OLYMPIA – On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation that will lead to improved accountability and effectiveness when it comes to providing services for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities.
Senate Bill 5879, sponsored by Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, requires that a detailed comprehensive report be developed about how funds for early intervention services for eligible children are currently being distributed. The bill also calls for a study to find out how to integrate early intervention services with other critical services to better assist children with disabilities and their families.
“We need to do a better job gathering information about how to most efficiently and effectively fund early intervention programs,” said Billig. “This bill will help us fully examine the process by which these dollars are allocated. Fine tuning this process will help us deliver support to children early enough to make a difference and help them overcome some of their developmental challenges.”
Senate Bill 5879 also designates the Department of Early Learning as the lead agency in charge of early intervention services.
“These vital intervention services have the capacity to change the trajectory of a child’s future,” said Billig. “We owe it to those children to ensure these services are delivered in the most effective way possible.”
