Brief Description: Establishing a lifelong services program for persons with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Dickerson, Darneille, Haler, Roach, Wallace, Walsh, Roberts, Springer, Williams, Green, Simpson, Conway and Ormsby.

Hearing Date: 1/30/08

Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).

Background:

The Division of Developmental Disabilities, within the Department of Social and Health Services (Department), assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to obtain services and support based upon the preference, capabilities, and needs of the individual. The Department currently offers services through the Employment and Day Program which include employment services to provide ongoing services and training for eligible persons with paid jobs in a variety of settings and work sites.

Employment supports are the primary use of the Employment and Day program funds for working age adults. Support to pursue and maintain gainful employment is the primary service option for working age adults. Pursuant to Department policy, if individuals of working age do not want to pursue or maintain gainful employment, then the authorization of county services will be discontinued and Case Resource Managers will provide those individuals with information about generic community services. Case Resource Managers will continue to authorize services that do not emphasize employment only for individuals who have been granted an exception to the Department's policy.

Summary of Bill:

This bill creates lifelong learning services to be administered by the Department. The services are to be provided in addition to any employment support or pathway to employment services offered by the Department. They shall be based on the specific needs of the person with a developmental disability, state-administered, and available throughout the state. Individuals must be given a choice of services and authority to exercise control over the resources available. The Department will seek a federal medicaid match for funds appropriated for lifelong learning services.

Purpose of New Chapter

The purpose of the new chapter is to: (1) ensure that individual needs will be determined by uniform comprehensive assessment; (2) ensure that services are provided in the most inclusive situation consistent with individual needs; (3) ensure that lifelong learning service options be developed and made available that enable individuals to continue to live in their homes or other community residential support programs or in the care of their families; (4) ensure that lifelong learning services are coordinated in a way that minimizes administrative cost, eliminates unnecessarily complex organization, minimizes program and services duplication, and maximizes the use of financial resources in directly meeting the needs of persons (5) support higher educational institutions to assist in the provision of these lifelong learning services; and (6) be appropriate to the individual and cost-effective for the state.

Eligibility

Lifelong learning services will be based on the individual's assessed need. To be eligible for lifelong learning services, individuals must be at least 21 years old and diagnosed with a severe to profound intellectual developmental disability.

Nature of Services

The following services may be provided: (1) independent living skills training; (2) community participation; (3) social skills training; (4) self-advocacy training; (5) recreation; (6) continuing education classes; (7) personal assistance; and (8) transportation.

Appropriation: The sum of $3 million from the General Fund to the Department, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2009.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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