Welcome to Policy Watch 2003
WEEK 14
Every POLICY WATCH has three parts. (1) Information: on contacting
legislators, learning more about issues, etc. This section was up-front the first
week; it has been moved to the end. (2) A description of what is happening week
by week in Olympia. (3) Brief items about specific bills, arranged by category.
This bulletin focuses primarily on health, social welfare, and low-income
issues. And while it attempts to give readers enough information to guide actions
(calls, letters, visits), it will not take positions or urge a particular action.
That is up to you.
Go to Part III Issues
THE SCENE
With any luck this is the second-to-last POLICY WATCH of the 2002 Session. Next
week should be the last week of the 15-week Session - though that seems unlikely.
To adjourn on time, the House and Senate will have to reach agreement on a Transportation
Budget (they are pretty close on that); a Capital Budget (they seem reasonably
close on that); and an Operating Budget (currently miles apart).
The Operating Budget is what funds most state activities, what we think of
as "the budget." By now they have 3 versions of an Operating Budget
to work from: the Governor's, the Senate's, and a House budget produced by the
House Appropriations Committee. The first two deal with the $2.6 billion deficit
entirely through cuts in programs, services, and state staff.
The House budget would raise about $650 million to defray some health, education,
and human service cuts in the Senate budget - but getting that $650 million
depends on two approaches. Half the money depends on our actions, e.g., buying
liquor, smoking cigarettes, and gambling more frequently during the day; the
other half would come from a 2/10ths of a penny increase in the sales tax. While
not exactly a popular choice, the sales tax does not apply to food, medicine,
or housing - so it is less onerous to low-income families than some other revenue
possibilities. Plus, the sales tax does not single out just some products or
activities - it is an equal opportunity tax. But even that is proving hard to
sell - by week's end there were reports the sales tax increase was in trouble,
creating the need to raise taxes from other sources, or cut programs House members
have been praised for protecting.
To nobody's surprise, the Olympia crabby meter is registering new highs, and
actions on any one vote spill over to reactions on every other (witness the
way anger over votes on a third runway at SeaTac quickly tainted other issues).
That nothing involving revenues will come easily was demonstrated during a tense
session of the House Appropriations Committee the day after the House budget
was released.
Appropriations Committee Meeting
All of the Committee members' seats were filled, as were most of the seats in
the audience and a lot of standing room along the back: nobody wanted to miss
this one. Legislators from other committees came to watch, along with staff
from several committees, lobbyists, journalists, and just about anybody looking
for a show. And show there was.
Virtually all of the Republicans, and none of the Democrats, began their remarks
by praising a Democrat - the Governor. More than once the Republicans noted
that if the Democrats would just accept the Senate's all-cuts/no revenues budget
(very like the Governor's), the Session could finish on time and everyone could
go home. To that end they had even made one major concession: House Republicans
would restore some of the cuts in child health made by their Senate counterparts
(though they were vague about how to pay for it). Demo-crats thanked them, and
then listed other issues they regarded as non-negotiable as child health.
Back and forth the speakers - and cliches - went. The Chair patiently called
on all who asked to be heard (some more than once); each member highlighted
the issue closest to their heart: education, health care, Fircrest, foster care,
higher education, revenues/no revenues, being a real American. More than one
speaker got a bit carried away. Said one: extending the sales tax to gum and
candy would "…put a child's candy bar out of reach!" Another
insisted that failing to accept the Senate Budget that very day is "…a
vote for July and August!"
But the comment that cracked everyone up came from Representative Jim Buck
who pointed out: "…this is not the last time we'll be voting on a
budget, not the last legislative Session in history. And if it is (dramatic
pause… deadpan delivery) this vote isn't going to matter."
The closeness of the final votes - 15-12 to reject the Senate budget, 14-13
to accept the House Democrats' budget - underscores just how closely divided
they are. The fact that a few of the Democrats indicated they were only voting
to let the House Budget out of Committee, but would not promise to vote for
it on the Floor, makes clear how much work lies ahead. And word that even those
initial agreements were unraveling by week's end - with the Finance Committee
looking for different revenue options -- reveal just how difficult it will be
to get agreement on a budget and go home.
THE PROCESS - Capitol Math
So this is a good time to remember the three numbers in "Capitol Math:"
50 + 25 + 1.
Those are the votes every bill - including the budgets - needs to become law.
Bills that have already passed the House and Senate got the first two of those
three numbers:
-- 50 votes = a majority in the 98-member House of Representatives;
-- 25 votes = a majority in the 49-member Senate. But ….
-- To become law, every bill needs 1 more vote: the Governor's.
In our state, when bills come to the Governor's desk he has three choices.
He can:
sign the entire bill, unchanged. Veto the entire bill. Or, veto sections of
the bill. Some states allow their Governors to veto a word, or phrase, or even
a decimal point; ours can only veto an entire section.
That creates a great opportunity for citizens wishing to influence the process.
If a bill you care about made it through the House and Senate, it is headed
for the Governor's desk. Be sure he knows how you feel about it with a brief
note, email, or call (the toll-free line works for this purpose). And if a provision
was added in either the House or Senate that you like or don't like, urge the
Governor to protect/veto that section (note it and tell the Governor why).
PRACTICAL TIP
This issue of POLICY WATCH is being written before the final votes are posted.
It is also unable to reflect the now-constant negotiations and deliberations
over the budgets.
If you want to know whether a bill you care about passed, go to the Legislature's
website: www.leg.wa.gov. Click on "Bill Info" and then on "Daily
Status Report." Near the top, on the left is a box where you can write
the number of your bill, and either hit "enter," or
"Bill Number" (next to the box). Your bill - all its versions, all
its amendments, and a brief history of the actions taken on it - will pop up
on your screen. Check it out. If you see a final vote count for both the House
and Senate, let the Governor know how you feel about it.
Similarly, let your legislators know the activities and programs you think
should get highest priority for funding in the budget: call or email now.
To leave a message for your Senator, two Representatives, and the Governor
(or just one of these), use the Toll-free HOTLINE. It only accepts messages
to YOUR Senator, Representatives, plus the Governor.
And it takes only a minute or two: brief HOTLINE messages are the order of
the day.
Call: 1-800-562-6000.
Four Budgets getting attention:
(1) Proposed Transportation Budget.
Both the House and the Senate have now passed Transportation budgets for 2003-2005.
The House would spend $3.1 billion financed in part by raising the gas tax 4
cents-a-gallon.
The Senate would spend $4.1 billion, financed in part by a 5 cents-a-gallon
gas tax increase.
One description of the principal differences between the two are that the House
budget would spend more on safety and maintenance (e.g., to shore up the Alaska
viaduct through Seattle), plus more for car ferries, and other public transit.
The Senate would spend more for roads (including widening I-5 through Seattle,
and expanding I-405), and less for mass transit.
Neither would go to the people; all would be decided in Olympia. A Conference
Committee is working to produce a consensus document capable of winning a majority
of the votes.
(2) The 2001-2003 Supplemental Budget.
In odd-numbered years the legislature passes a biennial (two year) budget. In
even-number years they pass a "supplemental" budget - modest adjustments
to the current fiscal year.
The Governor has signed the $144 million Supplemental Budget for FY 2001-2003
into law. While signing it, the Governor vetoed 4 sections - including a provision
that would have required $3.8 million in cuts in the DSHS Children & Family
Services unit. It includes - and puts into effect early - a number of savings
recommendations contained in his proposed 2003-2005 biennial budget. Among the
provisions were several health care cuts proposed for 2003-2005 (e.g., no new
applicants accepted in the Basic Health Plan).
The final product can be seen in two documents: "Supplemental Operating
Budget Summary" and "Statewide Summary and Agency Detail," both
published by the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and available at www.leg.wa.gov
(click on Senate, then go to Committee Services and click on Ways & Means
Committee).
(3) The 2003-2005 General Operating Budget.
The different Categories for bills tracked in POLICY WATCH compare highlights
from the Governor's budget, the Senate-passed budget, and the House Committee
budget.
The Governor's approach to solving the budget crisis is available on the Office
of Financial Management website: www.ofm.wa.gov/.
The Senate (Republican) approach to solving the budget crisis is available
at:
http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2003/so0305p.asp.
The House of Representatives (Democrat) approach to the budget crisis is available
at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/opr/app/03/BudgRpt.htm#2003Budgets.
(4) The Capital Budget
The House Capital Budget is available at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/opr/cb/default.htm
The Senate Capital Budget is available at: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2003/sc0305p.asp
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BRIEF SNAPSHOTS FROM THIS WEEK
** Change of mind. The first bill introduced in the House of Representatives,
HB 1001, makes it a crime to photograph or videotape up someone's skirt without
their permission - something most people know is wrong. The bill zipped through
the House - passing unanimously on February 5. It then went to the Senate where…
it stalled… got NO action. It seems Senate Majority Leader Jim West would
not let it come to a vote because the House had not acted on something he wanted.
"That's how things are done," he explained - or at least it was till
the story made the news. Suddenly, on April 17, an embarrassed Senate (including
Senator West) suspended its own rules and quickly passed the bill. It is now
on its way to the Governor.
** One staff person with decades of experience in Olympia was reflecting on
the tensions (even hostility) being felt in Olympia this year. This is "…the
worst Session since 1981 -- and it isn't over yet," he sighed, shaking
his head. A short time later, a Senator echoed the same comment: "I don't
know that I'd call this the worst," she said, "but it's right up there
near the top…."
