HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1539

BYRepresentatives Dorn, Leonard, Rasmussen, Grant, Brekke, Holm, Heavey, Fox, Vekich, Sprenkle, Basich, Ebersole, Winsley, Day, Padden, Ferguson, Fisher, Rayburn, P. King, Anderson, Rust, Todd, Silver and Lux

Requiring the development of a juvenile court training curriculum.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representative Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer, Padden, H. Sommers and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 legislation was proposed that stated the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Social and Health Services assist the Office of the Administrator for the Courts and the Criminal Justice Training Commission in training juvenile court personnel and law enforcement in the recognition of child abuse and neglect.  This legislation was deleted in the final bill.  During its review of the juvenile code, the Washington State Code Review Panel recommended that the Legislature provide financial support for continued education programs to provide training in juvenile and family law to all judges, attorneys, court personnel, and service providers in the dependency system.

SUMMARY:

The powers and duties of the Administrator for the Courts are expanded to require the development of a curriculum concerned with child development, treatment resources, knowledge of child abuse and neglect statutes, case law, interviewing skills, and special needs.  The curriculum is required to be completed and made available to all juvenile court judges and personnel, and service providers by July 1, 1988.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 20, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Joyce Hopson, Department of Social and Health Services; and Dennis Ichikawa, Juvenile Code Review Panel.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This bill would ensure that juvenile court personnel are adequately trained to handle proceedings concerned with child abuse and neglect.  There are a multitude of anecdotes about judges and attorneys who have little knowledge about child abuse and neglect or child development and make erroneous judgements or statements. Adequate training and experience are essential to a just and effective dependency system.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.