FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1599

                                   C 3 L 89

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Locke, Silver, Bristow, H. Sommers, Winsley, Miller, Sayan, Pruitt, Wineberry, P. King, Rayburn, Raiter, R. King, Belcher, Jones, Scott, Baugher, Jacobsen, H. Myers, Rasmussen, Spanel, Basich, Phillips, Appelwick and Day)

Making appropriations for persons suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction.

House Committe on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature enacted the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA) to provide treatment or shelter services for low income disabled alcoholics and drug addicts.  The size of the program was limited by appropriated funds.  Under the original design, program participants would be offered a continuum of residential and outpatient treatment.  Those not entering treatment would receive room and board through contracted housing.  The state general assistance program (GAU) was revised to remove persons disabled solely because of drug or alcohol abuse.

Legal actions have expanded clients options.  Clients may now receive cash grants through a protective payee instead of room and board.  They may also enter directly into outpatient treatment without first receiving inpatient care.  These changes resulted in rapid expansion of the program, particularly in outpatient treatment (which includes shelter). 

In order to bring projected expenditures back within budget, the Governor, effective February 1, 1989, eliminated outpatient programs and limited shelter to those already in the ADATSA program.  A subsequent Superior Court restraining order prohibited the limit on shelter, while allowing the elimination of treatment.  Most of the successful legal actions were based on provisions of ADATSA general income assistance laws.

SUMMARY:

An emergency appropriation of $10,200,000, including $5,400,000 in state funds, is provided for the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA).  This amount is in addition to $38.9 million already appropriated for the program.  Caseload and expenditure limits are established to assure that the funds are distributed evenly through the remainder of the 1987-89 biennium.

Statutory revisions are made to enable the Department of Social and Health Services to operate the program within appropriated levels.  Those revisions include repeal of statutes that may be interpreted as providing a service entitlement, and exempting ADATSA from most general income assistance provisions.  The department is authorized to establish caseload ceilings, eligibility standards, and priority classifications for ADATSA services.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 93   0

      Senate    46     0 (Senate amended)

      House 97   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:February 17, 1989