FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2807

                         C 219 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing blended funding projects for youth.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kagi, Boldt, Wolfe, Ruderman, D. Sommers, Tokuda, Lovick, Kenney and Santos.

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Serving children with serious emotional disturbances, who require intensive services from multiple service systems, has typically been accomplished by each service system funding and providing services separately, with little or no coordination or collaboration with the other service systems.  The service systems usually involved with these children are education, child welfare, mental health, alcohol and drug, and juvenile rehabilitation.

This approach results in parents, guardians, or custodians of the child trying to understand multiple funding streams, eligibility requirements and program limitations, and managing relationships with multiple entities.

Pilot programs are underway in some states to address the complex needs of these children through blended funding.  Under this approach, each service system for which the child is eligible contributes funding to the care of the child.  The total funding is managed by an administrative services entity that works with each service system's administrative requirements.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) must authorize and facilitate blended funding projects for children who receive services from two or more DSHS divisions addressing behavioral, mental, emotional or substance abuse issues.  The secretary of the DSHS must transfer appropriated funds to support blended funding projects subject to any current or future federal foster care and adoption assistance waiver.  The community public health and safety networks must give input to projects and make recommendations about projects to the Family Policy Council.  The DSHS must report to the Legislature annually on blended funding projects, beginning in December 2000.

Votes on Final Passage:

  House  97 0

Senate 45 0 (Senate amended)

House(House refused to concur)

Senate420(Senate amended)

House980(House concurred)

Effective:July 1, 2000