It is hereby declared to be of vital concern to the state of Washington that all persons who are bona fide residents of the state of Washington and who are afflicted with cerebral palsy in any degree be provided with facilities and a program of service for medical care, education, treatment and training to enable them to become normal individuals. In order to effectively accomplish such purpose the department of social and health services, hereinafter called the department, is authorized and instructed and it shall be its duty to establish and administer facilities and a program of service for the discovery, care, education, hospitalization, treatment and training of educable persons afflicted with cerebral palsy, and to provide in connection therewith nursing, medical, surgical and corrective care, together with academic, occupational and related training. Such program shall extend to developing, extending and improving service for the discovery of such persons and for diagnostication and hospitalization and shall include cooperation with other agencies of the state charged with the administration of laws providing for any type of service or aid to persons with disabilities, and with the United States government through any appropriate agency or instrumentality in developing, extending and improving such service, program and facilities. Such facilities shall include field clinics, diagnosis and observation centers, boarding schools, special classes in day schools, research facilities and such other facilities as shall be required to render appropriate aid to such persons. Existing facilities, buildings, hospitals and equipment belonging to or operated by the state of Washington shall be made available for these purposes when use therefor does not conflict with the primary use of such existing facilities. Existing buildings, facilities and equipment belonging to private persons, firms or corporations or to the United States government may be acquired or leased.

Severability—1974 ex.s. c 91: "If any provision of this 1974 amendatory 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." [ 1974 ex.s. c 91 § 8.]

Effective date—1974 ex.s. c 91: "This 1974 amendatory act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately: PROVIDED, That sections 2 through 5 of this 1974 amendatory act shall not take effect until July 1, 1974." [ 1974 ex.s. c 91 § 7.]

Severability—1947 c 240: "If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application." [ 1947 c 240 § 5.]