** On tax day there were two rallies. One demanding "no new taxes"
had about 25-30 participants; another, with signs calling attention to all those
who will be hurt by a no-taxes budget - mustered closer to 40… enough to
form a circle around the anti-tax protesters.
** The Spokane City Council found a way to send a message to Olympia: they
passed a unanimous resolution urging the legislature to deal with the high costs
of prescription drugs, the need to help Spokane's uninsured and underinsured,
and minimize cuts in the Basic Health Plan.
** Meanwhile, one wag referred to the various budgets as examples of "shock
and ugh."
PART
III - SOME ISSUES
This section notes upcoming hearings, plus categories
of bills, including:
Fair warning: This bulletin only comes out weekly, and
does not pretend to be comprehensive. If there is an issue category you care about,
use the legislative website to monitor (www.leg.wa.gov) because the action changes
daily.
NOTE: Bills that have passed both the House and the Senate are in most
cases on their way to the Governor. If there are serious differences between
the two versions, those differences must be worked out in a Conference Committee,
and the result must get a final vote in identical form in both chambers. Once
that happens, next stop is the Governor. If a bill you care about has passed,
be sure to let the Governor know whether you want it signed., vetoed., or vetoed
in part (say which part). Use the toll-free line: 1-800-562-6000.
AGING/LONG-TERM
CARE
E2SHB 1214 - TO CREATE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG EDUCATION AND UTILIZATION PROGRAM.
An estimated 50,000 low-income seniors lack drug coverage, and Medicare doesn't
cover medications, so interest is high in establishing a state-level prescription
drug program.
HB 1214 is one of two bills remaining on this issue (SB 5904 is the other).
As amended, this bill now contains elements of several bills, dealing with:
Bulk Purchasing by state agencies, Information and Referral to free drug programs,
(relatively) Flexible Preferred drug lists, and Instructions to the department
to seek a Medicaid Waiver from the federal government to create a prescription
drug benefit for low-income individuals. (The Governor's original proposal assumed
funding for a senior pharmacy Medicaid waiver that would come from co-pays and
deductibles levied on children. This proposal was rejected.) It is expected
to save $19 million over the biennium.
In Week Thirteen, the Senate Health & Long-term Care Committee amended the
bill by replacing it with the language of SB 5904, which has a very modest reach:
6,000 people affected, and savings of just an estimated 2.7%.
HB 1214 appeared DEAD, but may yet survive. Many members want very much to do
something on Prescription Drugs, so discussions are underway to reach a compromise.
SHB 1275 - TRANSFERRING THE HUMAN IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY VIRUS INSURANCE PROGRAM
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
This bill reflects the Governor's proposed transfer of administrative authority
over the Evergreen Health Insurance Program (EHIP) from the Department of Social
and Health Services to the Department of Health. EHIP provides insurance continuation
coverage to more than 700 clients statewide. The move is supported by HIV/AIDS
advocates.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1777 - IMPLEMENTING THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOME
CARE QUALITY AUTHORITY AND INDIVIDUAL HOME CARE PROVIDERS.
(See explanation at end of this section, under Budget Items.) This bill remains
alive, because it is deemed "necessary to implement the budget."
It's fate depends on final budget negotiations to be settled.
HB 1904 - REVISING STANDARDS FOR REPORTING INCIDENTS INVOLVING HARM TO VULNERABLE
ADULTS.
This bill changes current law to remove the requirement to report to law enforcement
when one vulnerable adult assaults another - e.g., because of dementia. It allows
the facilities where they live to handle the matter, unless a family member
requests a report.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5341 - ESTABLISHING A QUALITY MAINTENANCE FEE ON NURSING FACILITIES.
Initially this bill would apply a fee of $6.00/day to most days of nursing home
care, to support a 3% increase in Medicaid payment rates and help maintain the
quality of nursing home care. Subsequent versions changed the details and the
terms; discussions involve learning how this affects federal matching funds.
In Week Fourteen, this bill passed the Senate (38-11) and was promptly referred
to the House Appropriations Committee. Its fate depends on budget negotiations.
SB 5904 - CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
This bill is one of two remaining to deal with this issue (HB 1214 is the other).
It would establish the Medicaid Senior Prescription Drug program. DSHS is directed
to obtain necessary federal waivers to implement this program, and develop ways
to pay for it. E.g., DSHS could charge enrollment fees, premiums, or point-of-service
cost-sharing to enrollees of the program. This bill has been scaled back since
its introduction. E.g., it no longer would make drug discounts open to all uninsured
seniors and low-income people, but it would permit the sharing of drug discounts
with selected groups. Total coverage would affect only about 6,000 seniors.
This is the less-costly, less-comprehensive of the two bills. Its content was
amended onto HB 1214. Senior advocates preferred 1214 in its earlier form.
It is now on the House Floor. Eleventh-hour discussions are underway to produce
something on this topic: HB 1214, SB 5904, or a combination of the two.
Budget Items.
Home Care Workers wages. When Initiative I-775 was passed by the voters it
established a Home Care Quality Authority and gave 26,000 Independent Provider
home care workers (those contracting directly with individuals needing services)
the right to bargain for better wages and benefits. They now have an approved
contract, providing for modest wage increases, plus basic benefits. A related
group of 8,000 Agency home care workers (those hired by agencies) is seeking
parity. Both work long, difficult jobs for low wages (less than $8.00/hour),
no benefits, and frequent injuries.
These very low-earning workers are now pressing the legislature to make good
on the promise of I-775. The Legislature must vote on the contract, but cannot
change it. The related bill, HB 1777, is believed to be still in play. Funding
for the contract is in the House Budget.
(1) Governor's Budget
* The Governor included funds for the Home Care workers' contract in his budget.
* The Governor eliminates vendor rate increases (includes those providing long-term
care) and an expected home care worker increase.
* The Long-Term Care Ombudsman was eliminated in the Governor's original budget
proposal. It is now believed that this provision was dropped when it was learned
that "elimination" would jeopardize $19 million in federal Older Americans
Act (OAA) funding. However, he is still calling for a $1.2 million reduction
in state funding.
In Week Seven interested parties were seeking a compromise on this issue, hoping
to find a way to retain the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
* The Governor would cut funding for nursing homes by $34.6 million in state
funds ($69.6 million when matching funds are included).
* HIV/AIDS funding for AIDS drugs, care, and prevention is at risk.
(2) Senate Budget
** Does not fund the Home Care Workers' contract.
** Cuts 700 people from the COPES program (which provides homecare and community
residential care services as an alternative to nursing homes).
** Increases the eligibility standards for those remaining on the COPES program,
making it more difficult for people to get needed care.
** Limits elderly legal immigrants on General Assistance to 18 month of cash
and medical benefits over a lifetime.
* Preserves the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
(3) House Budget
*** Includes funding for the Home Care Workers' contract.
*** Retains the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
*** Increases funding for case managers with contracts through Area Agencies
on Aging.
*** Lowers nursing home rates, consistent with statutory changes, and phases
out funding for special supplemental payments to nursing homes.
*** Assumes additional fund availability through daily fee for Quality Maintenance.
*** Tightens eligibility for Medicaid Personal Care, to save $3 million.
*** Reduces funding for the six regional AIDS Networks - AIDSNets ($1 million).
CHILDREN'S
ISSUES
SB 6016 - TRANSFERRING COUNCIL FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
TO THE FAMILY POLICY COUNCIL.
An amendment included in the Senate Budget would add a $10 fee to the state
marriage license fee and use the revenues to fund WCPCAN as an independent unit.
The House Budget retains WCPCAN as is. The bill remains alive; it is deemed
"necessary to implement the budget."
This bill remains on the Senate Floor. The issue is dealt with in the House
and Senate budgets.
Budget items
(1) Governor's Budget
HB 1447- MAKING HUMAN SERVICES-RELATED STATUTORY CHANGES NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT
THE 2003-05 APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Offered on behalf of the Governor, the bill modifies current state statues that
relate to cuts in the Governor's budget. For example, Readiness to Learn was
cut in the proposed budget, and thus HB1447 eliminates all statutory references
to the program.
This bill has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee but has not
been scheduled for a hearing.
The Governor's Budget proposals include a total of $60 million in cuts in a
variety of programs that offer prevention and/or early intervention for children
at risk. A $9.6 million cut is achieved by "block granting" funds
from many programs. Among the programs affected are:
-- the ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE SERVICES,
-- SPECIAL PROJECTS,
-- STREET YOUTH SERVICES
-- VICTIMS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
-- INDIAN CHILD WEELFARE CONTRACTS,
-- FAMILY RECONCILIATION SERVICES, and
-- PEDICATRIC INTERIM CARE for medically fragile infants.
(2) Senate Budget (see also section under HEALTH)
-- Eliminates the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides
health coverage to children in families with modest incomes, from 200% - 250%
of the poverty line.
-- Lowers Family Medicaid eligibility to 175% of the poverty line, eliminating
low-income children from health coverage. The CHIP and Medicaid eligibility
changes (e.g., increased verification requirements) are estimated to cause 63,000
children to lose health coverage.
-- Imposes premiums for low-income Medicaid recipient families. This is estimated
to cut 14,000 children from coverage, because their low-wage parents will not
be able to pay.
-- Maintains the ARS - Alternative Response System.
-- Maintains Readiness to Learn.
-- Transfers WCPCAN - the WA Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
- to the Family Policy Council - not eliminate it, as in the Governor's budget.
