BILL REQ. #:  S-5176.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/08/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to lifelong learning services for individuals diagnosed with severe to profound intellectual developmental disabilities; adding a new section to chapter 71A.14 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) A developmental disability is a natural part of human experience and the presence of a developmental disability in the life of a person does not diminish or alter a person's rights or opportunity to participate fully in the life of the community. The legislature recognizes that with the advancement and widespread availability of medical, educational, and social services, people with significant, multiple developmental disabilities are living longer and that investing in them at every stage of life helps maintain their skills and abilities and provides them the opportunity to have a meaningful daily life. Providing continued learning opportunities for individuals with severe and profound intellectual developmental disabilities supports both the individual and helps to maintain the well-being of the family; and
     (2) Gainful employment or involvement in employment-related activities is an appropriate and desired goal for adults with developmental disabilities. However, for adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities or adults who are nearing retirement age, community access services should be available as an alternative, or in addition to, employment-related services.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 71A.14 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall adopt and implement rules that enable working age adults with developmental disabilities to pursue and maintain gainful employment in integrated settings. The rules must provide that counties, under contract with the department and within available funding, will:
     (a) Develop and make available services that offer support for working age adults who do not have a severe or profound developmental disability or are not nearing retirement age to pursue or maintain gainful employment, including support and technical assistance to achieve integrated employment outcomes; and
     (b) Offer persons with a severe or profound developmental disability and persons nearing retirement age the option to participate in employment-related activities and nonemployment-related community access services. Community access services may include, but are not limited to:
     (i) Community participation;
     (ii) Social skills;
     (iii) Self-advocacy skills;
     (iv) Recreational skills;
     (v) Continuing education classes;
     (vi) Active supervision; and
     (vii) Transportation.
     (2) To the extent funding is provided for this purpose, department staff will:
     (a) Authorize services to working age adults that support the individual's ability to pursue and maintain integrated, gainful employment; and
     (b) Authorize community access services as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section for persons with severe or profound developmental disabilities or adults nearing retirement age. For persons with severe or profound developmental disabilities:
     (i) Employment-related services and community access services are not mutually exclusive and may be provided in conjunction with one another; and
     (ii) Persons will be given a choice of services, and the authority to exercise control over the selection of employment-related and community access services available to them.
     (3) The department shall make every effort to maximize the use of federal funds to fund services authorized under this section.