Secure community transition facilities shall meet the following minimum staffing requirements:

     (1)(a) At any time the census of a facility that accepts its first resident before July 1, 2003, is six or fewer residents, the facility shall maintain a minimum staffing ratio of one staff per three residents during normal waking hours and one awake staff per four residents during normal sleeping hours. In no case shall the staffing ratio permit less than two staff per housing unit.

     (b) At any time the census of a facility that accepts its first resident on or after July 1, 2003, is six or fewer residents, the facility shall maintain a minimum staffing ratio of one staff per resident during normal waking hours and two awake staff per three residents during normal sleeping hours. In no case shall the staffing ratio permit less than two staff per housing unit.

     (2) At any time the census of a facility is six or fewer residents, all staff shall be classified as residential rehabilitation counselor II or have a classification that indicates an equivalent or higher level of skill, experience, and training.

     (3) Before being assigned to a facility, all staff shall have training in sex offender issues, self-defense, and crisis de-escalation skills in addition to departmental orientation and, as appropriate, management training. All staff with resident treatment or care duties must participate in ongoing in-service training.

     (4) All staff must pass a departmental background check and the check is not subject to the limitations in chapter 9.96A RCW. A person who has been convicted of a felony, or any sex offense, may not be employed at the secure community transition facility or be approved as an escort for a resident of the facility.

[2003 c 216 § 1; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12 § 216.]

NOTES:

Severability -- 2003 c 216: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [2003 c 216 § 8.]

     Effective date -- 2003 c 216: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2003." [2003 c 216 § 9.]

     Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.