(The Senate Budget funds WCPCAN and keeps it independent, through a $10 marriage
license fee.)
(3) House Budget
--- Maintains Readiness to Learn.
--- Does not cut health care for children, or impose new eligibility requirements
on low-income families.
--- Does not impose new health premiums on families that will cause them to
lose health coverage due to inability to pay.
--- Maintains WCPCAN as it is.
--- Maintains the ARS - Alternative Response System.
CHILD
WELFARE/CHILDRENS' SERVICES
SHB 1058 - EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR FOSTER CHILDREN.
This bill attempts to improve educational stability for children in foster care.
It would establish as state policy that whenever practical and in the best interest
of the child, foster children are to remain in the same school upon entry into
foster care. The bill also directs DSHS to work closely with the relevant school
districts and the courts to ensure the necessary coordination.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1233 - IMPROVING SERVICES FOR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS
This bill requires DSHS to increase the number of children placed with willing
and able relatives, to establish a regional kinship care navigator position,
to help kinship care providers to be identified as primary care givers for medical,
educational and other care decisions, and establish an oversight committee and
report. This would be achieved within existing resources. This bill is estimated
to result in a savings of $1.4 million; that is included in the House Budget.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
2SHB 1784 - IMPROVING COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH
This bill expresses support for the recommendations contained in the recent
study conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and directs
the Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of the Superintendent
of Public Instruction to implement the recommendations. Further, the bill directs
DSHS to collect and analyze mental health cost, service, and outcome data specific
to children.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
2SHB 1841 - FUNDING PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES.
This bill directs DSHS to establish and implement uniform criteria for funding
prevention and early intervention services and programs that are state-operated
or contracted. It establishes a uniform funding criteria that includes: research-based,
measurable outcomes, cost effectiveness, community involvement, and evaluation
of program outcomes.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1878 - PROVIDING THE COURTS ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN THRID PARTY CUSTODY
PETITIONS
This bill requires that prior to granting any order regarding custody of a child
in a third party custody arrangement, the court shall consult the judicial information
system to determine the existence of any information relevant to the placement
of a child. (Third party custody is an option available to kinship caregivers.)
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 2000 - THIRD PARTY CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE
ACT.
This bill revises provisions pertaining to the third party custody proceedings
involving the Indian Child Welfare Act.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it is likely DEAD.
HJM 4012 - ENCOURAGING COUNTIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ESTABLISH A CHILDREN'S
ADVOCACY CENTER.
Encourages counties and local governments to establish and administer a Children's
Advocacy Center, which is a member of the national Children's Alliance, to improve
outcomes for child victims of sexual abuse. Note: HJM stands for House Joint
Memorial. A joint memorial is not the same as a bill, and if it passes, it will
not have the force of law. It is merely a request directed at an outside body,
which can act on the request, or ignore it. This has now passed both the House
and the Senate.
SB 5379 - PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO CHILD DEPENDANCY HEARINGS
While similar to HB 1236, this is narrower and not a "companion" bill.
This bill states that the public shall not be excluded from hearings unless
the court finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the health, safety,
or welfare of the child would be jeopardized by conducting a public hearing.
Further, both parents may request that the court exclude the public, subject
to the court's discretion.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5474 - CREATING A KINSHIP CAREGIVER'S AUTHORIZATION AFFIDAVIT
This bill contains the medical and educational affidavits for kinship caregivers
to provide consent on medical and educational matters. (also contained in HB
1233).
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5708 - PROVIDING A PROCEDURE FOR COURT ORDERED CONTACT WITH A CHILD BY NON-PARENTS
This bill specifies the circumstances under which a non-parent may initiate
a court proceeding for contact with a child. Several criteria must be satisfied,
along with evidence that the child would suffer if denied the relationship.
(It is similar in intent to HB 1563.)
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5779 - RE SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN
This bill requires that when a court orders a child removed from home the court
make every effort to place the child with siblings unless there is reasonable
cause to believe the health, safety, or welfare of the child or siblings would
be jeopardized. If not placed with siblings the court must consider contact
or visits with siblings, and if the parent-child relationship is terminated
the status of the child's sibling relationships must be addressed… unless
there is reasonable cause to believe the health, safety or welfare of the child
would be jeopardized. Last, if parental rights are terminated, the child placing
agency must ensure that siblings are placed together or can contact or visit,
unless there is risk to the health, safety, or welfare.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5811 - REQUIRING GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT OF BIRTH FAMILIES
IN FOSTER CARE.
This bill has four provisions to encourage foster parents to mentor and involve
birth families. They include a range of activities from helping families understand
a child's needs, to men-toring families, involving families in education, and
transporting children to family visits.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
Budget Items.
(1) Governor's Budget:
-- Foster Care Services are reduced by $17.8 million.
-- The Family Policy Council and Community Networks are eliminated.
-- Several programs will be combined with reduced total funding: e.g., Continuum
of Care, Home Based Services, Child Protective/Child Welfare Services Child
Care, Intensive Family Preservation.
-- Washington State Association of CASA/Gal (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian
Ad Litem) Programs. The Governor's budget would eliminate all funding for the
Washington State CASA Program. The State CASA program works with the thirty
local CASA programs in Washington State which help children who are in the legal
system because of abuse or neglect. CASA provides a trained advocate to represent
the child. The State CASA Program helps raise funds for the local programs,
and encourages volunteers to be advocates for children's issues, through a "Legislative
Partner's" Program.
-- The Senate Supplemental Budget - SSB 5403 - cuts adoption support by $1.5million.
This reduction will have a chilling effect on efforts to increase the adoption
of children out of the foster care system. The House Supplemental Budget does
NOT contain this cut.
-- The Governor's budget would eliminate WCPCAN - Washington Council for the
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. This is a 20-year old state agency focused
exclusively on child abuse prevention. Since 1982, WCPCAN has invested in 166
child abuse prevention programs. Over 40% of its budget is leveraged from federal
funds. It is estimated that for every state dollar invested in WCPCAN, approximately
two dollars were leveraged from federal and local sources for a total of over
$2.2 million.
Supporters argue that prevention is inexpensive and cost effective. E.g., It
can cost as much as $75,000 per year to provide medical care to one victim of
Shaken Baby Syndrome, but Shaken Baby Syndrome is 100 percent preventable.
(2) Senate Budget
* Adoption Support is cut by $2.5 million (cut by $12 million in the Governor's
budget)
* Maintains State CASA funding.
* Transfers WCPCAN to the Family Policy Council
* Eliminates prenatal care for 6,000 undocumented immigrant women, putting all
of their babies - who will be citizens at birth, and eligible for Medicaid -
at risk.
* Eliminates the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by lowering eligibility;
also imposes premiums for Medicaid-eligible families. Changes would eliminate
health coverage for an estimated 40,000 children.
* Includes possible reductions to Behavioral Rehabilitative Services (includes
group care for troubled foster children).
(3) House Budget
Maintains State CASA funding.
Maintains funding and independent status for WCPCAN.
Cuts Adoption Support by $5 million (assumes this will be off-set by new Federal
Tax Credit for families that adopt);
Maintains prenatal care for immigrant women.
Maintains SCHIP (State Child Health Insurance Program) and does not add premiums
that would cause poor families to lose health coverage.
Reduces the Family Policy Council by two FTE's.
Cuts funding to the Public Health & Safety Networks by 10%.
Reduces Children's Administration Special Projects in health insurance portability,
in training and development, and in Indian Child Welfare Services.
CIVIL
RIGHTS/OPPORTUNITIES
HB 1079 - TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENT STUDENT FOR PURPOSES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
This bill provides that any student who has completed high school or its equivalent
in this state, and who has attended at least three years of high school in this
state, and has filed (or will file) an application for permanent residency will
be eligible for in-state tuition rates at institutions of higher education.
A "poison pill" amendment adopted in the Senate prohibits in-state
tuition for undocumented students who attended Washington high schools. It was
sent back to the House. But time ran out before an agreement could be reached.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
HB 1090 -TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS Task Force
This bill would extend the life of the Washington state task force against the
trafficking of persons, created by legislation in 2002.
The bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1128 - RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR VICTIMS OF MALCIOUS HARASSMENT.
This bill relates to those denied insurance coverage because of claims related
to malicious harassment. It seeks to protect organizations and individuals who
have been victims of a hate crime from further discrimination. Includes religious,
educational and other nonprofits.
The bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1175 - PROHIBITING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
This bill establishes penalties for trafficking in persons, and defines the
crime of sex trafficking. Penalties relate to the age of the victim, the nature
of the acts the individual is forced to perform, and whether there was financial
profit involved.
The bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
Budget: The House Budget cuts funding for the Human Rights Commission ($478,000).
DISABILITIES
HB 1623/ SB 5566 - RELATING TO THE PRIORITIZATION OF SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
This bill set off alarm bells within the DD community. It proposed major policy
changes to the DD statute, including: eligibility based on IQ; assessments based
on health and safety needs; priority populations; and the elimination of language
to keep any savings within DDD. There was no reference to "grandfathering"
current clients, and confusion as to who the changes would affect -- both current
and future clients, or just future clients. Disability advocates feared it would
shift from a "no wrong door policy," under which efforts would be
made to link clients with the appropriate services, to a "no right door
policy," under which the chief effort would be to avoid departmental responsibility
and expect more from families.
In response to family-members' and others' concerns, the original bill died.
