Bill To Break Up Dshs Debated In Senate Committee

The Department of Social and Health Services is too big, says a Bellevue lawmaker who wants to abolish it and create four new agencies.

DSHS is so “huge, it is mind-boggling,” says Republican Rep. Bill Reams, whose HB1187 was debated Tuesday in the Senate Government Operations Committee.

The measure, not yet scheduled for a committee vote, was approved by the GOP-controlled House earlier this month.

But it doesn’t stand much of a chance in the Senate, where Democrats have a one-vote majority.

“We’re interested in streamlining government, not enlarging it. This creates four new directorships,” Senate Majority Leader Marc Gaspard, D-Puyallup, has said.

Under Reams’ bill, DSHS would be abolished on Sept. 15, 1996.

In its place would be four new agencies handling income and medical assistance; long-term care; children, youth and family services; and health and rehabilitative services.

Opponents of the bill say DSHS provides an “umbrella of services.”

DSHS Secretary Jean Soliz said breaking up the department would cost $18.8 million.

“Instead of spending the money to break it up, we should put the money back into services,” said Senate Government Operations Chairwoman Mary Haugen, D-Camano Island.