VETO MESSAGE ON SB 5763-S2

May 17, 2005

To the Honorable President and Members,

The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning, without my approval as to Sections 402, 603, 604, and 806, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5763 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the omnibus treatment of mental and substance abuse disorders act of 2005."

Section 402 describes the Legislature's intent to authorize the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to license a new type of facility called Enhanced Services Facilities. This section states that some clients have been repeatedly served in inappropriate settings or discharged without an appropriate placement. Although the development of a new facility type may well afford service providers an opportunity to deliver more effective services to persons with mental disorders, it is not reasonable to assume that such services were or are being provided inappropriately.

Although the Legislature appropriated funds in the 2005-2007 operating budget to fund many of the activities included in this bill, no funds were appropriated to implement Sections 603 and 604. Section 603 directs the DSHS to undertake a project, in collaboration with a broad array of stakeholders, to develop a set of matrices of service best practices. Section 604 directs the DSHS to undertake two collaboration projects with different groups of stakeholders to identify ways to provide mental health services to children who are not eligible for the state's Medicaid funded mental health services. With the passage of both this bill and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1290, the DSHS' Mental Health Division will have many large projects to implement over the next biennium. I do not believe it is reasonable to include several additional unfunded smaller projects to DSHS' already large project list.

Section 806 repeals Section 5 in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1290. Section 806 is unnecessary as I vetoed Section 5 in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1290 today.

For these reasons, I have vetoed Sections 402, 603, 604 and 806 of Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5763.

With the exception of Sections 402, 603, 604 and 806, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5763 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine O. Gregoire

Governor