A revised version - SB 5873 -also died. Now HB 1623 may be back: in a new form.
Or, everything may stall for now. This is still being worked on - evidence that
"…it ain't over till it's over."
HB 1655 - CONCERNING DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY FOR SPECIAL PARKING PRIVILEGES
This bill would permit advanced registered nurse practitioners to grant special
parking privileges to persons with a disability that limits or impairs the ability
to walk. Current law only allows this determination by a licensed physician.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1694 - INSPECTION OF BOARDING HOMES EVERY 18 MONTHS
This bill would require the Department of Social and Health Services to inspect
and investigate boarding homes at least every 18 months, rather than the current
requirement of yearly inspections. The Senate bill appears DEAD.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1813 - EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
This bill creates a 3-year pilot project to enhance opportunities for disadvantaged
persons to maximize their opportunities for employment and career advancement,
in part by encouraging state contracts with businesses owned by people with
disabilities.
This bill has passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5473 - REQUIRING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION TO TRAIN OFFICERS
ON INTERACTION WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED AND MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
The proposed training would include learning to identify mental illness and
disability, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques for potentially
dangerous situations involving mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons,
and alternatives to lethal force when dealing with potentially dangerous mentally
ill and developmentally disabled persons.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5587 - REQUIRING VOTING DEVICES TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
HB 1787 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION REFERRAL
This bill would create a single, user-friendly telephone number, 211, for public
access to information & referral for health and human services, and for
disaster-related information.
The House bill has passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1813 - EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
This bill would encourage state agencies and departments to purchase products
and/or services manufactured or provided by community rehabilitation programs
and businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities. Creates incentives
for increased wages,
supported employment and career advancement.
This bill has passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5971 - RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION CENTERS
This bill directs the consolidation of residential habilitation centers (RHCs)
through the closure of Fircrest, offering residents the choice of another institution
or community alternative. Net proceeds from the sale of Fircrest property are
directed to be placed in the
Fircrest legacy trust account for the sole use of services to persons with developmental
disabilities and their families. (Also noted in Part I, and below under "issues.")
Three amendments were adopted; they concern: retraining for employees, classifying
Fircrest employees as dislocated workers (to qualify them for special unemployment
assistance), and ensuring that Fircrest residents who have to move will get
"comparable or better" services at their new RHC.
This bill passed the Senate, by a vote of 37-12. It is very controversial. In
Week Eleven an alternative proposal was raised, to instead close the Ranier
RHC in Buckley, rather than Fircrest. The savings that would be realized would
help ease the deficit.
This bill is now in the House Appropriations Committee. The phasing out of Fircrest
is provided for in the House Budget, so the issue remains open.
Issue: The future of Residential Habilitation Centers (RHC's). The Joint Legislative
Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) did a study of the value of RHC lands.
It found that property could be sold or used in alternative ways to raise revenue.
Meanwhile, others wish to see services at RHC's expanded - e.g., more respite
and related resources. This remains an emotional and hotly-contested issue right
down to the final days of the Session.
Budget Items
(1) Governor's Budget
* The Governor would eliminate: Developmental Disabilities pre-vocational services
(sheltered workshops) which serve 1,400 individuals; "optional" Medicaid
programs which provide dental, vision, and hearing services; new funding for
implementing the Olmstead decision, the Voluntary Placement Program, and Family
Support - among other services.
* The Governor's budget also provides no vendor rate or home care worker pay
increase.
* The Long-Term Care Ombudsman was eliminated in the Governor's original budget
proposal. It is now believed that this provision was dropped when it was learned
that "elimination" would jeopardize $19 million in federal Older Americans
Act (OAA) funding. However, he is still calling for a $1.2 million reduction
in state funding. Negotiations are underway to restore it.
* Also eliminated would be:
- the funds to administer of the Development Disabilities Endowment, as well
as
- optional Health Care for Workers with Disability (the Medicaid buy-in portion
of "Ticket to Work").
* At risk: Approximately 1,300 high school transition students graduating in
the next two years will lack employment support without funding for their employment
services.
Nearly 7,000 families caring for their children at home are waiting for Family
Support -- the door to this program is closed unless additional funding is provided.
(2) Senate Budget - Generally good news.
No cuts to DD prevocational services, plus $10 million added back to DDD, and
a partial restoration of adult dental care funds (two-thirds restored), and
adult vision (except for $2-$3 co-pays).
No elimination of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
* Assumes savings from the closure of Fircrest, including
- $10.6 million saved from RHC residents who choose a community alternative,
- $ 7.9 million saved from transfer of residents
Provides $10 million in one-time funding for SSI State Supplement payments.
Medicaid Personal Care and COPES would see tightened eligibility and cost-savings,
700 people would be cut from the COPES program (which provides homecare and
community residential care services as an alternative to nursing homes).
Home Care Workers would get no wage increases or L & I benefits.
$12 million is cut from the proposed settlement of an ARC lawsuit.
Eliminates $5 million Medicaid buy-in for "Ticket to Work." Affects
about 200 persons.
Optional Medicaid Services (dental, vision, hearing) would be cut by one-third,
not eliminated.
(3) House Budget
* Closure of Fircrest over a three-year period (instead of 2, as
proposed in the Senate).
* $2.5 million increase in DDD community residential.
* $5 million reduction in DDD through "Utilization & Cost Control."
* $1 million reduction in DDD's Contracts & Grants.
* $500,000 reduction in Employment & Day programs, through efficiencies
* 2% vendor rate increase (beginning September 2004)
* Home Care Worker contract fully funded.
* tightens eligibility for COPES to save $1.5 million.
HEALTH CARE
E2SHB 1214 - TO CREATE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG EDUCATION AND UTILIZATION PROGRAM.
The House bill passed the full House by a 64-33 vote. See description under
this entry in Aging/Long-Term Care. This week the Senate Health Care Committee
amended the bill by replacing it with language of SB 5904, which would only
affect 6,000 people and save an estimated 2.7%. However, this is getting another
look. Some members are determined to have a bill, any bill, this year.
It remains in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and though it appeared
dead last week, discussions are once again underway. See fuller description
under Aging.
SHB 1275 - TRANSFERRING THE HUMAN IMMUNO-DEFICIENCY VIRUS INSURANCE PROGRAM
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
This bill reflects the Governor's proposed transfer of administrative authority
over the Evergreen Health Insurance Program (EHIP) from the Department of Social
and Health Services to the Department of Health. EHIP provides insurance continuation
coverage to more than 700 clients statewide. The move is supported by HIV/AIDS
advocates.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1299 - STATE PURCHASED HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS
This bill would direct the Health Care Authority to coordinate state agency
efforts to develop and implement uniform policies across state- purchased health
care programs. Under this bill policies would be based upon the best available
scientific and medical evidence.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1621 - RELATING TO MODIFICATION OF THE MANDATORY NURSE REVIEW OF MEDICAID
PERSONAL CARE PLANS
This bill provides that clients be assessed as having a medical condition requiring
assistance with personal care tasks. Plans of care for clients requiring health-related
consultation for assessment and service planning may be reviewed by a nurse.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5521 - ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE
Early versions of this bill described it as authorizing "bare bones"
coverage for small employers. The much-amended Senate bill would change what
employers with fewer than 50 employees must provide in a minimum health insurance
policy. (They represent approximately 70% of the state's employers.) The bill
might result in increased premiums for people over 40, weakened community ratings,
and a narrowing of provider law. Chemical dependency treatment was added back
in; an amendment is expected on the House Floor to try and add back in mental
health services. Many groups found something in it to dislike.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
SSB 5586 - GRANTING AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH LEAD-BASED PAINT
This bill focuses on the hazards associated with lead-based paint and it presence
as a significant and preventable environmental health problem. Census data show
that 1.5 million Washington homes may have lead-based paint because they were
built prior to 1978 when the sale of residential lead-based paint was banned.
The bill would establish a lead-based paint activities program within the Department
of Ecology to protect the public from exposure to lead hazards and to ensure
the availability of a trained and qualified work force to identify and address
lead-based paint hazards. It would also bring the state more in line with federal
protections. Final floor amendments made the bill acceptable to all parties.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SB 5904 - CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS
This bill is one of two remaining to deal with this issue (HB 1214 is the other).
See description under Aging/Long-Term Care.
Total coverage would affect only about 6,000 seniors. This is the less-costly,
less-comprehensive of the two bills. Its content was amended onto HB 1214. Senior
advocates preferred 1214 in its earlier form.
It remains on the House Floor. Eleventh-hour discussions are underway to produce
something on this topic: HB 1214, SB 5904, or a combination of the two.
HB 2070/ SB 5920 - FUNDING LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
This bill would send a referendum to the people for a vote on the November ballot,
to create a public health trust fund through an increase in the property tax
levy (initially 25 cents per $1,000, but a compromise at a lower figure is expected).
The revenues raised would be used to fund local public health services (which
were severely affected by the passage of I-695.) This bill is getting serious
attention in part because public health departments may play a critical role
in Homeland Security efforts. It is estimated that this would generate enough
to assure current levels of funding and accommodate some increases - particularly
in counties with growing populations. However as originally written, it would
also lower the lid for education funding, which has drawn opposition, and would
make the state budget less flexible (by dedicating these funds to a specific
purpose) in a changing economy. Compro-mises under discussion would make it
acceptable to education supporters, while still useful to public health supporters.
