SELAH, Wash. – Two residential habilitation centers in Washington are facing potential closure as House Bill 1472 nears a vote in the House. The bill, introduced in January, proposes shutting down the Yakima Valley School in Selah and Rainier School in Buckley.
State Representative Joshua Penner of District 31 expressed concerns about the bill’s impact.
“If I’m correct and this bill’s too brief and we do it too hastily, I’m worried that some of my residents will die,” he said.
These centers serve individuals with developmental or intellectual challenges. Penner emphasized the importance of these facilities for residents who require round-the-clock care.
“A lot of the folks who live in these facilities have been placed and failed out of community-based placement. If somebody requires 24-hour monitoring by one or two people, they’re not going to be successful in those environments,” he stated.
The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on HB 1472 on Saturday. Cathy Murahashi, public policy specialist for ARC of Washington, highlighted the high cost per resident.
“We can no longer justify the cost of over a half a million dollars a year per person when the same level of care can be provided in the community at about a third of the cost,” she said.
Penner argued that the decision should not be based solely on financial considerations.
“I don’t believe that reducing this to the dollars and cents is really an honest accounting of the conversation,” he said. He noted that the number of residents at these facilities has been capped and reduced over the years, leading to increased costs.
During the hearing, Penner and Murahashi discussed a possible amendment to the bill.
Penner asked, “You mentioned that we would endorse language to make transition stronger if an amendment were offered to require a clear RHC specific transition plan with measurable outcome safeguards and legislative oversight. Would that be something the arc would be supportive of?” Murahashi responded, “Absolutely, yes.”
If the bill passes, current law would require Yakima Valley School to continue operating crisis stabilization and respite beds as needed. An executive session on the bill is scheduled for tomorrow.
