| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Human Services Committee | |
HB 2863
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Providing for intensive behavior support services for children with developmental disabilities.
Sponsors: Representatives Kagi, Walsh, Dickerson, Pettigrew, Haler, Roberts, Priest, Anderson, Jarrett, Darneille, Liias, Clibborn, Morrell, Simpson, Lantz, Goodman, Hurst, Conway, Kenney, Ormsby and Wood.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/08
Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).
Background:
Under the Department of Social and Human Services (Department), the Division of
Developmental Disabilities (DDD) offers several programs and services for children with
developmental disabilities and their families. As an example, the Individual and Family Services
Program supports families while they are caring for a family member with a developmental
disability in their home. The program provides families with some of the support services
necessary to keep eligible children at home with parents or relatives, including respite care,
therapies, home and auto modifications, specialized nutrition and clothing, transportation,
training, behavior management, education, and recreational opportunities. Residential services
are insufficient for children with the most extreme behaviors. Families, who no longer have the
ability to care for children with developmental disabilities and such behavior, increasingly seek
to place such children in a facility outside of the home.
Summary of Bill:
The bill directs the Department to (1) submit a federal waiver application through which services
can be provided to a child with a developmental disability and intensive behaviors and (2) to
implement a program for such services upon receipt of the waiver. The program would be
developed through collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, and it would utilize best
practices and evidence-based practices. The Department, under this program, would provide
services either directly or by contract.
The eligibility criteria for such services would be: (1) the child is under the age of 18; (2) the
child has a developmental disability and been determined eligible for services; (3) the
child/family score on the behavior assessment conducted by the Department is high enough to
indicate that the child's behavior puts the child or family at significant risk and/or is very likely
to require an out-of-home placement; (4) the child meets the eligibility requirements for home
and community-care waiver or waivers; (5) the child resides in the family home or is temporarily
in an out-of-home placement with a plan to return home; (6) the family demonstrates a
willingness to learn the skills necessary to participate in the services; and (7) the family is not
subject to a pending child protective services referral.
The bill requires that the services be provided through a core team of highly-trained individuals
either directly or by contract, which has the following characteristics: (1) expertise or access to
expertise in behavior management, therapies, and children's crisis intervention; (2) ability to
coordinate services and support needed to stabilize family; (3) ability to conduct transition
planning as the child and family leave the program; and (4) ability to authorize or coordinate the
services in the family's home or school or neighborhoods.
Appropriation: The sum of $2.8 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 from the General Fund to the Department of Social and Health Services.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 18, 2008.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.