This appears likely to change on short notice; action is expected first in the
Senate. These bills are considered necessary to implement the budget.
The House Bill is in the House Finance Committee.
The Senate Bill is in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
SB 6057- REVISING BASIC HEALTH CARE PLAN ENROLLMENT PROVISIONS.
Initiative Measure 773, enacted 11/2001, raised the state cigarette tax by 60
cents, and the state tax on tobacco products by 54.5 %. This generates approximately
$150 million/year. The initiative provides that approximately $23 million of
this new revenue goes to other state dedicated accounts which lost revenue due
to the effects of the tax increase on tobacco consumption, and $12 million/year
is to be used for tobacco use prevention activities.
This bill provides that net new revenues remaining after the various fund transfers
required by Initiative 773 may only be used for Basic Health Plan enrollments.
The requirement that 125,000 such enrollments must first be funded from other
state sources is deleted.
In Week Fourteen this bill passed the Senate 35-14. It is now in the House Appropriations
Committee and it is in the House Budget. It is still in play until budget negotiations
are finalized.
Budget Items
(1) The Governor's budget would:
-- eliminate "optional" Medicaid services - dental, vision, and hearing;
-- eliminate Health Care for Workers with Disability - the Medicaid Buy-In portion
of "Ticket to Work"
-- eliminate the Basic Health Plan for 60,000 childless adults
-- eliminate a scheduled expansion of the Basic Health Plan called for by I-773
-- reduce spending in the Childrens' Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
-- reduce spending on Medicaid services for low-income children.
-- eliminate the Medically Indigent program, for a cut of $81 million.
Eliminating the Medically Indigent program also would reduce funds to hospitals
providing a "disproportionate share" of indigent care by $108 million.
-- cut funding for nursing homes by $34.6 million in state funds ($69.6 million
when matching funds are included).
Overall, health care is particularly hard-hit in the Governor's budget. When
reductions in both the General Fund Budget and the Health Services Account are
included, the total reduction in health funding is approximately $1 billion.
However in addition to cuts, the Governor's budget would also provide "backfill"
funding for local health departments to replace funds lost as a result of I-695.
And the Governor's budget includes $7.8 million to maintain the Evergreen Health
Insurance Program - for people with AIDs - to maintain premium payments for
low-income people with AIDS.
(2) The Senate budget would:
Eliminate health coverage for 40,000 children by lowering the family income
eligibility level from 250% to 175% of the poverty level ($2,200/month for a
family of 3). This would eliminate CHIP (Child Heath Insurance Program), making
Washington the only state without such a program, and cost the state two-for-one
matching federal funds.
Impose premiums of $25 to $35 a month per child for families with incomes between
100-175% of the federal poverty level ($1,300/month - $2,200/month for a family
of 3). The saving come from the 14,000 children expected to drop coverage because
they cannot afford the premiums.
Increase verification (paperwork) for eligibility - that is expected to result
in another 23,000 dropping the program.
Eliminate pre-natal care for 6,000 undocumented immigrants. This will result
in higher medical and emergency room costs for treating premature babies and
other pregnancy related problems.
No adjustment to the Evergreen Health Insurance Program to provide for rising
premiums paid for low-income people with AIDS.
Impose $2 and $3 co-pays for Medicaid vision and Medical Equipment.
Impose Medicaid co-pays of $25-40/month.
Tighten eligibility for Medicaid Personal Care.
Lower BHP eligibility to $21,210 for a family of two.
Freeze BHP enrollment till total drops from current 129,000 to just 93,500.
Require state workers to pay 20% of health care premiums.
Cuts family planning funds by 60%, putting rural clinics at risk of closing.
Use money from cigarette tax to lower overall deficit.
Total children expected to lose health coverage: 77,000.
The House Budget would:
* Eliminate adult Medicaid vision and hearing services
* reduce adult (Medicaid) dental care by one-fourth
* eliminate the Medically Indigent Program ($95.3 million savings).
* Create a new Hospital Grant program to partly off-set losses due to elimination
of the Medically Indigent program (+ $40million).
* assume $6.8 million savings from transferring EHIP for AIDS patients to DSHS.
* reduce funding for the six regional AIDS Networks - AIDSNets ($1 million).
* assumes 20% savings ($6 million) from a new option for nursing home residents.
* includes funding for prescription drug program in HB 1214.
* impose co-pays of Medicaid recipients for medical supplies, equipment, transportation.
* increases eligibility verification for Medicaid, which assumes 4,800 fewer
recipients in
FY 2004, and 19,000 in FY 2005 - saving $23 million for the biennium, including
$4.3 million in "avoided expenditures" for mental health.
* provides "backfill" funding for public health - but only for one
year; that puts WIC at risk in some counties in year two.
* maintain prenatal care for immigrant women.
NOTE: As of July 1, 2003, local public health districts will lose $26 million
if stable funding is not found. Public health agencies control infectious diseases,
provide immuni-zations, and are "first responders" in the event of
an epidemic, or release of a chemical or biological agent. They also monitor
food and water safety, and carry out some direct service programs, such as WIC
- the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
WIC currently benefits half of all babies born in Washington.
The proposed Senate budget includes $48 million dollars to support local public
health activities, but these dollars are taken from the Department of Community
Trade and Economic Development. That in turn could jeopardize ECEAP and other
DCTED programs that help low-income communities.
Public health funding has been eroding since the 1970s when the state repealed
dedicated funding for public health services - formerly funded through the Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax (car tabs). At first the legislature made up 90% of lost
MVET monies, but without new revenue that will not happen again.
HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS
None of the housing bills tracked by PW have survived.
Budget Items
(1) The Governor's Proposed Budget:
* under-funds the Housing Trust Fund by $15 million - cutting allocations for
persons with develop-mental disabilities, self-help housing, shelters and transitional
housing for victims of domestic violence, and weatherization programs.
Because the HTF is part of the Capital Budget, not the General Fund Budget,
advocates have continued to pursue a long-term goal of increasing the HTF to
$100 million for the 2003-05 Biennium, through long-term bonds or loans. (Favorable
interest rates allow for expansion of the state's Capital Budget.) The state
continues to receive many more applications for viable projects than it can
fund at the current level. A state investment of $100 million in low-income
housing would leverage an additional economic stimulus investment of $475 million
from the private and public sector.
* For affordable housing and shelter projects, CTED would establish a "…loan
origination fee, and a monitoring and inspection fee," to generate $1.2
million.
* Does not cut Shelter programs or LIHEAP (Low Income Heat & Energy Assis.
Program).
(2) Senate Proposed Budget
* Appears to restore the Governor's cuts to shelter/housing for homeless/runaway
youth.
* Includes possible reductions to Behavioral Rehabilitative Services (group
care for troubled foster children, and others in the overall homeless population).
* Cuts the Housing Trust Fund appropriation from $78 million current level to
$63
million (same as the Governor's budget). This fails to take advantage of current
favorable interest rates, while keeping up with the growing need for affordable
housing.
* Allocates $30 million of the HTF to specific set-asides, leaving the unrestricted
balance of the Trust Fund at just $33 million.
House Budget
* No cuts to LIHEAP.
* Eliminates half of Secure CRC beds, reduces reimbursement for CRC and SCRC
beds.
* Increases the Housing Trust Fund to $85 million (Capital Budget).
* Allocates $5.8 million for Community Services Facilities - money social service
nonprofits can apply for, to assist capital projects (Capital Budget).
HUNGER AND NUTRITION
HB 1635 - REVISING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INCOME AND RESOURCES UNDER THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Under current rules, recipients of certain means-tested programs must report
increases in their income within twenty days or face penalties. This bill would
remove the 20-day notification requirement - in part because it artificially
affects error rates. It would also permit DSHS to establish other reporting
requirements, provided they are consistent with federal law. As a practical
matter, the bill would also allow DSHS to align rules in the food stamp program
with rules in the Medicaid and other means-tested programs.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate (Senate expected to concur
in changes adopted in the House).
Budget Items
(1) Governor's Budget
Hunger programs appear to be unharmed in the Governor's budget.
* WIC - Women, Infants, and Childrens health and nutrition program for high
risk women and children is not cut.
* EFAP - the EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - would not be cut in the Governor's
proposed Budget.
(2) Senate Budget
Hunger programs appear to be similarly unharmed in the Senate budget.
* WIC Nutrition Services Administration state funds are maintained at
the current level of funding.
* the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is maintained at the current
level of funding.
* The proposed Senate budget includes $48 million dollars to support local public
health activities, but they are taken from the Department of Community Trade
and Economic Development. Thus, this move could jeopardize other DCTED programs
serving low-income communities.
(3) House Budget
* WIC and EFAP appear untouched, but lack of Public Health back-fill funding
in FY 2005 (the House only provides one year of funding) could adversely affect
some WIC programs.
* Shows an increase of $967 million for the Distribution of surplus commodity
foods, TEFAP, and CSFP - all from federal funds, due to a new USDA program.
JUVENILES/YOUTH
SHB 1009 - VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES
This bill would make it a misdemeanor to sell, rent, or permit to be sold or
rented, any M-rated violent video or computer game to any minor. The bill was
amended before being voted out of the Juvenile Justice Committee, e.g., to reduce
the penalties involved.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1010 - DISCHARGE OF A MINOR FROM A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
This bill directs the 'professional person' to discharge minors who have been
voluntarily admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility, on the second
judicial day following receipt of the minor's notice of intent to leave the
facility. Under current law, such a minor must be discharged immediately; this
bill provides a bit of "breathing room."
