This bill seeks to rename certain state residential facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to better reflect their primary function as habilitation centers. Specifically, it proposes renaming Fircrest School, Rainier School, and Yakima Valley School to Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center, Rainier Residential Habilitation Center, and Yakima Valley Residential Habilitation Center, respectively. The bill ensures that existing references to these facilities maintain their legal force and mandates the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to update relevant rules and documentation accordingly. Importantly, the renaming will not change the purpose or operations of these facilities nor impact their funding.

In addition to the renaming, the bill amends various sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to incorporate the new terminology and enhance the management and reporting of residential habilitation centers. It requires DSHS to submit a report to the legislature starting December 1, 2025, detailing data on residential settings, transitions of former residents, and employment status of former staff. The bill also clarifies the management authority of the secretary of social and health services over specific public institutions, emphasizing the need for qualified and nonpolitical operation of these facilities. Furthermore, it introduces a new section to address potential conflicts with federal requirements, ensuring that any conflicting parts do not affect the overall operation of the remaining provisions.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.190.005, 28B.30.810, 43.382.801, 71A.20.020, 71A.20.030, 71A.20.170, 71A.20.180, 71A.20.191, 71A.20.195, 72.01.050, 72.05.010