SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5547

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 Senate Committee On:

Health & Long-Term Care, February 09, 2009

Title: An act relating to respite care for primary care providers of persons with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors: Senators Hargrove, Pflug, McAuliffe, Oemig, Marr, Fairley, Kauffman, Franklin, Parlette, Carrell, Haugen, Kilmer, Jarrett, Pridemore, Shin, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Regala and Keiser.

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Fairley, Marr, Murray and Parlette.

Background: The state's Division of Developmental Disabilities provides funding to certain eligible families for support services, enabling them to remain long-term caregivers for developmentally disabled family members. These services include respite care, therapies, adaptive equipment, counseling, and training. In January 2007 the Department of Social and Health Services released a report on family support recommending consolidation of services, a new assessment tool, and a different prioritizing system. Legislation enacted in 2008 created the Individual and Family Service Program which implements some of these recommendations.

Summary of Bill: Clarification is made that respite services provided under the Individual and Family Service Program is available to any family member who resides with and is the primary care provider to the person with developmental disabilities.