(The Center Square) – A Washington state lawmaker, who took a lot of heat after using the “R” word on the Senate floor to describe those with developmental disabilities, is feeling somewhat vindicated in the concerns he brought to light.
SHB 1390, signed by Governor Ferguson earlier this week repeals the Community Protection Program (CPP) and removes all related statutory references effective Jan. 1, 2027. The bill states the Developmental Disabilities Administration must develop and implement a plan to transition all CPP participants into other services or programs by Dec. 31, 2026, with the goal of providing less restrictive options.
There are reportedly about 400 developmentally disabled Washington adults in the CPP, who have committed acts of sexual violence, and are deemed likely to reoffend such that they are housed with restrictions on where they go and who they can be around.
During debate on the bill on the Senate floor, Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, concerned about ending the program argued “we’re putting rapists in with retarded people.”
He told The Center Square he never meant to disrespect anyone by using the word “retarded,” but did it intentionally to bring attention to the bill.
Members of Christian’s own party condemned his use of the term, with Republican representatives from Spokane and Spokane Valley issuing a statement condemning what they termed “inflammatory and insensitive comments” made by Christian.
Fast forward to this week’s signing of the bill by Governor Bob Ferguson and the directive letter issued by his office immediately afterward.
“He put out a directive letter to DSHS kind of directing them to do pretty much what my major concerns [were], which was protecting these folks and getting them these individualized, [programs] and making sure that they can be looking into the safety of moving them in with the other DD [developmentally disabled] population,” said Christian in an interview with The Center Square Wednesday.
After signing the bill Tuesday, Ferguson issued a directive letter to the Department of Social and Health Services, “to take additional steps to provide the needed support, supervision, and individualized care for clients transitioning from the community protection program as it ramps down,” wrote Ferguson. “This legislation moves our state in the right direction toward person-centered care, but we must be thoughtful and deliberate in our efforts to transition clients from this program to other community programs. Additional steps are necessary to ensure safe and healthy transitions for the individual clients, as well as safe and healthy outcomes for our communities.”
Christian pointed to the letter as supporting his contention.
“So, the very things that we brought up as amendments in committee and on the floor, he ended up putting in a letter of directive. So. for that, I really want to thank the governor for at least addressing those issues and, of course, helping this community not be so victimized,” he said. “So, it’s all of the issues that we really brought up.”
Christian was recently replaced as a member of the Department of Children Youth and Families Oversight Board, and tells The Center Square he believes he was removed from the board-which he calls “entirely ineffectual” because of his comments on this bill.
“And it’s just a sad day that it took what it did to get some people to pay attention but at the end of the day, would I do it again? Yes, I would,” he said. “Not that I want to hurt, folks’ feelings out there, but we had to do something to draw attention to this and the actual toolbox is pretty limited when you’re in the minority, that’s for sure.”
Ferguson’s directive letter also states: “The Department must provide an individualized assessment for each community protection program client. The assessment must include a risk assessment prior to transition from the community protection program…..when reviewing options for services and placements, the Department must consider the safety of other residents, as well as the safety of the community.”
Christian is convinced that without his use of the term considered an inappropriate slur by many, Ferguson would not have issued the directive addressing the very concerns he brought up.
“I really believe it was probably what I said, and I would do it again,” he said.
Ferguson’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
