to identify mental health clients' participation in any mental health service or public program on an immediate basis. The information system shall not include individual patient's case history files. Confidentiality of client information and records shall be maintained as provided in this chapter and in RCW 71.05.390, 71.05.420, and 71.05.440;
     (h) License service providers who meet state minimum standards;
     (i) Certify regional support networks that meet state minimum standards;
     (j) Periodically monitor the compliance of certified regional support networks and their network of licensed service providers for compliance with the contract between the department, the regional support network, and federal and state rules at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner;
     (k) Fix fees to be paid by evaluation and treatment centers to the secretary for the required inspections;
     (l) Monitor and audit regional support networks and licensed service providers as needed to assure compliance with contractual agreements authorized by this chapter;
     (m) Adopt such rules as are necessary to implement the department's responsibilities under this chapter; and
     (n) Assure the availability of an appropriate amount, as determined by the legislature in the operating budget by amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, of community-based, geographically distributed residential services.
     (6) The secretary shall use available resources only for regional support networks, except to the extent authorized, and in accordance with any priorities or conditions specified, in the biennial appropriations act.
     (7) Each certified regional support network and licensed service provider shall file with the secretary, on request, such data, statistics, schedules, and information as the secretary reasonably requires. A certified regional support network or licensed service provider which, without good cause, fails to furnish any data, statistics, schedules, or information as requested, or files fraudulent reports thereof, may have its certification or license revoked or suspended.
     (8) The secretary may suspend, revoke, limit, or restrict a certification or license, or refuse to grant a certification or license for failure to conform to: (a) The law; (b) applicable rules and regulations; (c) applicable standards; or (d) state minimum standards.
     (9) The superior court may restrain any regional support network or service provider from operating without certification or a license or any other violation of this section. The court may also review, pursuant to procedures contained in chapter 34.05 RCW, any denial, suspension, limitation, restriction, or revocation of certification or license, and grant other relief required to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
     (10) Upon petition by the secretary, and after hearing held upon reasonable notice to the facility, the superior court may issue a warrant to an officer or employee of the secretary authorizing him or her to enter at reasonable times, and examine the records, books, and accounts of any regional support network or service provider refusing to consent to inspection or examination by the authority.
     (11) Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the secretary may file an action for an injunction or other process against any person or governmental unit to restrain or prevent the establishment, conduct, or operation of a regional support network or service provider without certification or a license under this chapter.
     (12) The standards for certification of evaluation and treatment facilities shall include standards relating to maintenance of good physical and mental health and other services to be afforded persons pursuant to this chapter and chapters 71.05 and 71.34 RCW, and shall otherwise assure the effectuation of the purposes of these chapters.
     (13)(a) The department, in consultation with affected parties, shall establish a distribution formula that reflects regional needs assessments based on the number of persons who are acutely mentally ill, chronically mentally ill, severely emotionally disturbed children, and seriously disturbed. The formula shall take into consideration the impact on regions of demographic factors which result in concentrations of priority populations as set forth in subsection (5)(b) of this section. These factors shall include the population concentrations resulting from commitments under chapters 71.05 and 71.34 RCW to state psychiatric hospitals, as well as concentration in urban areas, at border crossings at state boundaries, and other significant demographic and workload factors.
     (b) The formula shall also include a projection of the funding allocations that will result for each region, which specifies allocations according to priority populations, including the allocation for services to children and other underserved populations.
     (c) After July 1, 2003, the department may allocate up to ((two)) five percent of ((total funds)) available resources to be distributed to the regional support networks for incentive payments to reward the achievement of superior outcomes, or significantly improved outcomes, as measured by a statewide performance measurement system consistent with the framework recommended in the joint legislative audit and review committee's performance audit of the mental health system. The department shall annually report to the legislature on its criteria and allocation of the incentives provided under this subsection.
     (14) The secretary shall assume all duties assigned to the nonparticipating regional support networks under chapters 71.05, 71.34, and 71.24 RCW. Such responsibilities shall include those which would have been assigned to the nonparticipating counties in regions where there are not participating regional support networks.
     The regional support networks, or the secretary's assumption of all responsibilities under chapters 71.05, 71.34, and 71.24 RCW, shall be included in all state and federal plans affecting the state mental health program including at least those required by this chapter, the medicaid program, and P.L. 99-660. Nothing in these plans shall be inconsistent with the intent and requirements of this chapter.
     (15) The secretary shall:
     (a) Disburse funds for the regional support networks within sixty days of approval of the biennial contract. The department must either approve or reject the biennial contract within sixty days of receipt.
     (b) Enter into biennial contracts with regional support networks. The contracts shall be consistent with available resources. No contract shall be approved that does not include progress toward meeting the goals of this chapter by taking responsibility for: (i) Short-term commitments; (ii) residential care; and (iii) emergency response systems.
     (c) Notify regional support networks of their allocation of available resources at least sixty days prior to the start of a new biennial contract period.
     (d) Deny funding allocations to regional support networks based solely upon formal findings of noncompliance with the terms of the regional support network's contract with the department. ((Written notice and at least thirty days for corrective action must precede any such action. In such cases, regional support networks shall have full rights to appeal under chapter 34.05 RCW.))
     (16) The department, in cooperation with the state congressional delegation, shall actively seek waivers of federal requirements and such modifications of federal regulations as are necessary to allow federal medicaid reimbursement for services provided by free-standing evaluation and treatment facilities certified under chapter 71.05 RCW. The department shall periodically report its efforts to the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of representatives.

