SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6345

BYSenators Deccio, Kreidler, McDonald, Moore and West; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Revising provisions on alcoholism and drug addiction treatment.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 26, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6345 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Cantu, Deccio, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Newhouse, Saling, Smith, Vognild, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Jan Sharar (786-7715)

                  January 27, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, JANUARY 26, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Program was established for those incapacitated due to drug/alcohol addiction.  They are no longer covered under the General Assistance-Unemployable Program.  The treatment and support program includes assessment, treatment, shelter and assistance in application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and medical care.  The eligibility requirements for the treatment and shelter program are the same as for the General Assistance Program.  The Department of Social and Health Services must provide client assessment services, including diagnostic evaluation, arranging admission to treatment or shelter programs and assisting with SSI applications.  Treatment services include inpatient, recovery house and outpatient services and are limited to six months in any two-year period with allowance for exceptions to the time limit.  The Department is required to provide shelter for persons eligible for the treatment and shelter program. 

The counties may establish a diagnostic/detention center to handle the assessment services and use Department funds for assessment, detoxification, involuntary detention and involuntary treatment for the purposes of the diagnostic/detention center.

The Department is required to adopt by rule medical criteria for General Assistance eligibility and not terminate recipients without a material improvement in their medical or mental condition or specific error in the eligibility determination.

The Public Assistance Protective Payee Law is amended to allow a fee set by rule for the administrative costs of serving as a protective payee.  The fee is not to be deducted from a public assistance recipient's grant.

SUMMARY:

The proposed changes to the act would strike reference to prevention of homelessness within the legislative findings section, specify that treatment and shelter services be provided within available funds, exempt portions of medical eligibility criteria found in the general assistance-unemployment statute from application to the act and require incapacity determinations to be made at Department-contracted assessment centers.  Requires that a living allowance only be used to provide shelter to outpatient clients in a setting that requires sobriety as a condition of residence, allow persons on a waiting for treatment to have the option of receiving shelter in a setting that requires sobriety as a condition of residence and allows the Department to require an applicant or recipient selecting treatment to complete inpatient and recovery house treatment when determined necessary prior to entry into the outpatient program.  Shelter, shelter support or shelter assistance is defined as a facility under contract to the Department providing room and board in a supervised living arrangement, normally in a group or dormitory setting, to eligible recipients under the act and may include supervised domiciliary facilities operated under the auspices of public or private agencies.  In areas where it is not feasible to develop shelters due to too few people needing services or where there are too few shelter beds available, allows the Department to provide shelter alternatives through protective payees.  Provides for persons continuously eligible for the general assistance-unemployable program since July 25, 1987, who transfer to the program established by the act, the option to continue their present living situation for up to three months through a protective payee.  An emergency is declared.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Shelter providers under contract with the Department are required to forbid consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: No one