HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6448
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.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Human Services
Title: An act relating to intensive behavior support services for children with developmental disabilities.
Brief Description: Providing for intensive behavior support services for children with developmental disabilities.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Marr, Zarelli, Keiser, Delvin, Kline, Brown, Brandland, Kohl-Welles, Fairley, Shin, Pflug, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Kilmer).
Brief History:
Human Services: 2/28/08 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Roberts, Vice Chair; Ahern, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Darneille, McCoy and O'Brien.
Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).
Background:
Under the Department of Social and Health 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. Current 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 Amended 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. Under this program, the Department would
provide services either directly or by contract.
The eligibility criteria for such services would be: (1) the child is under the age of 21; (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 the 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 neighborhood.
Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:
The amended bill increases the age of eligibility for services from 17 to 20. The amended bill
clarifies that the out-of-home placements are respite placements and it gives the Department
more flexibility in determining the caseload-to-client ratio. Rather than a fixed ratio of one
staff per 30 clients, an appropriate ratio would be determined by the Department.
Appropriation: The sum of $2.8 million for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2009, from the State General Fund to the Department of Social and Health Services.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However there is a null and void clause if not funded in the budget.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Children with developmental disabilities would benefit from these services. The
amendment improves on the core team and that is important.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Mary Fischer, Institute for Family Development; and Ed Holen, Developmental Disability Council.