OLYMPIA...With just one day left for the Senate to pass its own bills, Richland Sen. Jerome Delvin nudged Senate Bill 5467 out of a holding pattern and onto the Senate floor for a vote. The measure, which passed 46 – 0, would create an individual and family services program for people with disabilities that provides badly needed respite care for families. "If ever there was a bill that was important to the Tri-Cities, this is the one," said Delvin, deputy Republican whip and ranking Republican on the Senate Higher Education Committee. "To families raising a child with developmental disabilities, this family support bill would be a lifesaver. If passed, it would help families get an occasional break from the constant 24-hour-a-day work of caretaking." SB 5467 would also provide limited funding to families for certain therapies, adaptive equipment, counseling and training. This bill would consolidate three current programs designed to help people with developmental disabilities under a single umbrella organization within the Department of Social and Health Services. To be eligible for the new family support program, a family with a child under age 18 with developmental disabilities must have an income that's below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.  "If this bill becomes law, it will be life-changing for many of the almost 10,000 Washington families who are on waiting lists for these types of support services," Delvin said. "That includes almost 500 families in the Tri-Cities area. I'm thrilled for what this bill would mean to them. It was a top priority this year." SB 5467 is now on its way to the House of Representatives for consideration.  Sen. Delvin represents the 8th Legislative District, which includes Richland, Kennewick, Benton City and Prosser. For more information contact Pat Albright (360) 786-7519 or albright.pat@leg.wa.gov  For the latest news and information from the Senate Republican Caucus visit the Senate Republican Media Center at http://www.src.wa.gov/ Posted by Colleen Lane on
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