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Special Commitment Program - Dept of Social and Health Services - Current Law

RCW 71.09

The Special Commitment Center (SCC) program of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) was established under the authority of Chapter 71.09 RCW, the Community Protection Act, to provide for the detainment and civil commitment of people found to meet the statutory definition of a sexually violent predator. SCC strives to provide rehabilitation services for residents, create pathways for their future, and maintain community safety. The SCC operates the total confinement facility on McNeil Island for up to three hundred residents, and two less-restrictive residential facilities called secure community transition facilities (SCTF). Together, the SCTFs house up to 30 SCC residents who have progressed in treatment and have received court-ordered conditional releases to less-restrictive alternative placements. The two SCTFs are located on McNeil Island and in Seattle. The SCC also has case management responsibilities for SCC residents who have received court-ordered conditional releases to their family homes, or contracted 24-hour supervised residential programs. DSHS is also in the midst of siting and land acquisition for a future SCTF in Snohomish County for sexually violent predators who are progressing through treatment and ordered by the courts to a less-restrictive alternative. This project aims to add capacity for 12 to 24 beds in this new SCTF. In addition, after about 13 months of taking on responsibility for the discharge planning process from defense counsel to DSHS for residents who are being conditionally released from the Special Commitment Center, staff is working hard to streamline and implement best practices. The 2021 Senate Bill 5163 directed this new work for the department, which includes establishing contracts with housing and treatment providers, new community notification requirements, and convening a workgroup with relevant stakeholders.

Agency Mission

To transform lives through dedication to the wellness of individuals, their families and the community through behavioral health intervention, treatment and education.
Request 165,337,000
Net change from current biennium 85,965,437 Increase
Percent change from current biennium 108.3% Increase

Program Level Summary

Fund Title Actual Estimated Proposed
Actual Estimated Estimated Proposed Proposed
General Fund - Federal 23,586 4,146
General Fund - State 50,369,031 58,808,377 20,559,040 82,619,000 82,718,000
Pension Funding Stabilization Account - State 2,290,000
Annual Total 52,682,618 58,808,377 20,563,186 82,619,000 82,718,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

Actual Estimated Proposed
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
6,779,254 6.8% (26,936,691) (25.3%) 85,965,437 108.3%

Employment Summary

  Actual Estimated Proposed
  2020-21 Actual 2021-22 Estimated 2022-23 Estimated 2023-24 Proposed 2024-25 Proposed
FTE Staff Years 393.6 391.8 371.3 483.0 482.4