HB 1158
In CommitteeHouse
Community inclusion services
Improving community inclusion services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
HB 1158 improves access to and flexibility of community inclusion services for people with developmental disabilities by standardizing service delivery, expanding service options, and updating provider rules. It also clarifies definitions and expands worker exemptions to support service delivery.
- Requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to contract directly with service providers for community inclusion services under home and community-based waivers.
- Establishes new service standards for community inclusion services, including allowing incidental personal care, permitting non–one-to-one provider-client ratios, allowing limited billing for transportation and up to 15 minutes/week of administrative time, and ensuring assessed service hours are not reduced when services are bundled under dollar limits.
- Expands the definition of 'community inclusion services' to emphasize integrated community settings, skill development, independence, and relationship-building.
- Allows clients age 21+ to switch between employment and community inclusion programs after nine months without prior approval, and requires DSHS to inform clients of all available options and allow exceptions to the nine-month rule.
- Exempts long-term care workers providing only community inclusion services from the requirement to become certified home care aides (though some still must pass a certification exam).
Who is affected
- Individuals with developmental disabilities — Individuals with developmental disabilities who receive or are eligible for community inclusion services will gain clearer access to services in integrated community settings, more flexibility in service delivery (e.g., group-based or non–one-to-one ratios), and the right to switch between employment and community inclusion programs without waiting nine months after transitioning.
- Community service providers — Service providers who contract with the state to deliver community inclusion services will be subject to new billing rules (e.g., allowing limited administrative time and transportation billing) and must align with updated service standards, including incidental personal care and peer group interaction opportunities.
- Direct support and long-term care workers — Long-term care workers—including direct support professionals, nurses, and others—delivering community inclusion services are exempted from mandatory home care aide certification, though some must still pass a certification exam.
- Families and legal representatives — Families and legal representatives of individuals with developmental disabilities will receive clearer information about service options and transition pathways, and may request exceptions to program requirements on behalf of their loved ones.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
State-level direct contracting by DSHS standardizes service delivery and reduces administrative fragmentation across counties, improving equity and accountability—especially for vulnerable populations who previously faced inconsistent access depending on geography.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)Mandating that DSHS inform clients and legal representatives of all service options—including types, scope, and duration—empowers informed consent and reduces information asymmetry, enabling families to advocate effectively for appropriate services.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 4(3)Expanding the definition of 'community inclusion services' to emphasize integrated community settings, skill development, and relationship-building strengthens inclusion and social capital—supporting long-term independence and reducing institutionalization.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(19)(a), (d)Allowing providers to bill for reasonable transportation between service settings improves service continuity and reduces barriers to participation—particularly for clients in transit-poor areas or with mobility challenges.
TransportationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(c)(i)Requiring DSHS to consider alternative service settings outside the client’s residence supports community integration and may reduce housing-related service conflicts—though without explicit funding, this provision may be underutilized without additional investment.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(4)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill explicitly prohibits reduction of assessed service hours when services are bundled under dollar limits, ensuring continuity of care for individuals with developmental disabilities. This prevents service cuts that could otherwise occur under fiscal pressure or administrative convenience, directly supporting access to needed care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(d)Clients age 21+ gain the right to switch between employment and community inclusion programs after nine months without prior approval, and can request exceptions to the nine-month rule. This increases autonomy and self-determination for individuals with developmental disabilities, aligning with disability rights principles of choice and control over services.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1), (2), (5)Allowing non–one-to-one provider-client ratios and peer group interaction, along with incidental personal care, supports safer, more socially integrated service delivery—reducing isolation and behavioral crises while enabling staff to manage group dynamics effectively.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b), (c)Permitting up to 15 minutes/week of billable administrative time per client helps small and mid-sized providers offset overhead costs (e.g., scheduling, documentation, compliance), improving operational sustainability without significantly increasing client burden.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(c)(ii)Exempting long-term care workers who provide *only* community inclusion services from mandatory home care aide certification reduces regulatory burden for workers and providers, facilitating staffing flexibility—especially in rural or underserved areas—while still requiring some certification exams for safety.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 6(1)(h)
Who Is Most Affected
Individuals with developmental disabilities benefit significantly: expanded access to integrated community services, greater service flexibility, and increased autonomy over program choice improve quality of life and reduce institutional bias. However, those on waiting lists may still face delays if funding does not keep pace with expanded eligibility.
Small and mid-sized community service providers gain operational clarity and billing flexibility (e.g., administrative time, group service ratios), improving viability. However, they face new compliance and reporting obligations and may struggle with implementation costs if state funding lags.
Workers providing only community inclusion services avoid costly home care aide certification (though some must still pass exams), easing entry into the workforce. However, this may dilute uniform training standards, potentially affecting service quality in complex cases.
Families gain clearer information and transition rights, reducing advocacy burden and enabling better decision-making. However, they may face increased responsibility for coordinating services or requesting exceptions, especially if DSHS staffing is insufficient.
Counties benefit from reduced administrative burden due to state-level contracting, but may lose local control over service design. The bill does not allocate new funding, so counties may absorb indirect costs if DSHS implementation is under-resourced.