Passed by the Senate April 20, 2009 YEAS 48   BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 1, 2009 YEAS 97   FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives | I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 5547 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. THOMAS HOEMANN ________________________________________ Secretary | |
Approved April 30, 2009, 11:40 a.m. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | May 1, 2009 Secretary of State State of Washington |
State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2009 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/26/09. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to respite care for primary care providers of persons with developmental disabilities; and amending RCW 71A.12.161.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1 RCW 71A.12.161 and 2007 c 283 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The individual and family services program for individuals
eligible to receive services under this title is established. This
program replaces family support opportunities, traditional family
support, and the flexible family support pilot program. The department
shall transfer funding associated with these existing family support
programs to the individual and family services program and shall
operate the program within available funding. The services provided
under the individual and family services program shall be funded by
state funding without benefit of federal match.
(2) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.
The rules shall provide:
(a) That eligibility to receive services in the individual and
family services program be determined solely by an assessment of
individual need;
(b) For service priority levels to be developed that specify a
maximum amount of dollars for each person per level per year;
(c) That the dollar caps for each service priority level be
adjusted by the vendor rate increases authorized by the legislature;
and
(d) That the following services be available under the program:
(i) Respite care;
(ii) Therapies;
(iii) Architectural and vehicular modifications;
(iv) Equipment and supplies;
(v) Specialized nutrition and clothing;
(vi) Excess medical costs not covered by another source;
(vii) Copays for medical and therapeutic services;
(viii) Transportation;
(ix) Training;
(x) Counseling;
(xi) Behavior management;
(xii) Parent/sibling education;
(xiii) Recreational opportunities; and
(xiv) Community services grants.
(3) In addition to services provided for the service priority
levels under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the department
shall provide for:
(a) One-time exceptional needs and emergency needs for individuals
and families not receiving individual and family services annual grants
to assist individuals and families who experience a short-term crisis;
and
(b) Respite services based on the department's assessment for:
(i) A parent who provides personal care in the home to his or her
adult son or daughter with developmental disabilities; or
(ii) A family member who replaces the parent as the primary
caregiver, resides with, and provides personal care in the home for the
adult with developmental disabilities.
(4) If a person has more complex needs, a family is experiencing a
more prolonged crisis, or it is determined a person needs additional
services, the department shall assess the individual to determine if
placement in a waiver program would be appropriate.