SSB 6384 -
By Committee on Early Learning & Human Services
ADOPTED 02/29/2012
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 71A.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1) Clients age twenty-one and older who are receiving employment
services must be offered the choice to transition to a community access
program after nine months of enrollment in an employment program, and
the option to transition from a community access program to an
employment program at any time. Enrollment in an employment program
begins at the time the client is authorized to receive employment.
(2) Prior approval by the department shall not be required to
effectuate the client's choice to transition from an employment program
to community access services after verifying nine months of
participation in employment-related services.
(3) The department shall inform clients and their legal
representatives of all available options for employment and day
services, including the opportunity to request an exception from
enrollment in an employment program. Information provided to the
client and the client's legal representative must include the types of
activities each service option provides, and the amount, scope, and
duration of service for which the client would be eligible under each
service option. An individual client may be authorized for only one
service option, either employment services or community access
services. Clients may not participate in more than one of these
services at any given time.
(4) The department shall work with counties and stakeholders to
strengthen and expand the existing community access program, including
the consideration of options that allow for alternative service
settings outside of the client's residence. The program should
emphasize support for the clients so that they are able to participate
in activities that integrate them into their community and support
independent living and skills.
(5) The department shall develop rules to allow for an exception to
the requirement that a client participate in an employment program for
nine months prior to transitioning to a community access program."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: (1) Clarifies that a client is receiving employment
services at the time that he or she is authorized to receive those
services.
(2) Provides that prior approval by the Department of Social and
Health Services (DSHS) is not required to allow a client to transition
from an employment program to a community access program after the
client has completed nine months in an employment program.
(3) Requires the DSHS to inform clients and their legal
representatives of the opportunity to request an exception from
enrollment in an employment program if the client requests an action
that is not currently permitted.
(4) Requires the DSHS to consider options which allow for
alternative service settings outside of the client's residence when the
DSHS works with counties and stakeholders to strengthen and expand the
existing community access program.
(5) Requires the DSHS to develop rules to allow for an exception to
the requirement that a client participate in an employment program for
nine months prior to transitioning to a community access program.