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1028 - INVESTMENT IN PROVEN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK
YOUTH
This bill directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct
research and make recommendations to the Legislature by December 15, 2003. Areas
include "… the criteria, processes, and institutional arrangements"
for best practices. Estimates for reductions in the state justice system, and
possible cost savings from intervention and prevention programs focused on youth
at high risk for involvement with the justice system.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1612 - NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR
MINORS.
This bill requires evaluation and treatment facilities to provide written and
verbal notice of all statutorily available treatment options to parents/guardians
of a minor child when the parent/guardian seeks to have the minor child treated
at an evaluation and treatment facility.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1782 - CREATING A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR NONPROFIT YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
This bill would establish a competitive process to solicit proposals for projects
to assist nonprofit youth organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating
facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential services. Does not include
outdoor athletic fields.
In Week Thirteen this bill got a hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
It may be considered necessary to implement the budget, but appears dead.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
SB 5903 - PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS
This bill would directs the Washington state Institute for Public Policy to
develop standards for measuring effectiveness of treatment programs under the
"mental health disposition" alternative, by January, 2004. The standards
shall include, but not be limited to, continued use of alcohol or controlled
substances, arrests, violations of terms of community supervision, and convictions
for subsequent offenses. These standards would then be used by the courts in
determining the continued use of this alternative and the success of treatment
providers and programs.
This bill was still in the House Rules Cttee; funds to carry out the bill are
included in the House Budget so its fate depends on final budget negotiations.
Budget Items
(1) Governor's budget would:
-- Eliminate Secure and Non-secure Community Residential Centers for runaway
youth;
-- Lower Truancy petition funding (reduced by $1.7 million).
(2) Senate Budget would:
* Maintain funding for Crisis Residential Centers
* Maintain funding for Family Reconciliation Services
* Maintain funding for HOPE Act Beds
* Maintain funding for Truancy petitions, responsibility to the Administrator
of Courts .
House Budget would:
** Maintain funding for Family Reconciliation Services.
** Eliminate half the Secure Crisis Residential Center (SCRC) beds.
** Reduce the basic reimbursement per bed when a bed is unoccupied - in Hope
Centers, CRC's, and SCRC's.
** Eliminate funding for Truancy petitions, and change the language from "requiring"
school districts to file petitions, to "may" - at their own expense,
schools may file a truancy petition.
** Provide funding for a PSEA Account - Public Safety and Education Account,
to preserve programs for youth and families in crisis. Includes several programs
that are reduced elsewhere in the budget, including CRC's, HOPE beds, and Street
Youth program.
MENTAL HEALTH
HB 1010 - DISCHARGE OF A MINOR FROM A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
This bill directs the 'professional person' to discharge minors who have been
voluntarily admitted to an evaluation and treatment facility, on the second
judicial day following receipt of the minor's notice of intent to leave the
facility. Under current law, such a minor must be discharged immediately; this
bill provides a bit of "breathing room."
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
ESB5223 - AUTHORIZING MENTAL HEALTH ADVANCE DIRECTIVES.
This bill affirms that a validly executed mental health directive is to be respected
by all parties involved with a person's care. The legislature also declares
that a person with the capacity is able to control the decisions relating to
mental health care. By stating their instructions for the type of care they
wish, should they become incapacitated by their mental illness, an individual
can make sure their preference for treatment will be carried out.
The Senate bill passed both House and Senate and is on its way to the Governor.
HB 1214 - TO CREATE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG EDUCATION AND UTILIZATION PROGRAM.
This bill passed the House by a vote of 64-33. (See description under this entry
in Aging/Long-Term Care.) In Week Thirteen, the Senate Health Care Committee
amended the bill by replacing it with language of SB 5904, which has a modest
reach: 6,000 people affected and savings of just an estimated 2.7%.
HB 1214 remains in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and appeared DEAD.
However, many members want very much to do something on Prescription Drugs,
so discussions are underway to reach a compromise. Funding for HB 1214 is included
in the House Budget, so its fate depends on final budget negotiations.
HB 1612 - NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR
MINORS.
This bill requires evaluation and treatment facilities to provide written and
verbal notice of all statutorily available treatment options to parents/guardians
of a minor child when the parent/guardian seeks to have the minor child treated
at an evaluation and treatment facility.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 1785 - LIMITING THE DISCLOSURE OF CLIENT INFORMATION
This bill hopes to address issues of confidentiality regarding the disclosure
of client information by mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists,
and social workers. Any of the aforementioned professionals would not disclose
the written acknowledgement of the disclosure statement; nor any information
acquired from persons consulting the individual in a professional capacity.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5521 - ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE
Early versions of this bill described it as authorizing "bare bones"
coverage for small employers. The much-amended Senate bill would change what
employers with fewer than 50 employees must provide in a minimum health insurance
policy. (They represent approx-imately 70% of the state's employers.) Chemical
dependency treatment was added back in, but not mental health services. Many
groups found something in it to dislike.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
SSB 5473 - REQUIRING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION TO TRAIN OFFICERS
ON INTERACTION WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED AND MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
The proposed training would include learning to identify mental illness and
disability, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques for potentially
dangerous situations invol-ving mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons,
and alternatives to lethal force when interacting with potentially dangerous
mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons.
The Substitute bill will add "self" and family advocate groups to
the list of agencies to be included in the development of training.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
Budget Items
(1) The Governor's proposed budget would cut:
-- Mental Health Community Services by $ 39.4 million.
-- Mental Health Facilities - capped at existing bed levels.
-- Regional Support Networks by $20 million
-- the Mentally Ill Offender Program serving about 25 individuals released from
Corrections and transitioning into communities is eliminated.
-- provides no vendor rate increase, and
-- under-funds projected caseload growth by $40 million.
Note: 4,116 clients (12%) come under the care of DDD -Department of Developmental
Disabilities (DDD), and get help from the Mental Health Division of DSHS. The
DDD current budget cannot adequately cover treatment needed by their mentally
ill clients.
(2) Senate Passed Budget
* Includes possible reductions to Behavioral Rehabilitative Services (group
care for troubled foster children, and others in the overall homeless population).
* Cuts in Medical coverage (see details in HEALTH section) will in most cases
also restrict access to mental health services), and reductions expected due
to additional paperwork and new premiums for children's Medicaid coverage -
total reduction of $18.6 million from children's mental health.
* Mentally Ill Offenders Program is cut by $902,000.
* Provides no vendor rate increase.
Overall, the Senate restored about $6.24 million in cuts recommended by the
Governor.
It also provides $155,000 for training to implement the bill providing for Mental
Health Advance Directives, and fully funds caseload growth.
(3) House Proposed Budget
Overall, would provide $11 million more than Senate's budget, but still cuts
$22 million overall from Mental Health Programs.
* Provides $430,000 to Children's Mental Health program.
* Provides funding to implement HB 1041, Mental Health Advanced Directives.
* Increased Eligibility Verification. This will make qualifying for publicly
funded medical assistance, which includes mental health coverage, more difficult
to obtain. The projected number of people who will lose this funding is 4,800
people in FY 2004 and 19,000 people in FY 2005-- saving $23 million for the
biennium, including $4.3 million in "avoided expenditures" for mental
health.
* Eliminates the Community Inpatient Pool. The inpatient pool was established
in FY 2001 to assist communities to be able to provide short-term psychiatric
hospitalizations locally.
* Reduces Mental Health Community Services ($11 million).
* Assumes availability of federal funds for Mentally Ill Offenders pilot program.
REVENUES
The state of Washington currently provides 431 tax breaks worth $46 billion
a biennium. $1.8 billion in tax breaks have been voted by the legislature and/or
the citizens (through initiatives) just since 1994. But the bottom line is that
the state gives up twice as many revenue dollars as it collects, most of it
in the form of special tax breaks to particular businesses or populations. This
year's massive deficit has renewed interest in the idea of reviewing all tax
breaks to see whether they produce the results intended when they were enacted,
or have become outmoded. At least one such bill, HB 1737, is still alive. Sun-setting
outmoded tax exemptions is one way to increase available revenue.
Interest in finding some acceptable forms of revenue to ease the impact of
severe budget cuts continues, but members remain divided as to the best forms.
A number of new bills identify a specific source of funding, in some cases with
the revenues to be dedicated to a particular purpose.
Representative Bill Fromhold, from Southwestern Washington, has "respectfully
disagreed" with the Governor's all-cuts/no revenues approach to the deficit.
He has proposed a temporary increase in the sales tax by one-half of one percent,
to be automatically repealed in two-four years. It would raise roughly half
the amount needed to close the deficit gap, and thus spare some of the pain
associated with massive budget cuts. Reasoning that raising Business & Occupation
or property taxes would be more detrimental to the economy, he called this approach
"the least of evils." It would be pursued as part of an overall budget
plan, not as a separate bill. By being time-limited, it would also keep on the
pressure to take up long-term structural changes in the tax system.
NOTE: a 2/10ths of one cent increase in the sales tax is part of the House budget.
However, it is not time-limited, and even that may not survive in the final
House package.
Another proposal under discussion would impose a one-to-ten-cent-a-can increase
on the sale of sodas. That is estimated to generate about $650 million over
the biennial budget. This could either stand alone, or be combined with other
revenue options. This might either stand alone, or be bundled together in a
"package" with a variety of "sin taxes" and other tax increases
on non-essentials. Increased gambling is also being considered, but the proposals
being discussed would only bring in a few hundred million dollars. (It says
something about the size of the deficit that one can use a word like "only"
to describe a few hundred million.)
