Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Early Learning & Human Services Committee

HB 1928

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Removes from statute, the names of the Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) and establishes a maximum for the number of long-term residents at RHCs.
Requires that any proposed closure of a RHC must be approved by the Legislature.
Reopens admissions to the Yakima Valley School.
Requires the Department of Social and Health Services to continue to develop respite care resources in the community.
Modifies the Developmental Disabilities Community Trust Account to allow proceeds from the sale of current and former RHC property to be deposited into the account.

Background:

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) provides support and services to persons with developmental disabilities. Services include case management, needs assessments, support in activities of daily living, employment, and rehabilitative therapies. The DSHS also provides medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services to persons with developmental disabilities. Services may be provided in three different service settings: in the client's own home; in a community residential home; or in a Residential Habilitation Center (RHC). An estimated 14,000 eligible clients do not receive any paid services due to lack of available resources.

Washington operates four RHCs which are 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; and Yakima Valley School in Selah. In August 2012 there were approximately 830 long-term residents in RHCs. The number of short-term residents was approximately 40. Persons under the age of 16 are not admitted as long-term residents to RHCs, and persons between the ages of 16 and 21 may be admitted for short-term respite or crisis stabilization services. Crisis stabilization services are defined as temporary intensive services that typically do not exceed 60 days. Respite services are defined to mean relief for families and caregivers to include 24-hour, consecutive days of care that typically do not exceed 90 days.

Developmental Disabilities Service Systems Task Force.

In the Fall of 2011 pursuant to Second Substitute Senate Bill 5459 (2SSB 5459), the Developmental Disability Service Systems Task Force (Task Force) was convened, and it was directed to, among other things, make recommendations on the long-term need for RHC capacity, strategies for reframing the mission of Yakima Valley School, and other strategies for providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The Co-Chairs of the Task Force submitted a report to the Legislature in January 2013.

Some of its recommendations were as follows.

Open all RHCs to receive new clients; place a cap on the number of RHC residents at 900, and remove the names of the RHCs from statute. Any proposed closure of an RHC must be approved by the Legislature.
Continue to provide respite services in RHCs. Continue the commitment to provide respite care and further develop respite care resources in the community to allow clients to access services where they choose.
Direct the DSHS to begin assessing the 14,000 clients on the no paid services caseload, and give DSHS authority to prioritize the assessment of clients. Increase the capacity of home and community-based waivers incrementally, as funding allows.
Modify the terms of the Developmental Disabilities Trust Account to allow the proceeds from the sale of RHC property to go to the trust and ensure that Francis Haddon Morgan property is included in the trust language.
Request that the Legislature extend the Task Force to allow it to continue to work on developing a system of services for persons with a developmental disability.

Summary of Bill:

Residential Habilitation Centers.

Under this bill, the names of the RHCs are removed from statute, and the maximum number of persons who reside in or receive respite services from RHCs is established at 900. Any proposed closure of an RHC must be approved by the Legislature.

The limitation imposed in 2011 on new admissions to the Yakima Valley School is removed. The DSHS must continue to provide respite services in RHCs and continue to develop respite care resources in the community with a goal of allowing clients to access services where they choose.

Developmental Disabilities Trust Account.

The Developmental Disabilities Community Trust Account is modified to allow the proceeds from the sale of a RHC property to be deposited into the account. Such proceeds would include property located at the former Frances Haddon Morgan Center.

The Task Force created in 2011 pursuant to 2SSB 5459 is extended until July 1, 2014.