HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2163

                       As Passed House

                      February 11, 1994

Title:  An act relating to residential habilitation centers.

Brief Description:  Providing for assessment of residential habilitation center residents.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Ogden, Silver, Valle, Dunshee, Fuhrman, Carlson, H. Myers and Leonard; by request of Legislative Budget Committee).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 3, 1994, DPS;

Appropriations, February 5, 1994, DPS(HS-A APP);

  Passed House, February 11, 1994, 95-3.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Caver; Karahalios; Padden; Patterson and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Lisk.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives Sommers, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Foreman; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Linville; H. Myers; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Sheahan.

Staff:  John Woolley (786-7154).

Background:  A number of questions exist regarding the ability of current residents of residential habilitation centers to move to community placements.  The Department of Social and Health Services does not have a plan it follows to determine the future size of and mission for residential habilitation centers, or to determine what other services should be in place for people with developmental disabilities. 

Summary of Bill:  The secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services is required to assess each resident of a residential habilitation center to identify any barriers to community placement, significant risks to the community or resident of community placement, the need for medical services and other support services.  The secretary is also required to analyze placement costs and related comparable costs to determine what is the most cost-effective for the resident.  The secretary will also develop a plan on the future use of residential habilitation centers.  The plan will also address other services needed by people with developmental disabilities.  A task force will assist the secretary in developing the plan.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  (Human Services) This study is needed to determine the future role and size of residential habilitation centers.

(Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against:  (Human Services) None.

(Appropriations) While changes to the bill were negotiated in the Human Services Committee, the bill does not go far enough.  The needs and costs throughout the system should be looked at to identify total system costs.

Witnesses:  (Human Services) Jackie MacRae, Developmental Disabilities Roundtable (pro); and Mike Wilson and Bill Mack, Homes for Community Living (pro).

(Appropriations) Greg Devereux, Washington State Employees Association.