The bill aims to enhance community inclusion services for individuals with developmental disabilities by establishing new standards and guidelines for service delivery. A new section is added to chapter 71A.12 RCW, mandating the Department of Social and Health Services to contract directly with service providers for community inclusion services under home and community-based waivers. These services must include incidental personal care, allow for peer group interaction without a strict one-to-one provider-client ratio, and ensure that assessed service hours are not reduced when integrated into aggregate services. Additionally, the bill specifies billing practices for providers and emphasizes the importance of community integration and skill development for clients.

Several amendments are made to existing laws, including updates to definitions and the introduction of "community inclusion services" as a distinct category. The bill modifies the language in various sections, such as changing "community access" to "community inclusion" and clarifying the roles of the secretary and the department in providing services. It also outlines the conditions under which clients can transition between employment and community inclusion programs, ensuring they are informed of their options. Furthermore, the bill exempts certain long-term care workers from certification requirements if they are providing only community inclusion services, thereby streamlining the workforce for these essential services.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 71A.10.020, 71A.12.110, 71A.12.290, 71A.14.060, 18.88B.041