Closing the Yakima Valley school and Rainier school.
What changed between versions
The closure deadline for Rainier School was clarified to June 30, 2027, with a specific prohibition on new admissions starting immediately, rather than an immediate shutdown.
New requirements mandate a 90-day public comment period to solicit feedback on mitigating the impact of the closure on affected communities, concluding by November 1, 2025.
New reporting sections require the Department of Social and Health Services to submit detailed annual reports on resident transitions and employee outcomes, and the Ombudsman to submit a report on resident feedback by November 1, 2028.
Former long-term residents retain a specific right to return to the Rainier School once during their first year in a community setting, which is not counted as a new admission.
The definition of 'closure' was added to explicitly mean the prohibition of new admissions until the resident census reaches zero.
The bill now explicitly states that sufficient funding must be appropriated to fulfill the transition requirements for residents and employees.
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