Sec. 9   RCW 72.23.010 and 2000 c 22 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Court" means the superior court of the state of Washington.
     (2) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (3) "Employee" means an employee as defined in RCW 49.17.020.
     (4) "Licensed physician" means an individual permitted to practice as a physician under the laws of the state, or a medical officer, similarly qualified, of the government of the United States while in this state in performance of his or her official duties.
     (5) "Long-term inpatient care" means inpatient services for persons committed for intensive treatment for periods of ninety days or greater under chapter 71.05 RCW. "Long-term inpatient care" as used in this chapter does not include services for individuals committed under chapter 71.05 RCW who are receiving services pursuant to a conditional release or a court-ordered less restrictive alternative to detention.
     (6) "Mentally ill person" means any person who, pursuant to the definitions contained in RCW 71.05.020, as a result of a mental disorder presents a likelihood of serious harm to others or himself or herself or is gravely disabled.
     (((6))) (7) "Patient" means a person under observation, care, or treatment in a state hospital, or a person found mentally ill by the court, and not discharged from a state hospital, or other facility, to which such person had been ordered hospitalized.
     (((7))) (8) "Resident" means a resident of the state of Washington.
     (((8))) (9) "Secretary" means the secretary of social and health services.
     (((9))) (10) "State hospital" means any hospital, including a child study and treatment center, operated and maintained by the state of Washington for the care of the mentally ill.
     (((10))) (11) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of a state hospital.
     (((11))) (12) "Violence" or "violent act" means any physical assault or attempted physical assault against an employee or patient of a state hospital.
     Wherever used in this chapter, the masculine shall include the feminine and the singular shall include the plural.

Sec. 10   RCW 72.23.025 and 1998 c 245 s 141 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) It is the intent of the legislature to improve the quality of service at state hospitals, eliminate overcrowding, and more specifically define the role of the state hospitals. The legislature intends that eastern and western state hospitals shall become clinical centers for handling the most complicated long-term care needs of patients with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder. ((Over the next six years, their involvement in providing short-term, acute care, and less complicated long-term care shall be diminished in accordance with the revised responsibilities for mental health care under chapter 71.24 RCW.)) To this end, the legislature intends that funds appropriated for mental health programs, including funds for regional support networks and the state hospitals be used for persons with primary diagnosis of mental disorder. The legislature finds that establishment of the eastern state hospital board, the western state hospital board, and institutes for the study and treatment of mental disorders at both eastern state hospital and western state hospital will be instrumental in implementing the legislative intent.
     (2)(a) The eastern state hospital board and the western state hospital board are each established. Members of the boards shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. Each board shall include:
     (i) The director of the institute for the study and treatment of mental disorders established at the hospital;
     (ii) One family member of a current or recent hospital resident;
     (iii) One consumer of services;
     (iv) One community mental health service provider;
     (v) Two citizens with no financial or professional interest in mental health services;
     (vi) One representative of the regional support network in which the hospital is located;
     (vii) One representative from the staff who is a physician;
     (viii) One representative from the nursing staff;
     (ix) One representative from the other professional staff;
     (x) One representative from the nonprofessional staff; and
     (xi) One representative of a minority community.
     (b) At least one representative listed in (a)(viii), (ix), or (x) of this subsection shall be a union member.
     (c) Members shall serve four-year terms. Members of the board shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 and shall receive compensation as provided in RCW 43.03.240.
     (3) The boards established under this section shall:
     (a) Monitor the operation and activities of the hospital;
     (b) Review and advise on the hospital budget;
     (c) Make recommendations to the governor and the legislature for improving the quality of service provided by the hospital;
     (d) Monitor and review the activities of the hospital in implementing the intent of the legislature set forth in this section; and
     (e) Consult with the secretary regarding persons the secretary may select as the superintendent of the hospital whenever a vacancy occurs.
     (4)(a) There is established at eastern state hospital and western state hospital, institutes for the study and treatment of mental disorders. The institutes shall be operated by joint operating agreements between state colleges and universities and the department of social and health services. The institutes are intended to conduct training, research, and clinical program development activities that will directly benefit mentally ill persons receiving treatment in Washington state by performing the following activities:
     (i) Promote recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals at the state hospitals and community mental health programs;
     (ii) Improve clinical care by exploring new, innovative, and scientifically based treatment models for persons presenting particularly difficult and complicated clinical syndromes;
     (iii) Provide expanded training opportunities for existing staff at the state hospitals and community mental health programs;
     (iv) Promote bilateral understanding of treatment orientation, possibilities, and challenges between state hospital professionals and community mental health professionals.
     (b) To accomplish these purposes the institutes may, within funds appropriated for this purpose:
     (i) Enter joint operating agreements with state universities or other institutions of higher education to accomplish the placement and training of students and faculty in psychiatry, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, nursing, and other relevant professions at the state hospitals and community mental health programs;
     (ii) Design and implement clinical research projects to improve the quality and effectiveness of state hospital services and operations;
     (iii) Enter into agreements with community mental health service providers to accomplish the exchange of professional staff between the state hospitals and community mental health service providers;
     (iv) Establish a student loan forgiveness and conditional scholarship program to retain qualified professionals at the state hospitals and community mental health providers when the secretary has determined a shortage of such professionals exists.
     (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the institutes may enter into agreements with the department or the state hospitals which may involve changes in staffing necessary to implement improved patient care programs contemplated by this section.
     (d) The institutes are authorized to seek and accept public or private gifts, grants, contracts, or donations to accomplish their purposes under this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.