SB 6063
In CommitteeSenate
DSHS terminology
Correcting terminology to align the revised code of Washington with recent reorganization at the department of social and health services.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
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- 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
This bill updates Washington state law to align terminology and responsibilities across state agencies following a reorganization of the Department of Social and Health Services. It replaces outdated agency names (e.g., 'developmental disabilities administration') with current ones (e.g., 'home and community living administration'), clarifies service coordination for individuals with developmental disabilities, dementia, or mental health needs, and strengthens legal and support pathways for vulnerable populations—including kinship caregivers, youth in foster care, and individuals in the criminal justice system.
- Updates agency and program names in state law to reflect the Department of Social and Health Services’ reorganization—specifically replacing 'developmental disabilities administration' and 'aging and long-term support administration' with 'home and community living administration' and clarifying their roles.
- Establishes or strengthens coordination mechanisms for services, including a kinship care legal aid coordinator, a rapid care team for children in crisis, and shared planning meetings for youth transitioning out of foster care.
- Clarifies responsibilities for competency evaluations and post-commitment services for individuals acquitted by reason of insanity, transferring post-commitment public defense services to the Office of Public Defense.
- Requires the Department of Social and Health Services to connect individuals found not competent to stand trial due to intellectual or developmental disability, dementia, or traumatic brain injury to community-based wraparound services and supports.
- Amends definitions and eligibility criteria for developmental disability services—including removing IQ scores as a sole determinant—and updates service planning, rights, and complaint procedures for clients.
- Extends or modifies sunset dates for several advisory bodies and programs, including the children and youth multisystem care project director (expires June 30, 2027) and the children and youth behavioral health work group (expires December 30, 2029).
Who is affected
- Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities — Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including those on waitlists for services, those in crisis or jail settings, and those transitioning from foster care or hospitals, will have clearer pathways to services and support due to updated terminology and coordination requirements.
- Families and caregivers — Families and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities, dementia, or other conditions will benefit from improved access to legal aid, coordinated services, and clearer eligibility and service planning processes.
- State agencies — State agencies—including DSHS, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Health Care Authority, and the Office of Public Defense—must realign internal structures, update policies, and coordinate more closely with each other under revised terminology and responsibilities.
- Legal and advocacy professionals — Attorneys, legal aid providers, and forensic navigators will gain new tools and responsibilities to support kinship caregivers and individuals with disabilities navigating the legal and behavioral health systems.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Creates a kinship care legal aid coordinator to help kinship caregivers navigate legal barriers to housing, education, and public benefits—directly benefiting low-income caregivers (often grandparents) who are raising grandchildren due to parental substance use, incarceration, or death.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1; RCW 2.53.055Requires DSHS to connect individuals found not competent to stand trial due to intellectual/developmental disability, dementia, or TBI to community-based wraparound services, reducing unnecessary institutionalization and improving access to appropriate, less restrictive care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 4; RCW 10.77.675Establishes a rapid care team for children in crisis to prevent prolonged hospital stays without medical necessity, reducing trauma and enabling timely discharge to appropriate community-based or family-based care.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 6; RCW 43.20A.885Removes IQ scores as a sole determinant for developmental disability eligibility by June 30, 2025, preventing misclassification of individuals with non-traditional cognitive profiles and ensuring equitable access to services.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 16; RCW 71A.10.020Mandates shared planning meetings for youth transitioning out of foster care to connect them with developmental disability and vocational rehabilitation services, improving long-term educational and employment outcomes for vulnerable young adults.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 24; RCW 74.29.090
Potential Concerns (5)
Creates a kinship care legal aid coordinator to improve legal access for kinship caregivers, who often serve as de facto foster parents for children unable to live with biological parents due to safety concerns. This strengthens child safety by ensuring kinship caregivers have legal tools to protect children.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1; RCW 2.53.055Transfers post-commitment public defense services for individuals acquitted by reason of insanity from DSHS to the Office of Public Defense, improving continuity of legal representation and reducing potential gaps in care that could lead to public safety risks.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2; RCW 2.70.901Requires DSHS to connect individuals found not competent to stand trial due to intellectual/developmental disability, dementia, or TBI to community-based wraparound services, reducing likelihood of recidivism and improving public safety through structured reintegration.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4; RCW 10.77.675Establishes a rapid care team for children in crisis to prevent prolonged hospital stays without medical necessity and ensure timely placement, reducing risk of harm to vulnerable children and improving public safety outcomes.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 6; RCW 43.20A.885Creates a school-to-work program for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities to connect them to supported employment services, reducing long-term dependency and associated public safety risks through economic integration.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 27; RCW 74.29.090
Who Is Most Affected
Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities benefit significantly from removal of IQ-based eligibility, improved service coordination, and community-based alternatives to incarceration or institutionalization. The bill directly expands access to services for those on waitlists, in crisis, or involved in the criminal justice system.
Families and kinship caregivers gain legal aid support, clearer service pathways, and reduced barriers to housing and public benefits. However, the benefit is concentrated among those already engaged with systems (e.g., kinship caregivers in formal placements); informal caregivers may not access these supports without outreach.
State agencies must realign internal structures and coordinate more closely, increasing administrative burden. However, the reorganization aims to reduce duplication and improve service efficiency, potentially lowering long-term costs.
Attorneys, legal aid providers, and forensic navigators gain new tools and responsibilities to support vulnerable populations. The expansion of legal aid coordination and forensic navigation roles creates new service opportunities, especially for low-income clients.
Adult family home providers benefit from clarified regulations and enhanced service options for residents with developmental disabilities or dementia, potentially increasing reimbursement and provider participation. However, new requirements may increase compliance costs for small operators.