BILL REQ. #:  S-2261.1 

Read first time 03/18/11.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to studying the privatization of residential habilitation centers; amending RCW 71A.20.020; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 71A.20.020 and 1994 c 215 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The following residential habilitation centers are permanently established to provide services to persons with developmental disabilities: Lakeland Village, located at Medical Lake, Spokane county; Rainier School, located at Buckley, Pierce county; Yakima Valley School, located at Selah, Yakima county; Fircrest School, located at Seattle, King county; and Frances Haddon Morgan Children's Center, located at Bremerton, Kitsap county.
     (2)(a) The department shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of the privatization of the residential habilitation centers described in this section. The department shall examine the current nationwide nonprofit organizations and any private-public partnerships that operate residential habilitation centers. As an element of the study, the department shall review applicable state and federal laws, as well as current and potential public and private funding sources for residential habilitation centers. The department shall provide recommendations regarding the implementation in Washington state of residential habilitation centers operated by either private organizations or a public-private partnership, and whether such organizations or partnerships can deliver the same or better services than are currently delivered by state-operated residential habilitation centers.
     (b) The department shall submit the study and its recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature before June 30, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.