Bill > SB5211

This bill aims to authorize payment for parents providing personal care services to their minor children with developmental disabilities, addressing a significant care workforce shortage and the unique challenges faced by families with children with disabilities. The legislation requires the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration to submit requests to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by January 31, 2026, seeking amendments to home and community-based services waivers that would allow parents to receive payment for "extraordinary care" services. "Extraordinary care" is defined as care that goes beyond typical parental responsibilities and is necessary to ensure the child's health and prevent institutionalization. The bill allows parents to be employed as individual providers, subject to the same training and oversight as other care providers, and specifies that these services would be offered as a waiver service. The legislation is rooted in findings that such paid family caregiving can lead to better outcomes for medically fragile children, lower taxpayer costs by reducing hospitalizations, and help families manage the economic challenges of caring for children with disabilities. The bill includes expiration dates for various sections, with the primary provisions set to expire on July 1, 2031, and the waiver request provisions expiring on July 1, 2032.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5211&Year=2025&Initiative=false