(The Center Square) – One of the most passionately debated pieces of legislation during this year’s session received another public hearing Tuesday in the House Appropriations Committee.
Substitute Senate Bill 5393 aims to close Rainier School, a residential habilitation center in Buckley, by June 30, 2027. It mandates that current residents be transitioned to alternative settings, such as state-operated living alternatives, supported living programs, or other RHCs, based on individual preferences. The bill also requires the Department of Social and Health Services to offer RHC employees opportunities to work in these alternative settings or other state facilities.
The bill passed the Senate on Saturday on a 26-22 vote.
Companion legislation in the form of House Bill 1472 died in committee after one Republican member tearfully pleaded with Democrats not to pass the bill.
Supporters of closing the school argue it will save money, contending Rainier School operates under an old model that institutionalized severely disabled adults. Proponents of the Senate bill say those residents should be placed in less restrictive community-based facilities.
During Tuesday’s House hearing, several Rainier School staff members urged lawmakers not to close the facility.
Tazia Duncan told of a resident who was relocated away from Rainier into a community setting but begged to return.
“He couldn’t understand why he couldn’t,” Duncan said, noting he learned the former resident had passed away just over a week ago. “He was part of our Rainier family, but now we’re planning his funeral.”
Joey Dormady, who has worked at Rainier for 10 years, tearfully pleaded with lawmakers not to close the facility where her mother and grandmother previously worked.
“We take pride in our work, and we help our clients grow,” she told the committee. “If Rainier or Yakima Valley closed, it would not just displace our most vulnerable, it would also devastate lots of lives.”
Yakima Valley School, located in Selah, is a dedicated nursing home that provides specialized long-term care for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Mike Yestramski, president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, also urged the committee to reject the bill.
“It’s not transitioning, it’s abandonment,” he said. “Just yesterday, DSHS told us that SOLA West will never open. Shut down before it ever opened to serve a single client due to budget cuts. That means we have less capacity today than we did a week ago. I work in the system, and I see what happens when there is no plan. People fall through the cracks and they die.”
DSHS SOLA West refers to the Western region of the State Operated Living Alternatives program.
Several people also testified in support of closing Rainier School, including Craig Sicilia, who said residents in RHCs of the past, including Interlake School, were “prisoners.”
“They said the same thing back then, that people would die, and they wouldn’t be supported, but they were supported and they thrived,” he explained. “After decades of isolation, they started living their lives and making real friends of their choice. Many had jobs, they developed hobbies, they took vacations to Disneyland, and went where they wanted, when they wanted. All the data shows that people who live in the community live significantly better and longer lives.”
Eric Matthes, a person with a disability who lives on his own, supports closing all RHCs.
“I believe that people who live in the community can lead a full, meaningful life,” he said.
Willis McNabb, who has worked at Rainier School for more than 30 years, grew emotional in telling The Center Square he can’t understand why majority-party Democrats want to close the school and force residents out into community settings that do not currently exist.
“I’m very concerned,” he said. “The reality is there aren’t the services available in the community that will meet the needs of this special population. They end up not being served and end up with deteriorating health issues, and end up in hospitals for months and in some cases, years. There’s a waiting list for RHCs and yet they are wanting to close these down and take resources away from people who are thriving and doing well. Some of them will end up in hospitals and some of them will die … that’s just the reality of it.”
SSB 5393 is set for executive session before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday morning.
