(1) The authority and the entities identified in *RCW 71.24.310 and 71.24.380 shall: (a) Work with willing community hospitals licensed under chapters 70.41 and 71.12 RCW and evaluation and treatment facilities licensed or certified under chapter 71.05 RCW to assess their capacity to become licensed or certified to provide long-term inpatient care and to meet the requirements of this chapter; and (b) enter into contracts and payment arrangements with such hospitals and evaluation and treatment facilities choosing to provide long-term mental health placements, to the extent that willing licensed or certified facilities are available.
(2) Nothing in this section requires any community hospital or evaluation and treatment facility to be licensed or certified to provide long-term mental health placements.