BILL REQ. #:  H-4434.1 

Read first time 01/20/10.   Referred to Committee on Human Services.

     AN ACT Relating to traumatic brain injury; and amending RCW 74.31.020, 74.31.030, 74.31.040, 74.31.050, and 74.31.060.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 74.31.020 and 2007 c 356 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington traumatic brain injury strategic partnership advisory council is established as an advisory council to the governor, the legislature, and the secretary of the department of social and health services.
     (2) The council shall be composed of:
     (a) The following voting members ((who shall be)) appointed by the governor:
     (((a) The secretary or the secretary's designee, and representatives from the following: Children's administration, mental health division, aging and disability services administration, and vocational rehabilitation;
     (b) The executive director of a state brain injury association;
     (c))) (i) A representative from a nonprofit organization serving individuals with traumatic brain injury;
     (((d) The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
     (e) The secretary of the department of corrections or the secretary's designee;
     (f) A representative of the department of community, trade, and economic development;
     (g))) (ii) A representative from an organization serving veterans;
     (((h) A representative from the national guard;
     (i))) (iii) A representative of a Native American tribe located in Washington;
     (((j) The executive director of the Washington protection and advocacy system;
     (k))) (iv) A neurologist who has experience working with individuals with traumatic brain injuries;
     (((l))) (v) A neuropsychologist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injuries;
     (((m))) (vi) A social worker or clinical psychologist who has experience in working with persons who have sustained traumatic brain injuries;
     (((n))) (vii) A rehabilitation specialist, such as a speech pathologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, occupational therapist, or physical therapist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injuries;
     (((o))) (viii) Two persons who are individuals with a traumatic brain injury;
     (((p))) (ix) Two persons who are family members of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and
     (((q))) (x) Two members of the public who have experience with issues related to the causes of traumatic brain injuries; and
     (b) The following ex officio voting members:
     (i) The secretary or the secretary's designee, and representatives from the following: Children's administration, mental health division, aging and disability services administration, and vocational rehabilitation;
     (ii) The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
     (iii) The secretary of the department of corrections or the secretary's designee;
     (iv) A representative of the department of commerce;
     (v) A representative of the office of the superintendent of public instruction to be appointed by June 30, 2010;
     (vi) The executive director of the Washington protection and advocacy system or the executive director's designee;
     (vii) The executive director of the state brain injury association or the executive director's designee; and
     (viii) A representative from the national guard.
     (3) Councilmembers shall not be compensated for serving on the council, but may be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses related to costs incurred in participating in meetings for the council.
     (4) ((Initial appointments to the council shall be made by July 30, 2007.)) The terms of appointed councilmembers shall be three years((, except that the terms of the appointed members who are initially appointed shall be staggered by the governor to end as follows:
     (a) Four members on June 30, 2008;
     (b) Three members on June 30, 2009; and
     (c) Three members on June 30, 2010)).
     (5) No councilmember appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section, except for the representative from the nonprofit organization serving individuals with traumatic brain injury, may serve more than two consecutive terms.
     (6) The appointed members of the council shall, to the extent possible, represent rural and urban areas of the state.
     (7) A chairperson shall be elected every two years by majority vote from among the councilmembers. The chairperson shall act as the presiding officer of the council.
     (8) The duties of the council include:
     (a) Collaborating with the department to develop, and revise and update, as needed, a comprehensive statewide plan to address the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries;
     (b) ((By November 1, 2007,)) Providing recommendations to the department on criteria to be used to select programs facilitating support groups for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their families under RCW 74.31.050;
     (c) By ((December 1, 2007)) February 28, 2012, and every two years thereafter, submitting a report to the legislature and the governor on the following:
     (i) ((The development of a comprehensive statewide information and referral network for individuals with traumatic brain injuries;
     (ii) The development of a statewide registry to collect data regarding individuals with traumatic brain injuries, including the potential to utilize the department of information services to develop the registry;
     (iii) The efforts of the department to provide services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries)) Identifying the activities of the council in the implementation of the comprehensive statewide plan; and
     (ii) The council's recommendations for revisions to the comprehensive statewide plan;
     (d) ((By December 30, 2007, reviewing the preliminary comprehensive statewide plan developed by the department to meet the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries as required in RCW 74.31.030 and submitting a report to the legislature and the governor containing comments and recommendations regarding the plan)) Developing recommendations for using the traumatic brain injury account established under RCW 74.31.060 to form strategic partnerships and to foster the development of critical services for individuals with traumatic brain injury; and
     (e) Developing recommendations for a council staffing plan for council support under RCW 74.31.030.
     (9) The council may utilize the advice or services of a nationally recognized expert, or other individuals as the council deems appropriate, to assist the council in carrying out its duties under this section.

