S-1307               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5377

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators McDonald, Gaspard, West, Talmadge, Sellar, Bailey, Craswell, Cantu, Hayner, Smitherman, Wojahn, McMullen, Smith, Sutherland, Murray, Niemi, Stratton and Anderson)

Read first time 1/26/89.

AN ACT Relating to the alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and support act; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that chapter 74.50 RCW, the alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and support act, is a successful method of providing treatment to indigent alcoholics and drug addicts.  The legislature further finds that the program is facing fiscal restraints in the current biennium that may prevent the program from accomplishing its mission and may do irreparable harm to the continuation of the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of four million two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the department of social and health services solely for alcoholism and drug addiction treatment services as specifically described in this act.  This appropriation shall not be construed as a commitment to a funding level for the program for the 1989-91 fiscal biennium.

          This appropriation is provided solely to enhance treatment services to ensure that clients currently being served are able to complete their recommended treatment plan and to ensure that additional clients are provided treatment services throughout the remainder of the 1987-89 biennium.  The department shall established caseload lids to maintain expenditure levels that:  (1) Will ensure treatment services are available throughout the remainder of the biennium, and (2) will prevent overexpenditure of funds.

          This appropriation shall not be expended to provide shelter services.  However, living allowance stipends for outpatient treatment clients are considered treatment costs and may be paid within this appropriation.

          If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the appropriation in this section shall lapse and any unexpended funds shall revert to an unappropriated status.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.