SB 5393, as amended, directs the closure of the Rainier School in Buckley, Washington, by June 30, 2027, and makes related changes to state law governing residential habilitation centers for people with developmental disabilities. The bill amends the statutory framework for state-operated residential habilitation centers to reflect that Rainier School will stop taking new admissions immediately and will cease operations once all long-term residents have transitioned out, while preserving limited return rights for former residents under specified conditions. It also keeps the other state residential habilitation centers—Lakeland Village, Yakima Valley School, and Fircrest School—within the law as permanent facilities.
The bill establishes a transition process for Rainier School residents, requiring the Department of Social and Health Services to offer meaningful placement choices, prioritize client preference and community integration, develop individualized transition plans with families and guardians, coordinate with agencies and providers, and provide or contract for needed assessments, relocation, training, crisis support, and other transition services. It also requires the department to provide state-operated living alternatives, use supported living and adult family home capacity, and offer employees opportunities to work in other state facilities and programs. Funding is required to carry out these transition obligations.
SB 5393 further adds reporting and oversight requirements. DSHS must submit periodic reports to the Legislature on capacity, the number and type of former Rainier residents’ placements, deaths of former residents in other settings, geographic distribution of placements, and employment outcomes for former Rainier staff. The developmental disabilities ombuds must also report resident, parent, and guardian feedback on the transition. In addition, the department must hold a public comment period to gather input on strategies to mitigate the closure’s impact on affected communities.
The bill’s impact on state law is to formally end new admissions and ultimately close Rainier School while reshaping the state’s developmental disabilities service system around community-based and alternative residential options. It amends RCW provisions on residential habilitation centers, creates new transition and reporting sections, and sets expiration dates for some oversight provisions. The practical effect is to shift state responsibility from maintaining Rainier as an operating institution to managing a phased closure and transition process for residents, families, employees, and surrounding communities.
The overall sentiment appears supportive but divided. The bill passed both chambers, including a strong House final vote, indicating broad legislative acceptance of the closure plan and the move toward community-based services. At the same time, several votes were relatively close, suggesting meaningful concern about the pace, logistics, and consequences of closing a long-standing facility. The main points of contention appear to have been whether the state can safely and adequately transition residents, whether sufficient community placements and staffing exist, and how to address impacts on residents, families, employees, and the Buckley community.
SB 5393 amends Washington’s statutes governing residential habilitation centers for people with developmental disabilities by making Rainier School a closing facility rather than a continuing permanent center. It prohibits new long-term admissions immediately and bars all admissions after June 30, 2027, while preserving limited return rights for former residents and requiring DSHS to provide transition supports, alternative placements, and employee transition opportunities. The bill also adds reporting, ombuds, and public comment requirements to monitor the closure and its effects on residents, staff, and affected communities.
The bill appears to have broad but not unanimous support. It passed the Senate and House, and the House final passage vote was especially strong, reflecting general agreement with closing Rainier School and expanding community-based alternatives. However, the narrower committee and floor margins in some votes indicate that a substantial minority remained concerned about the closure’s implementation, resident safety, and the adequacy of replacement services.
The main contention centered on whether closing Rainier School could be done safely, humanely, and with enough community capacity to absorb residents. Supporters emphasized transition planning, client choice, and community integration, while skeptics likely focused on the risk of disrupting residents with complex needs, the availability of supported living and other placements, and the effect on employees and the Buckley community. The bill’s added reporting, ombuds review, and public comment provisions suggest lawmakers were trying to address these concerns by requiring ongoing oversight and feedback.