2197-S AMH SEAQ REIL 099

SHB 2197 - H AMD 1659

By Representative Seaquist

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the effectiveness of the department of social and health services has continued to improve in recent years as a result of a number of program improvements directed by the governor and the legislature, by managerial improvements effected by the department's leaders, and by reinvigorated executive leadership.  Noting that the state is experiencing a historically severe recession, the legislature assumes that economic recovery will be very slow and that the concomitant demand for social and health services will remain high while revenues will remain tightly constrained.  The legislature therefore finds that further rapid and substantial improvement must be achieved in the cost-effectiveness of social and health services expenditures.  

    The legislature notes that the governor, the secretary of the department of social and health services, the heads of allied agencies and many local service providers agree that comprehensive service integration can be an important next step in the evolution of more cost effective social and health programs.

The legislature recognizes that many millions of dollars in savings for the administration and delivery of health and human services are assumed in the omnibus operating budget.  For those savings to be achieved without adversely impacting client services, it is essential that the department implement the provisions of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.   In consultation with the governor and other affected agency heads, the secretary of the department of social and health services shall identify a population of clients using extensive services and resources which might be served in a more cost-effective manner through enterprise-wide functional integration of service delivery and program oversight.  The secretary shall chair a multi-agency work group convened by the governor comprised of senior representatives of department programs affecting the selected population and senior representatives of other state, local government, and community agencies providing relevant services to the selected population. The multi-agency workgroup shall develop and implement a process to integrate and coordinate the delivery of services within the department and with other agencies and programs to achieve improved outcomes for the selected client population and cost savings for the state. By December 1, 2010, the governor shall report to the legislature progress on designing and implementing the plan, additional populations that may benefit from extending the integration effort, and any supportive legislation. The governor is also invited to propose a procedure by which half of the achieved savings can be reinvested in ways which further the project’s objectives."

    Correct the title.

EFFECT:   Strikes the underlying bill and requires the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services to identify a population of clients that would be better served through an intra-agency functional integration of service delivery.  The Secretary shall chair a multi-agency workgroup that shall develop and implement a process to integrate and coordinate the delivery of services.  By December 1, 2010, the governor shall report to the legislature on the progress of the design and implementation of the plan, other populations that may benefit from a similar integration effort, and any supportive legislation.  The governor is invited to propose a procedure in which half of the achieved saving can be reinvested in ways to further the project's objectives.

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