Appropriations committee advances bill to close Rainier School after hours of debate

The House Appropriations Committee on [date not specified] voted 17-14 to report substitute Senate Bill 5393 out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. The bill would close Rainier School, a state residential habilitation center for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and set a statutory closure timeline included in the bill text.

The committee’s executive-session briefing opened with counsel Luke Wickham outlining the bill and six amendments posted for consideration, including proposals to rewrite or remove the bill’s intent language, to remove the bill’s contingency on appropriated funds, to require individualized transition plans, to guarantee comparable pay and benefits for relocated staff, and to remove an emergency clause. Several committee members and outside speakers pressed for stronger, funded, and enforceable transition protections for residents and staff; others urged prompt implementation and trust in state planning.

Advocates for stronger protections repeatedly said community capacity is insufficient now. Representative Penner argued the bill, as drafted, “doesn’t commit to taking care of anybody afterwards,” and cited Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) figures that staff presented to the committee that indicated only 11 adult state-operated living alternative (SOLA) beds and four children’s beds were currently available statewide. Penner said those figures, and the fiscal note’s admitted uncertainties, mean the state risks displacing residents without adequate placements. “We closed a SOLO down this month,” Penner said, quoting a DSHS letter about administrative closures tied to budget reductions.

Other mem…