WHEREAS, The legislature finds an increasing rate of growth in the elderly population age sixty-five and over; and

WHEREAS, The growth in the elderly population will be matched with an increasing demand for long-term care services of all types; and

WHEREAS, The state has become a major payer for long-term care services; and

WHEREAS, Limited state financial resources require that future expenditures be carefully planned to assure the effective use of limited resources; and

WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that the long-term care population includes the elderly, developmentally disabled, mentally ill, and others with functional limitations; and

WHEREAS, The legislature further recognizes that the long-term care population are competent people whose dignity should not be denied and, who because of some functional limitation, require some degree of assistance; and

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that services to the long-term population should allow them to achieve their maximum potential and maintain dignity, self respect, normality, and the greatest amount of independence and autonomy possible; and

WHEREAS, The legislature further declares that the long-term care needs of the state can most effectively be met through a continuum of integrated community-based services accessible to the long-term care population; and

WHEREAS, The legislature further declares that state policy in long-term care should promote and encourage innovation and quality in the provision of services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Washington jointly form a Joint Select Commission on Long-Term Care; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission be composed of eight legislators who shall be the executive committee, two from each caucus in the House of Representatives and Senate, to be chosen by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That eight public members be selected by the executive committee and who represent at least consumers, providers, payers, and regulators; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the executive committee shall select a chairman from the public membership; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall be staffed, to the extent possible, by staff from the House of Representatives Health Care Committee and Senate Committee on Health Care and Corrections; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission may form technical advisory committees to assist it with any particular matters deemed necessary by the commission; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission and technical advisory committee members shall receive no compensation, but shall, to the extent funds are available, be reimbursed for their expenses while attending any meetings in the same manner as legislators engaged in interim committee business as specified in RCW 44.04.120; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission may apply for and receive and accept grants, gifts, and other payments from any governmental or other public or private entity or person, and may make arrangements as to the use of these receipts, including the undertaking of special studies or to defray the cost to the state of travel expenses of the membership; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission may contract with third parties for professional assistance with funds made available for this purpose upon the approval of the Senate Committee on Facilities and Operations and the House of Representatives Executive Rules Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall make recommendations on a state long-term care policy, including conducting an examination and proposing recommendations on the current organization, planning, administration, and delivery of long-term care services by the state of Washington; the present and future need for long-term care services and what services will best meet the needs of the long-term care population; the current system of payment and reimbursement for nursing homes and other long-term care services, including changes necessary to most effectively meet the increasing demand for a greater variety of services; the need for specific public and private funds, such as federal Title XIX funding to finance long-term care services; the availability and desirability of expanding the use of alternative funding resources; the need for categorical program distinctions and state level control of service delivery and financing mechanisms; and assessment of the current effectiveness of long-term care service quality assurance mechanisms; the effectiveness of local government, community, and consumer group participation in the planning, delivery of long-term care services, and other issues deemed appropriate by the commission; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall report to the legislature with its findings and recommendations by December 1, 1990.