Still others are considering ways to broaden the tax base by extending the
sales tax to certain business, professional, and consumer services. When our
tax system was developed, Washington's economy relied heavily on natural resources
(fishing, forests, farming), and the tax structure reflects that. Now, however,
our economy relies more on technology, and a vast array of business, professional,
and consumer services. If the base of those to be taxed were broadened to include
all services, some estimates show that the deficit could be filled AND the sales
tax reduced at the same time.
NOTE: Bills in this category will continue to be carried in POLICY WATCH,
because any of them might be deemed "…necessary to implement the budget,"
and thus potentially "alive" beyond the usual cutoffs.
SSB 5364 - PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
This bill would promote economic development through "Tax Increment Financing.
It would allow local governments to finance public improvements using increased
property tax revenues, plus "excess" excise tax revenues, and revenue
generated through a sales- and-use tax. Up to $1 million per year, per project,
could be credited against the state sales and use tax in an increment area.
The bill is controversial.
Opponents believe it will allow cities to divert future tax revenues intended
for local general funds, and use them to offset the costs of large private developments.
This would subsidize private developers while depleting funds needed for housing
and human services, and be particularly harmful to low-income residents. Amendments
added in Committee include some limited safeguards, but advocates for low-income
people remain concerned.
This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 47-2. In Week Fourteen it came to the
House, was voted out of the House Finance Committee and sent to the House Floor.
It may yet get a vote before the end of session.
HB 1401/ SB 5186 - TO MAKE STATE LAW CONFORM TO CHANGES IN FEDERAL ESTATE TAX
.
This bill would eliminate one of the few remaining progressive elements in the
Washington State tax structure, despite a recent national study showing our
state structure is already the most regressive in the nation. The bill would
cost the state $25.3 million in lost revenue in 2003, $51.8 million in 2004,
more in subsequent years. Current law includes exemptions for small business
and family farms. These bills appear DEAD.
The House bill remains in the House Finance Committee.
The Senate bill remains in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
SHB 1737 - RELATING TO REPEALING OUTDATED AND UNUSED TAX PREFERENCES.
This bill would review and eliminate tax exemptions, deductions, credits and
other preferences that have outlived their usefulness, and/or stand unclaimed
in recent years. The intent of the bill is to update and simplify the tax statutes.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5659 - AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
This bill is an attempt to respond to the funding challenges facing local governments,
primarily in the areas of criminal justice and public health. It would allow
local governments to raise revenues (chiefly property and/or sales taxes, but
not utility taxes) to better protect the health and safety of their residents.
(The bill may exclude King County.) It permits local governments to increase
sales and use taxes, but requires that they go first to the voters for approval
.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate
SB 5902 - PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS AND HIGHER
EDUCATION.
This bill would impose a two percent tax on Adjusted Gross Income (calculated
for federal tax purposes, and with various exemptions, deductions and income
limits), and dedicate the revenues produced for k-12 and higher education.
This bill remains in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means; it is likely
DEAD.
HB 2070/ SB 5920 - FUNDING LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
This bill would send a referendum to the people for a vote on the November ballot,
to create a public health trust fund through an increase in the property tax
levy (initially 25 cents per $1,000, but a compromise at a lower figure is expected).
The revenues would be used to fund local public health services (severely affected
by the passage of I-695.) - including new Homeland Security efforts. This would
generate enough to assure current levels of funding and accommodate some increases
- particularly in counties with growing populations. However it would make the
state budget less flexible (by dedicating these funds to a specific purpose)
in a changing economy. Interested parties should watch this closely; it appears
likely to change on short notice. Action is expected first in the Senate. These
bills are "…necessary to the budget," and exempt from most cutoffs.
The House Bill remains in the House Finance Committee.
The Senate Bill remains in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
SHB 2098/ SB 6006 - PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTIES
It is the intent of this bill to give local communities more "tools"
for raising revenues and determining their own desired level of public services,
based on local economic conditions and differing public safety, human service,
or economic development priorities. In cases where economic changes have left
communities unable to fund minimum required services, direct financial assistance
may be provided to ensure basic governmental services. As might be expected
from the title, this bill is of special importance to county governments struggling
to maintain basic services for their residents.
The Senate bill appears DEAD.
The House bill remains in the House Rules Committee, and may yet be scheduled.
SJR 8200 - RELATING TO TAX REFORM
This Senate Joint Resolution proposes an amendment to the state Constitution
to authorize an income tax. At the next general election held in this state,
the secretary of state would submit an amendment to Article VII of the Constitution
of the state of Washington to permit adoption of a graduated income tax. It
would go to the voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or
rejection.
This bill remains in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
SJR 8204 - PROPOSES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A REVENUE STABILIZATION
FUND.
This is similar to a proposal in the Gates Commission Tax Study Report that
the state should have a constitutionally protected "rainy day" fund
to help protect against fluctuations in the economy. The secretary of state
would submit this idea to the voters for approval and ratification, or rejection
- at the next General Election.
This bill was on the Senate Floor; but appears DEAD.
NOTE: These are only a few of the bills introduced this year that would affect
taxes. Despite a $2.6 billion deficit, numerous bills have also been introduced
which would reduce taxes, create new exemptions or credits, and add to the deficit.
The Senate-passed budget provides for $116 million in new or continued tax preferences.
(Tax exemptions are sometimes referred to as "tax expenditures" to
make clear that every tax break costs the treasury just as any program expenditure
does.) Several pages of bills proposing tax changes are listed in the "Topical
Index" under BILL INFO (at www.leg.wa.gov).
RULEMAKING
Several Bills proposed changes to Washington State's Administrative Procedures
Act (APA). These changes would affect the process by which citizens may participate
in rule-making.
Changes in Rule-making can affect whether it is difficult (or easy) for an entity
to avoid health, safety, and environmental standards, and whether it is difficult
(or easy) for citizens to have a voice in the process by which Regulations are
finalized. Since Regulations - once final - have the force of law, such bills
deserve monitoring. Most of the bills being tracked by PW in this category are
now DEAD.
The two still alive are: HB 1531 - to require a governor's signature on significant
rules, passed both House and Senate; it has gone to the Governor, and SB 5256,
which would require cost-benefit analyses of proposed rules (also gone to the
Governor).
SEXUAL ABUSE/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
KIDNAPPING OFFENDERS
This bill would revise requirements for registration by sex offenders.
This bill remains in the House Rules Cttee; it appears DEAD.
Budget Items
(1) The Governor's budget would:
-- reduce funds for domestic violence victim services by approximately one-third.
-- Legal Advocacy programs would be reduced by $10,000 and
-- Civil Legal Services is reduced by $1.7 million; both are important to victims
of violence.
(2) The Senate Budget would:
-- reduce all programs funded from the VRDE account (Violence Reduction and
Drug Enforcement) by 5%, including the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (-$106,000)
and the Civil Indigent Legal Services (-$149,000).
The House Budget would:
-- Transfer funds for Civil Legal Services for indigent clients (including victims
of Domestic Violence) from CTED to the Office of the Administrator for the Courts.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE/TREATMENT
ESB 5389 - RELATING TO CLEAN AND SOBER HOUSING
This bill concerns the right of landlords to evict tenants living in drug and
alcohol free housing that use, possess, or share alcohol, illegal drugs, controlled
substances, or prescription drugs without a medical prescription.
Amendments to the Senate bill changed the language to include for-profit landlords
as well as the non-profit landlords of clean and sober housing.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate
HB 1619 - INCREASING PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH CHILDREN
IN THE VEHICLE
This bill would provide that if a person is convicted of driving under the influence
while a passenger under the age of sixteen was in the vehicle, the court would
add 60 days to any mandatory minimum period of confinement, and add 60 days
to any minimum period of electronic home monitoring.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5120 - CHANGING PROVISIONS RE IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICES.
The original bill was not considered. The Substitute bill would require the
Department of Licensing, instead of the courts, impose the requirement that
a person's vehicle be equipped with an Ignition Interlock device in the following
situations: (1) a person's first DUI conviction or an alcohol-related deferred
prosecution with blood alcohol at .15 or above…, or (2) a person's second
or subsequent DUI conviction, and (3) a first DUI conviction with extenuating
circumstances.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 5396 - COURT IMPOSED CONDITIONS OF DEFERRED PROSECUTIONS.
This bill hopes to insure continued sobriety and reduce the likelihood of re-offense.
Under it, the Court may order reasonable conditions during the period of a deferred
prosecution, including: attendance at self-help recovery support groups for
alcoholism or drugs, complete abstinence from alcohol and all non-prescribed
mind-altering drugs, and periodic urinalysis or breath analysis. The Substitute
bill added language requiring that individuals also maintain law-abiding behavior.
This bill passed both the House and the Senate; it is on its way to the Governor
SSB 5521 - ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE
Early versions of this bill described it as authorizing "bare bones"
coverage for small employers. The much-amended Senate bill would change what
employers with fewer than 50 employees must provide in a minimum health insurance
policy. (They represent about 70% of the state's employers.) Chemical dependency
treatment was added back in, but not mental health services. Many groups found
something in it to dislike.
This bill did not make the cut-off; it appears DEAD.
