WHEREAS, The legislature finds Washington's functionally disabled population is growing at a rapid pace; and

WHEREAS, This growth, along with economic and social changes and the coming age wave, presents new opportunities for the development of long-term care community services networks and enhanced volunteer participation in those networks; and

WHEREAS, Limited state financial resources require that future expenditures be carefully planned to assure the effective use of limited resources; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature finds that functional incapacity or disability shall be the determining factor in defining eligibility for publicly funded services and that such disability shall result from a chronic condition and be determined by a uniform assessment of the need for personal care; and

WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that the long-term care population includes the elderly, developmentally disabled, mentally ill, and others with functional limitations; and

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that services to persons with functional disabilities should allow them to achieve their maximum potential and maintain dignity, self-respect, normality, and the greatest amount of autonomy possible; and

WHEREAS, The legislature declares that the long-term care needs of the state can most effectively be met through an array of integrated, community-based services accessible to persons with functional disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The legislature further declares that state policy in long-term care should promote and encourage innovation and quality in the provision of services; and

WHEREAS, The legislature finds that county government can play a valuable role in bringing citizen involvement to the planning, administration, and delivery of long-term care services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a long-term care commission is created. It shall consist of:

(1) Four legislators who shall be the executive committee, one from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives and the senate who shall be selected by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) Six members, to be selected by the executive committee, who shall be experts in gerontology, developmental disabilities, neurological impairments, physical disabilities, mental illness, nursing, long-term care service delivery, long-term care service financing, systems development, or systems analysis;

(3) Three members, to be selected by the executive committee, who represent long-term care consumers, service providers, or advocates;

(4) Two members, to be selected by the executive committee, who represent county government; and

(5) One member, to be selected by the secretary of social and health services, to represent the department of social and health services long-term care programs, including at least developmental disabilities, mental health, aging and adult services, AIDS, children's services, alcohol and substance abuse, and vocational rehabilitation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the executive committee shall select a chair who shall be a consumer of long-term care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall be staffed, to the extent possible, by staff from the appropriate Senate and House of Representatives committees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission may form technical advisory committees to assist it with any particular matters deemed necessary by the commission; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission and technical advisory committee members shall receive no compensation, but except for publicly funded agency staff, shall, to the extent funds are available, be reimbursed for their expenses while attending any meetings in the same manner as legislators engaged in interim committee business as specified in RCW 44.04.120; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission may receive appropriations, grants, gifts, and other payments from any governmental or other public or private entity or person which it may use to defray the cost of its operations or to contract for technical assistance with the approval of the Senate Committee on Facilities and Operations and the House of Representatives Executive Rules Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the long-term care commission shall develop legislation and recommend administrative actions necessary to achieve the following long-term care reforms:

(1) The systematic coordination, planning, budgeting, and administration of long-term care services currently administered by the department of social and health services division of developmental disabilities, aging and adult services administration, division of vocational rehabilitation, office on AIDS, division of health, and the bureau of alcohol and substance abuse;

(2) Provision of long-term care services to persons based on their functional disabilities noncategorically and in the most independent living situation consistent with the person's needs;

(3) A consistent definition of appropriate roles and responsibilities for state and local government, regional organizations, and private organizations in the planning, administration, financing, and delivery of long-term care services;

(4) Technical assistance to enable local communities to have greater participation and control in the planning, administration, and provision of long-term care services;

(5) A case management system that coordinates an appropriate and cost-effective plan of care and services for eligible functionally disabled persons based on their individual needs and preferences;

(6) A sufficient supply of quality noninstitutional residential alternatives for functionally disabled persons, and supports for the providers of such services;

(7) Public and private alternative funding for long-term care services, such as federal Title XIX funding of personal care services through the limited casualty program for the medically needy and other optional services, a uniform fee scale for client participation in state-funded, long-term care programs, and private, long-term care insurance;

(8) A systematic and balanced long-term care services payment and reimbursement system, including nursing home reimbursement, that will provide access to needed services while controlling the rate of cost increases for such services;

(9) Active involvement of volunteers and advocacy groups;

(10) An integrated data base that provides long-term care client tracking;

(11) A coordinated education system for long-term care; and

(12) Other issues deemed appropriate by the implementation team; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall report to the legislature with its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation by December 1, 1990.