FINAL BILL REPORT

2SSB 5459

PARTIAL VETO

C 30 L 11 E 1

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Regarding services for people with developmental disabilities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kline, Keiser, Regala and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Ways & Means

Background: The state operates five residential habilitation centers (RHC) established in statute to provide services and housing for persons with developmental disabilities: Rainier School in Buckley, Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, Fircrest School in Shoreline, Frances Haddon Morgan Children's Center in Bremerton, and Yakima Valley School in Selah. Today approximately 900 individuals reside in RHCs, as permanent residents, for short term or respite stays. There are 36 individuals under age 21.

Over the years there have been repeated efforts to reduce the number of people in RHCs as trends for providing services to persons with developmental disabilities have increasingly focused on doing so in community settings. Today, the Department of Social and Health Services (department) provides community-based services through a number of programs to approximately 20,000 clients. These are designed as alternatives to institutions for eligible individuals with developmental disabilities who either live with family members, in rented housing, or in contracted or licensed residential housing in the community. Besides the individuals who receive some services either through RHC or in the community, an estimated 14,000 eligible clients do not receive any paid services due to lack of available funding.

Currently the department is implementing plans to close two of the five RHCs: Frances Haddon Morgan, by June 30, 2011, and Yakima Valley School by December 31, 2012. The closure of these facilities is included in the Governor's proposed budget for the 2011-2013 biennium. All of the 50 residents of Frances Haddon Morgan will be relocated to either a community residential placement, such as a state operated living arrangement (SOLA) or to one of three remaining RHCs.

The department plans to set up three new SOLAs, and is currently working with Fircrest, Lakeland, and Rainier to accommodate residents leaving Frances Haddon Morgan who do not want a community placement.

It is planned that the first ten residents leaving Yakima Valley School will do so by the end of 2011. The department is planning to establish crisis stabilization programs for children and adults using, where possible, institutional staff who will no longer be employed at the closed facilities.

Summary: Persons under the age of 16 may not be admitted to a Residential Habilitation Center. Persons between ages 16 and 21 may be admitted for short-term crisis or respite care.

Frances Haddon Morgan Center must close by December 31, 2011. Admissions to Yakima Valley School are frozen except for limited, short-term admissions for crisis and respite. When the resident population at YVS reaches 16 individuals, the institution will cease to exist as an RHC.

The current operation of 12 crisis stabilization and respite beds at Yakima Valley School is maintained, and these beds will stay in operation after the institution no longer operates as an RHC.

The Department of Social and Health Services must establish State Operated Living Alternatives (SOLAs) for clients who are transitioning out of RHCs and upon federal approval, must convert two cottages at both Frances Haddon Morgan Center and Yakima Valley School into SOLAs that will operate after these institutions close.

DSHS must offer RHC employees opportunities to work in the SOLAs as they are established.

Any savings achieved by the closure of Frances Haddon Morgan Center must be used for additional community resources including state-staffed crisis and respite services.

Up to eight state-staffed crisis stabilization beds and up to eight respite beds are established throughout the state.

A legislative task force is established to make recommendations on the long term need for RHC capacity; develop a plan for efficient consolidation of institutional capacity; recommend strategies for the use of surplus property that results from the closure of RHCs; and provide strategies for reframing the mission of Yakima Valley School.

Votes on Final Passage:

First Special Session

Partial Veto Summary: Language directing the department to institute specific client transition processes and services is vetoed. The department is not required to submit annual reports on client satisfaction, and provide turnover to the Legislature.