FINAL BILL REPORT

                  2SSB 5258

                          C 132 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Making technical revisions to community public health and safety networks.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Long, Franklin and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Background:  In 1994, the Legislature authorized the Family Policy Council to establish a statewide system of community public health and safety networks.  The council has approved the creation and membership of 53 community networks.

The networks are designed to assist communities in developing long-term comprehensive plans to reduce the rates of harmful behaviors and acts occurring within the community.  Those behaviors and acts include violence and delinquency, teen pregnancy and male parentage, suicide attempts, dropping out of school, and child abuse and neglect.  Each network is directed to examine the empirical data, collected by the Department of Health for their community, and to use the data in prioritizing the communities needs.

It is suggested that clarifying, technical, and administrative revisions are necessary to assist in the implementation of the networks.

Summary:  Key definitions related to the 1994 legislation are added.  The community public health and safety networks (network) are subject to the public records act.

The network membership is modified to ensure that the citizen members live within the network boundary.  The other representatives may either live or work within the network boundary.  Public education representatives are guaranteed membership on the networks and judges are removed from the membership.  New procedures are included to assist the networks in filling network membership vacancies.  Members cannot vote on any expenditures in which their immediate family members may have a fiduciary interest.

The fiscal agent for the network must use approved budgeting, accounting, and reporting systems.  Contracts with the fiscal agent are to be approved by the council.  The source of  funds available to the networks is clarified.  Networks must hold their administrative costs to 10 percent and cannot provide services or operate programs.  Each network is required to file an annual report relating to their expenditures and contracted services and program.

The role of the local health department is clarified with regard to its role in examining the networks' comprehensive plans.   Each network is required to  hold a public hearing on its plan before submitting it to the council.

In developing the comprehensive plan, the networks must consider increasing youth employment and job training opportunities.  Networks must also integrate local programs into their plan when they fit the network's priorities and they are deemed successful by the network.

The council may take administrative action against a network that is not in compliance with the statute.  The network members are immune from civil liability arising from their decision-making as members, excepting intentional tortious acts or acts of official misconduct.  The assets of a network are not subject to attachment or execution in satisfaction of a judgment.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    47 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

Conference Committee

House     98 0

Senate    47 0

Effective:  March 22, 1996 (Section 8)

          June 6, 1996

          July 1, 1996 (Section 7)