HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6344

BYSenators Niemi, Bailey, West, Vognild, McMullen, Wojahn and Smith

Revising provisions for regional support networks.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Leonard, Raiter and Winsley.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Mental health reform legislation approved in 1989 authorized groups of counties to form regional support networks (RSNs) to accept additional funding and responsibility for management of their mentally ill populations.  Groups of counties not recognized as RSNs by December 1, 1989 must wait until January of 1993 to be recognized. Some counties not recognized during 1989 have expressed a desire to receive RSN designation sooner than 1993.

Persons who fail or refuse to take required psychotropic medication are not subject to involuntary commitment procedures.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  To receive RSN designation by January 1, a county or group of counties must apply by October 30 of the previous year.  If no funding is provided in the supplemental budget specifically for this bill, it will be null and void.  Persons may be involuntarily committed for a chronic failure or refusal to take required medication.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  A null and void clause was added, effective if the legislation is not specifically referenced in the supplemental budget.  Persons may be involuntarily committed as gravely disabled as evidenced by a chronic failure or refusal to take required medication.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Sharon Stewart Johnson, Department of Social and Health Services; Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties; Ralph Mackey; Tim Gerstmann, Pierce County Social Services; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Community Mental Health; and Hal Wolfe (on involuntary commitment issue).

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Counties who want to be recognized as regional support networks should not have to wait until 1993.  Persons who endanger themselves or others because of a failure to take medication should be subject to the involuntary treatment act.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.