FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 6257

C 261 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Developing a funding model for early intervention services for eligible children.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Billig, Zeiger, Kuderer, Keiser, Palumbo and Saldaña).

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers, birth through age two, who have disabilities, which includes developmental delays and diagnosed physical or mental conditions. Early intervention services include occupational or physical therapy, speech-language pathology, psychological, health, vision, social work, and other services.

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is the lead agency for the state's program called Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will be the lead agency starting on July 1, 2018.

Referrals to early intervention services are provided through local lead agencies around the state. Each local lead agency provides, subcontracts, or has agreements with early intervention providers to provide direct services to children and families. Local lead agencies include county health departments, county human services agencies, nonprofit agencies, and educational service districts.

Current state law requires school districts to provide or contract, or both, for early intervention services in partnership with local lead agencies and providers. Early intervention services are not part of basic education under Article IX of the state Constitution.

ESIT has a number of funding sources. DEL receives federal Part C funding and some state funding. School districts receive state funding through special education excess cost allocations for children ages birth through four-year-olds and five-year-olds not enrolled in kindergarten.

State law requires the Governor to appoint a state interagency coordinating council and ensure that state agencies involved in the provision of, or payment for, early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families must coordinate and collaborate in the planning and delivery of such services.

Summary: DCYF, in consultation with DEL, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the Caseload Forecast Counci, legislative fiscal staff, and with advice and assistance from the applicable committees of the state Interagency Coordinating Council, must develop a funding model with which to determine the amount of annual allocations that must be appropriated in the omnibus appropriations act after July 1, 2019, for early intervention services, which DCYF oversees.

By September 1, 2018, DCYF must submit a final report that includes the agreed-upon funding model and any necessary statutory changes to OFM and the fiscal committees of the Legislature.

DCYF must direct public entities who are billing Medicaid to provide early intervention services to bill private insurance as soon as practicable.

Votes on Final Passage: