BILL REQ. #:  S-4565.1 

Read first time 01/30/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to determining the service needs of people with developmental disabilities; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that approximately twelve thousand Washington residents who meet eligibility criteria for the department of social and health services division of developmental disabilities do not receive any paid services from the division. The legislature also finds that little is known about the services these individuals need, or how the needs of these individuals differ from those who currently receive services from the division.
     The legislature also finds that the division of developmental disabilities has begun to implement changes in assessment processes according to recommendations of the joint legislative audit and review committee. These changes will eventually allow the division to assess the needs of the twelve thousand clients eligible for services.
     The legislature finds that the governor and the legislature need reliable information about service needs to consider any policy changes for services for individuals with developmental disabilities during the 2005-2007 and 2007-2009 biennia. The legislature intends that sufficient assessments be performed by the division of developmental disabilities, that the results of the assessments may be studied by the Washington state institute for public policy, and that the study will assist in determining the type and level of service needs for individuals with developmental disabilities statewide.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The Washington institute for public policy shall conduct a study and comparison of the characteristics and service needs of clients of the division of developmental disabilities who are not receiving paid services by the division and those who are receiving paid services. The institute shall design a sampling strategy to guide the department of social and health services in conducting assessments such that assessment data would be available on a statistically valid sample of the clients not receiving paid services by the division of developmental disabilities to compare to a sample of clients receiving paid services.
     Not later than November 1, 2006, the institute shall report to the governor and the legislature including, but not necessarily limited to:
     (1) The nature and severity of the service needs of clients receiving and not receiving paid services by the division;
     (2) Demographic information, including income information, for those receiving and not receiving paid services by the division;
     (3) An analysis of the differences between the two groups.
     Not later than June 30, 2007, the institute shall provide a six-year estimate of service needs of the state's population of individuals with developmental disabilities, done in conjunction with the caseload forecast council.