Budget item
(1) Governor's proposed budget did not cut Community Mobilization - for local
substance abuse and violence prevention.
(2) Senate-Passed budget
* cuts the Community Mobilization Grant program by $170,000.
* cuts treatment of people gravely disabled by drug and alcohol abuse, -$500,000.
* Eliminates funding for TASC- Treatment alternatives For Street Crimes.
* Eliminates funding for small Counties' hospital-based detox centers.
But - the Drug Prosecution and Assistance Program, and Drug Courts are not cut.
(3) House Committee budget
* Shifts $3.1 million in funds from General Funds and from Public Safety &
Education Account - PSEA, to the VRDE account to maintain Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Programs cut in the Governor and Senate's budgets.
* Reduces TASC by $3.2 million (rather than eliminate it).
* Eliminates Services to the Gravely Disabled.
* Provides funding for Substance Abuse Treatment for persons convicted of crimes.
* Cuts funding for DASA headquarters ($209,000).
WELFARE
ESHB 1277 - GAINING INDEPENDENCE FOR FAMILIES.
This bill would create a new financial aid supplement for low-income parents
with dependents under age 18, to attend any public or private, two or four-year
institution in Washington state. However, this program's funding would be "…
subject to the availability of receipts of gifts, grants, or endowments from
private sources."
This bill passed the House and Senate - it has been signed into law by the Governor.
SHB 1624 - MODIFYING THE WASHINGTON TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Community service voice mail provides new and economically efficient ways to
assist low-income persons who are not customers of local exchange telephone
service. This bill would authorize a discount on a community service voice mailbox
that provides recipients with: (1) An individually assigned telephone number;
(2) The ability to record a personal greeting; and (3) A secure private security
code to retrieve messages. This voice mail service may include toll-free lines
in community action agencies through which recipients can access their community
service voice mailboxes at no charge. If this bill does not pass, local telephone
assistance programs will close as of July 1, 2003.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
HB 1635 - REVISING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INCOME AND RESOURCES UNDER THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
This bill concerns benefits transferred electronically, including those transferred
in error. Under current rules, recipients of certain means-tested programs must
report increases in their income within twenty days or face penalties. This
bill would remove the 20-day notification requirement - in part because it artificially
affects error rates. It would also permit DSHS to establish other reporting
requirements, provided they are consistent with federal law. As a practical
matter, the bill would also allow DSHS to align rules in the food stamp program
with rules in the Medicaid, cash, and other means-tested programs.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
.
HB 1980 - CHANGING WORK ACTIVITY PROVISIONS UNDER TANF
This bill provides for an assessment of needs and employability within the first
four weeks. Based on the assessment, recipients would get an individual responsibility
plan, including employment goals, and a plan for moving immediately into employment.
It would also describe the services available to enable a recipient to get and
keep a job. Highest priority for work activity will go to the most employable
clients, including adults in two-parent families and parents in single-parent
families that include older preschool or school-age children.
This bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SSB 6017 - MODIFYING GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
This bill would eliminate the state's General Assistance for the Unemployable
(GA-U) program, as recommended in the Governor's version of the budget. GAU
provides minimal financial support to needy adults who are mentally or physically
incapacitated for at least 90 days, but less than 12 months. People who appear
to meet (and apply for) federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability
benefits, including people with AIDS, are considered GA-U/X - this segment would
not be eliminated. Amendments would allow the Department of Social and Health
Services to provide medical benefits to GA-U recipients, and would not require
legal immigrants to apply for naturalization (as originally proposed). The burden
of proof that a mental or physical condition has not improved would shift to
the clients. Advocates for low-income adults remain concerned.
This bill is considered "… necessary to implement the budget."
In Week Fourteen this bill passed the Senate; it is now in the House Appropriations
Committee, where its fate awaits final budget negotiations.
Issue:
-- Concern is high for the fate of the 7,000-9,000 disabled, needy adults will
lose their small, subsistence cash grant if the program of General Assistance
Unemployable (GAU) is eliminated. GAU provides a small cash grant of $339 per
month and medical coverage to mentally or physically disabled persons who are
unemployable for at least 90 days. (To receive the $339 cash grant a medical
professional must provide documentation of a diagnosed medical condition.) More
than half are mentally ill; the remainder have physical disabilities. GAU also
provides benefits to elderly and disabled legal immigrants who are ineligible
for the federal SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program due to their immigrant
status. Ending the cash grant portion of the GAU program will affect emergency
food and shelter programs, as well as the mental health and criminal justice
systems.
Budget Items.
Once again the "Welfare Box" - which is under the Governor's direct
responsibility - faces a short-fall: $35-75 million this time. The short-falls
result from over-estimates of projected federal funds and under-estimates of
need.
These funds support child care, one-time payments for rent and
utilities and cash assistance, and other services. (Last year's shortfall resulted
in $50 million in cuts in childcare, job training, and social services.) To
meet the shortfall, the Governor is implementing $35 million in immediate cuts:
$8 million in child care subsidies, $4 million from the Community Jobs Program,
$1.5 million from support services such as clothing, transportation and other
essentials for those moving from welfare to work. Deeper cuts are expected in
future years.
(1) Governor's budget
Services and programs for low-income childless adults are generally hit very
hard in the Governor's budget. Of special note are:
-- General Assistance Unemployable (GAU) cash assistance, which helps about
10,000 adults meet basic subsistence needs, is cut by $40.3 million. Most GAU
recipients have mental and/or physical disabilities.
-- Eliminates "optional" medical services: dental, hearing, vision.
(2) Senate Budget
Reduces General Assistance for the Unemployable (GAU), for people who are unable
to work due to a disability or mental illness in two ways:
a) by limiting benefits to just 6 months of cash and medical benefits in a 24
month period
b) by limiting elderly legal immigrants to 18 month of cash assistance and medical
benefits over an entire lifetime.
Also cuts (but does not eliminate) the adult dental and hearing services by1/3rd,
by limiting kinds of services, and confining them to specific populations. Savings:
$25 million.
Imposes $2 and $3 co-pays for Medicaid vision, but does not eliminate it.
(3) House Budget
-- Reduces GAU $3.5 million, by requiring clients, not DSHS, to prove a mental
or physical disability has not improved.
-- Eliminates the Medically Indigent program ($95.3 million saving).
-- Reduces adult dental services by 25% ($11.8 million savings).
-- Eliminates "optional" adult vision services, e.g., eyeglasses ($10
million savings).
-- Eliminates Hearing services for adults ($2.3 million savings).
-- Funds are provided for the Telephone Assistance Program (HB 1624).
MISCELLANEOUS
ESHB 1053 - ENHANCING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
This bill would create a seven-member Citizen Oversight Board (Board), who understand
state government operations and performance audits to oversee management reviews
of state government. The chair of JLARC and the State Auditor would serve as
nonvoting members, and JLARC would staff the Board. The Board would establish
a program for annual assess-ment and performance grading of state agencies,
with input from elected officials, state employees, and professionals in performance
management. A contractor may be selected to conduct the entire assessment, or
different contractors may be selected for each assessment.
This bill remains in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Funding for it is
in the House Budget, so its fate depends on final budget negotiations.
HB 1447 - STATUTORY CHANGES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT the 2003-05 OPERATING BUDGET.
This is the bill that would make the changes in human services-related statutes
necessary to implement the 2003-2005 omnibus operating appropriations bill.
It is in the House Cttee on Appropriations. This will be settled once the budgets
are set.
SHB 1464 - REQUIRING THE DEPT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
AND FAITH BASED SOCIAL SERVICES
This bill would require the secretary of DSHS to designate a person within each
region to serve as a liaison for community-based and faith-based social services
organizations, provide information about opportunities for the organizations
to cooperate with the department in providing community services; identify unmet
needs, and promote involvement of community-based and faith-based social services
organizations - within existing resources. As amended it sets out clear limits
on religious activity using help from this bill.
This bill has now passed the House and the Senate.
.
HB 1787 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFO/ REFERRAL
This bill would create a single, user-friendly telephone number, 211, for public
access to information and referral for health and human services, and also for
disaster-related information.
The House bill has now passed both the House and the Senate.
SHB 2098/ SB 6006 - PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COUNTIES
It is the intent of this bill to give local communities more "tools"
for raising revenues and determining their own desired level of public services,
based on local economic conditions and differing public safety, human service,
or economic development priorities. In cases where economic changes have left
communities unable to fund minimum required services, direct financial assistance
may be provided to ensure basic governmental services. As might be expected
from the title, this bill is of special importance to county governments struggling
to maintain basic services for their residents. This bill may be "necessary
to the budget."
The Senate bill appears DEAD.
The House bill remains in the House Rules Committee; its fate depends on final
budget negotiations.
Budget Item
(1) The Governor's budget proposes to eliminate Employment Services for Refugees
- one way recent refugees get the help they need to become self-sufficient as
they work to create new lives for themselves and their families. Services include:
job development, English as a
Second Language classes, and case management services.
(2) Senate Budget
* Legal immigrants and refugees getting General Assistance-Unemployable (GAU)
will be subject to a lifetime limit of 18 months.
* 1,100 elderly immigrants and refugees on General Assistance who are aging,
blind or disabled will also be subject to this lifetime limit.
* Eliminates State funded Employment Support Services for Refugees (-$1.9 million.)
* Eliminates Naturalization Services to help immigrants gain US citizenship
(-$1.7 mil. previously funded through surplus funds from the immigrant food
assistance program.)
(3) House Budget
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