The bill aims to authorize payment for parental caregivers of minor children with developmental disabilities in Washington State. It recognizes the challenges faced by families in securing adequate care for their children, particularly due to a shortage of trained caregivers and the unique needs of these children. The legislation highlights the importance of stable and familiar caregivers, noting that many families often have to forgo income opportunities to provide necessary care. It also points out that long-term in-home care services are more cost-effective than institutional care, and that other states have successfully implemented paid family caregiving, leading to better outcomes for children and reduced costs for taxpayers.

To facilitate this, the bill mandates that by January 31, 2026, the administration must request amendments to existing home and community-based services waivers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow parents to be compensated for providing extraordinary care to their minor children. If approved, the administration will authorize payments to these parental caregivers. The bill outlines the administration's authority to adopt necessary rules for assessing personal care hours and specifies that parental caregivers can be employed as individual providers, subject to the same training and oversight as other providers. It also defines "extraordinary care" and clarifies the roles of parents and minor children within the context of this legislation.