Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Early Learning & Human Services Committee |
HB 2650
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. |
Brief Description: Providing early intervention services for eligible children.
Sponsors: Representatives Stonier, Harris, Dolan, Appleton, Jinkins, Bergquist, Wylie, McBride, Doglio, Eslick, Slatter, Goodman and Santos.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/24/18
Staff: Dawn Eychaner (786-7135).
Background:
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers.
Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires individual and family intervention services for children from birth to up to age three who have been diagnosed with a disability or developmental delay. These services are provided through the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. The ESIT services include:
family resource coordination;
developmental services;
occupational or physical therapy; and
speech or language therapy.
School districts are required to provide or contract for ESIT services. Funding for ESIT is allocated to school districts and educational service districts by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) based on enrollment counts and the district's basic education allocation. Referrals to ESIT services are provided through Local Lead Agencies (LLAs) serving a specific geographic area. The LLAs either provide direct services or contract for services to be provided to children and families. The LLAs include county health and human services agencies, nonprofit agencies, and educational service districts.
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is the lead agency for IDEA Part C and the delivery of the ESIT program. The State Interagency Coordinating Council works with the DEL and other state agencies that provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families to ensure agencies coordinate and collaborate in the planning and delivery of such services.
The DEL has the authority to develop and adopt rules to establish minimum requirements for ESIT services, including allowable allocations and expenditures for transitions into the IDEA, Part B services when a child turns three. School districts must ensure that students with disabilities who are ages three to 21 receive special education services under Part B of the IDEA.
In 2016 the DEL was required to report a full accounting of ESIT expenditures by school districts and the DEL, and to submit a comprehensive and coordinated ESIT plan to the legislature. The DEL proposed a system design plan for ESIT included recommendations to reorganize the service delivery system and redirect the flow of ESIT funding from the OSPI to the DEL.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
On July 1, 2018, all powers, duties, and functions of the DEL will be transferred to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
Summary of Bill:
Effective July 1, 2018, the DCYF must oversee the provision of early intervention services in partnership with local birth-to-three lead agencies and birth-to-three services providers.
School districts are no longer required to provide or contract for early intervention services.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2018.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2018.