Subcommittee advances bill to shift bed-use rules for APD forensic clients; sponsor says it would raise utilization

Representative Cheney presented HB 569, saying the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) currently separates two groups in the Developmental Disability Defendant Program (DDDP) by legal committed status rather than clinical or behavioral need. She said that mismatch left the agency operating with approximately 20% underutilized beds and that the measure would increase bed utilization by an estimated 15 to 20 percent.

Representative Eskamani asked how many individuals would be affected; the sponsor said she did not have exact figures at the hearing but that the population is small and offered to provide specific numbers later (she mentioned "around 1,500" as an offhand estimate). Members praised the sponsor's attention to clinical needs and to the sensitivity of the population served.

Representative Cheney waived closing remarks and the clerk called the roll. The committee recorded 17 yays and 0 nays and reported HB 569 favorably.

The bill advances from committee; sponsors said they would supply more precise population and utilization figures after the hearing.