Committee looks to improve child services
Amy and Emily Patterson give their testimonies in support of House Bill 2323.
OLYMPIA — On Thursday, the Early Learning and Human Services Committee heard testimony in support of two bills, one aimed at helping children in foster care, and the other children with disabilities.
The first bill, HB 1999, is a revised version of a bill that passed 95-3 last session, and it is intended to assist students in foster care with their education.
This bill would provide for individualized education services and for the monitoring of the students’ completion of educational milestones, remediation needs, and special education needs. The bill would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to contract with at least one nongovernmental entity to accomplish these goals.
Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is a co-sponsor of this bill and an Early Learning committee member.
“We need to help these kids as much as we can,” said Dent.
The fiscal impact was determined by the Student Achievement Council to be $22,000 over two years. The fiscal impact for the transfer of responsibilities for other programs was not available.
Dent said he is not worried about the potential fiscal impact.
“How can we not afford to give these kids a chance?” Dent asked.
The second bill, HB 2323, would create an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program in Washington. This would allow individuals with disabilities to create a tax-free savings account. The money from the account would be used to cover only qualified expenses, such as education, housing, or transportation.
Dent said he supports this bill because he thinks it is important to help people with disabilities become productive members of society. Dent said he had a cousin with Down syndrome.
“She was capable but she didn’t have the education or training,” he said.
The fiscal note for this bill is not complete. Dent said the program is a good idea, as long as the state is able to afford it.
Several people came to testify in favor of the bill. Two of those supportors include Amy Patterson and her daughter Emma, 13, who has Down syndrome. Emma said she wants to someday go to college and study art. Amy said their family has not saved for college because they did not want to limit Emma’s access to benefits after she turns 18.
Under the current Supplemental Security Income program, individuals with disabilities are only eligible if they report no more than $2,000 in savings.
Both bills are scheduled for executive session on Jan. 15.