Sec. 2   RCW 74.31.030 and 2007 c 356 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((By July 30, 2007,)) In response to council recommendations developed pursuant to RCW 74.31.020, the department shall include in the statewide comprehensive plan a staffing plan for providing adequate support for council activities for positions funded by the traumatic brain injury account established in RCW 74.31.060 and designate ((a)) at least one staff person who shall be responsible for the following:
     (a) Coordinating policies, programs, and services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and
     (b) Providing staff support to the council created in RCW 74.31.020.
     (2) The department shall provide data and information to the council established under RCW 74.31.020 that is requested by the council and is in the possession or control of the department.
     (3) ((By December 1, 2007,)) The department shall ((provide a preliminary report to the legislature and the governor, and shall provide a final report by December 1, 2008, containing recommendations for a)) implement within available funds the comprehensive statewide plan to address the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries, including the use of public-private partnerships and a public awareness campaign. The comprehensive plan should be created, implemented within available funding, and revised as necessary in collaboration with the council and should consider the following:
     (a) Building provider capacity and provider training;
     (b) Improving the coordination of services;
     (c) The feasibility of establishing agreements with private sector agencies to develop services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and
     (d) Other areas the council deems appropriate.
     (4) ((By December 1, 2007,)) The department shall:
     (a) ((Provide)) Assure information and referral services are provided to individuals with traumatic brain injuries ((until the statewide referral and information network is developed)). The referral services may be funded from the traumatic brain injury account established under RCW 74.31.060; ((and))
     (b) Encourage and facilitate the following:
     (i) Collaboration among state agencies that provide services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries;
     (ii) Collaboration among organizations and entities that provide services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and
     (iii) Community participation in program implementation; and
     (c) Have the authority to accept and expend or retain any gifts, bequests, contributions, or grants from private persons or private and public agencies to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
     (5) By December 1, ((2007, and by December 1st each year)) 2011, and at least every two years thereafter, the department shall issue a report to the governor and the legislature containing the following:
     (a) A summary of action taken by the department to meet the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; ((and))
     (b) Recommendations for improvements in services to address the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and
     (c) Changes in the comprehensive statewide plan.

Sec. 3   RCW 74.31.040 and 2007 c 356 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((By December 1, 2007,)) In collaboration with the council, the department shall ((institute)) conduct a public awareness campaign that utilizes funding from the traumatic brain injury account to leverage a private advertising campaign to persuade Washington residents to be aware and concerned about the issues facing individuals with traumatic brain injuries through all forms of media including television, radio, and print.

Sec. 4   RCW 74.31.050 and 2007 c 356 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((By March 1, 2008,)) The department shall provide funding to programs that facilitate support groups to individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their families.
     (2) The department shall use a request for proposal process to select the programs to receive funding. The council shall provide recommendations to the department on the criteria to be used in selecting the programs.
     (3) The programs shall be funded solely from the traumatic brain injury account established in RCW 74.31.060, to the extent that funds are available.

Sec. 5   RCW 74.31.060 and 2007 c 356 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     The traumatic brain injury account is created in the ((state treasury)) custody of the state treasurer. Two dollars of the fee imposed under RCW 46.63.110(7)(c) must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account ((may be spent only after appropriation, and)) may be used only to support activities in the statewide traumatic brain injury comprehensive plan, to provide a public awareness campaign and services relating to traumatic brain injury under RCW 74.31.040 and 74.31.050, for information and referral services, and for costs of required department staff who are providing support for the council ((and information and referral services)) under RCW 74.31.020 and 74.31.030. The secretary of the department of social and health services has the authority to administer the funds.