H-3726              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2631

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooper, Nutley, Raiter, Hargrove, Leonard, Ferguson and Brekke

Read first time 1/17/90 and referred to Committee on Human Services.

AN ACT Relating to community services for persons with developmental disabilities; amending RCW 71A.12.010; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     RCW 71A.12.010 directs the secretary of social and health services to encourage the establishment and development of services to persons with developmental disabilities through locally administered and locally controlled programs.  Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that community services to people with developmental disabilities shall be delivered primarily through contracting with private vendors within each community.

        Sec. 2.  Section 201, chapter 176, Laws of 1988 and RCW 71A.12.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          It is declared to be the policy of the state to authorize the secretary to develop and coordinate state services for persons with developmental disabilities; to encourage research and staff training for state and local personnel working with persons with developmental disabilities; and to cooperate with communities to encourage the establishment and development of services to persons with developmental disabilities through locally administered and locally controlled programs.

Whenever possible, such community services shall be provided through contracts with private vendors.  The department is authorized to directly provide such services to people with developmental disabilities only when private vendors are either unable or unwilling to provide such services.

          The complexities of developmental disabilities require the services of many state departments as well as those of the community.  Services should be planned and provided as a part of a continuum.  A pattern of facilities and services should be established, within appropriations designated for this purpose, which is sufficiently complete to meet the needs of each person with a developmental disability regardless of age or degree of handicap, and at each stage of the person's development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Community services operated by employees of the department of social and health services are authorized only to the extent necessary to initiate a pilot project in King county for twelve residents of Fircrest school.  This pilot project shall be evaluated by audit conducted by independent evaluators who shall submit a report to the appropriations and human services committees of the house of representatives and the ways and means and health and long term care committees of the senate prior to the beginning of the 1992 legislative session.  Such report shall measure the cost and effectiveness of the services provided by employees of the department of social and health services as measured against the cost and effectiveness of similar services provided by private vendors.  The pilot project initiated by this section shall expire June 30, 1992, and the department shall provide similar services to those individuals served by the pilot project by contracting with private vendors, subject to RCW 71A.10.050.

          RCW 41.06.380 does not apply to pilot project under this section.