BILL REQ. #:  S-3466.1 

Read first time 01/15/10.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to supported living vendor rates; adding a new section to chapter 71A.10 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the department of social and health services current geographical classifications for setting vendor rates for supported living providers creates a disparity in compensation rates between Snohomish county providers and King county providers, despite the fact that Snohomish and King counties share the same client base and the same pool of supported living workers. Although Snohomish and King counties are often classified as part of the same metropolitan area for funding purposes, the current department classifications provide significantly higher rates for King county vendors, resulting in significantly higher compensation for King county supported living workers. Snohomish county workers are attracted by King county's higher compensation, causing an unsustainably high turnover of these important service providers in Snohomish county.
     (2) The legislature further finds that stabilizing the turnover of supported living workers in Snohomish county would provide better structure and security for the adults with developmental disabilities who rely on the care and services provided by supported living workers.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 71A.10 RCW to read as follows:
     Whenever vendor rates for supported living providers are established, or otherwise affected by legislative action, the legislature must reduce the disparity in vendor rates between King county supported living providers and Snohomish county supported living providers, until the vendor rates for King county supported living providers and Snohomish county supported living providers are equal.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect July 1, 2010.