(1) The department of social and health services, in consultation with the members of the team charged with developing the state plan for co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, shall adopt, not later than January 1, 2006, an integrated and comprehensive screening and assessment process for chemical dependency and mental disorders and co-occurring chemical dependency and mental disorders.

     (a) The process adopted shall include, at a minimum:

     (i) An initial screening tool that can be used by intake personnel system-wide and which will identify the most common types of co-occurring disorders;

     (ii) An assessment process for those cases in which assessment is indicated that provides an appropriate degree of assessment for most situations, which can be expanded for complex situations;

     (iii) Identification of triggers in the screening that indicate the need to begin an assessment;

     (iv) Identification of triggers after or outside the screening that indicate a need to begin or resume an assessment;

     (v) The components of an assessment process and a protocol for determining whether part or all of the assessment is necessary, and at what point; and

     (vi) Emphasis that the process adopted under this section is to replace and not to duplicate existing intake, screening, and assessment tools and processes.

     (b) The department shall consider existing models, including those already adopted by other states, and to the extent possible, adopt an established, proven model.

     (c) The integrated, comprehensive screening and assessment process shall be implemented statewide by all chemical dependency and mental health treatment providers as well as all designated mental health professionals, designated chemical dependency specialists, and designated crisis responders not later than January 1, 2007.

     (2) The department shall provide adequate training to effect statewide implementation by the dates designated in this section and shall report the rates of co-occurring disorders and the stage of screening or assessment at which the co-occurring disorder was identified to the appropriate committees of the legislature.

     (3) The department shall establish contractual penalties to contracted treatment providers, the regional support networks, and their contracted providers for failure to implement the integrated screening and assessment process by July 1, 2007.

[2005 c 504 § 601.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Intent -- Severability -- Application -- Construction -- Captions, part headings, subheadings not law -- Adoption of rules -- Effective dates -- 2005 c 504: See notes following RCW 71.05.027.

     Alphabetization -- Correction of references -- 2005 c 504: See note following RCW 71.05.020.