PR: DSHS offices closed Monday

The Department of Social Services will take part Monday, July 12, in the first widespread shutdown of state agencies as a result of budget reductions.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature passed and Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6503, designed to reduce state government spending by requiring that state agencies close on the 10 days specified in the bill or submit an alternative compensation reduction plan for approval by the state Office of Financial Management.

Like most state agencies, DSHS plans to close on those 10 days specified in the law, beginning Monday. Most DSHS offices, including Community Services Offices (CSOs), will be closed to the public on Monday and reopen on Tuesday. However, Division of Child Support (DCS) offices will be open to the public on Monday, with the exception of the Kennewick facility, which is co-located and shares a lobby with the Kennewick Community Services Office. The DSHS Online Application for Benefits will be available Monday.

The law specifies exemptions to allow certain public safety, public health and revenue-generation activities to continue. Services provided by such employees as child and adult protections workers, long-term care licensors, surveyors and complaint investigators are among those who will not be affected.

Other scheduled budget reduction closure days for DSHS offices are:

- 2010: Aug. 6, Sept. 7, Oct. 11, Dec. 27

- 2011: Jan. 28, Feb. 22, March 11, April 22, June 10

For a complete list of which state agencies are closed July 12 and through 2010–11, go to http://ofm.wa.gov/layoff/agency_list.pdf.

The closures will save more than $70 million in all funds across state government in 2010–11. The temporary layoff law was passed as part of a series of measures to address an almost $12 billion shortfall during the 2009–11 budget period.

For more information on state agency closures, visit http://ofm.wa.gov/layoff/

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