HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1367
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Higher Education
Title: An act relating to encouraging training for medical students, nurses, and medical technicians and assistants to work with adult patients with developmental disabilities.
Brief Description: Requiring the student achievement council to develop a grant program to encourage training for students studying in the medical field to work with individuals with disabilities.
Sponsors: Representatives Johnson, Reykdal, Walsh, Chandler, Appleton, Zeiger and Pollet.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Higher Education: 1/28/15, 2/4/15 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Pollet, Vice Chair; Zeiger, Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Gregory, Hargrove, Holy, Reykdal, Sells, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Van Werven.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).
Background:
Washington Student Achievement Council.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is the agency responsible for strategic planning, oversight, and advocacy regarding higher education in Washington. In addition, WSAC administers the majority of the state's financial aid and grant programs for the public baccalaureate institutions. For example, the WSAC's Office of Student Financial Assistance is in charge of administering the Work-Study Opportunity Grant for High-Demand Occupations. This is a competitive grant program in which the WSAC awards grants to eligible institutions of higher education that have developed a partnership with an organization willing to host work-study placements. The grant money covers student wages and the cost of program administration.
Developmental Disabilities Administration.
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services. In fiscal year 2014, the DDA had an average cliental of about 22,600 people, of which about 60 percent are adults over the age of 18. However, it is estimated that there are around 84,000 people with developmental disabilities in Washington, which is roughly 1.2 percent of the population.
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Summary of Bill:
The WSAC is required to develop a centralized grant program for institutions for programs designed to develop training projects focused upon improving services to adult individuals with developmental disabilities. The WSAC is in charge of administering the program in consultation with the Department of Health. The WSAC must report to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2016, regarding the grants awarded and any other efforts or progress in expanding or improving training for students in treating adult individuals with developmental disabilities.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Many adults with developmental disabilities cannot speak for themselves. This bill is an opportunity to provide additional services to these people by providing specialized training for medical students on how to properly care for adults with developmental disabilities. Family members have seen firsthand what happens when hospital staff do not know how to handle people with developmental disabilities. There is a lack of physical contact because hospital staff do not understand how patients with developmental disabilities might react to touch. They only touch them when something major, like drawing blood, needs to occur. This needs to stop. There is a need for individuals in the area that know how to deal with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is a problem nationwide. Washington is known as a leader. The state should have specialized medical training on how to handle developmental disabilities so Washington can be a leader in another area.
This concept evolved from a long-time relationship with a dentist who performed dental care on residents in a developmental disabilities facility. The dentist would bring residents from the University of Washington Dental School to show them how to perform dental work on patients with developmental disabilities. It was a successful program that was the beginning of a relationship between the University of Washington and the developmental disabilities facility. This was very good training and could be expanded.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Johnson, prime sponsor; Rick Jensen and Paul Strand, Action DD; and Terri Anderson, Friends of Fircrest.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.