HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 5229

As Amended by the House

BYSenators Kreidler, Deccio, Sellar, Kiskaddon and Stratton; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Revising the membership and duties of the state advisory committee to the department of social and health services.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Anderson, Leonard, Moyer, Padden, H. Sommers and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The State Advisory Committee (SAC) to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was established in 1971.  Its responsibilities at that time were to advise the Secretary regarding all matters pertaining to the department and to make recommendations regarding any changes deemed advisable.

The committee is made up of fifteen persons to include one person from each of the six DSHS regional advisory committees.  Terms are for four years.

In 1985 the Legislature added biennial reviews of nonstatutory departmental and program specific advisory committees to the SAC's responsibilities. These reviews are to monitor each committee's goals and achievements within allotted time frames.  The department has reported that since federal and state mandated committees are exempt from this review process only four of the agency's forty- one committees are reviewed by the State Advisory Committee, thus limiting the potential of the reviews.

SUMMARY:

The membership of the Department of Social and Health Services' State Advisory Committee is changed from fifteen to twenty members and their terms are shortened from four to three years.  An unexpired term is considered a full term when half or more of the term is served.

The requirement that the State Advisory Committee have one member from each Regional Advisory Committee is deleted.  Instead, the State Advisory Committee is required to encourage each Regional Advisory Committee to send a nonvoting representative to State Advisory Committee meetings to foster communications between the Regional and State Advisory Committees.

The duty to review other departmental advisory committees is revised to include federal and state mandated committees and a report required to be completed by January 1, 1989.

The State Advisory Committee is directed to encourage public awareness and understanding of the department's programs and services.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Bill Kiskaddon.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    These changes are necessary to allow for broader representation and greater flexibility in choosing members. Regional advisory committee members should be encouraged to attend state advisory committee meetings but not required.  The review function would consume time better spent on other tasks and only covers four of the forty-one committees when federal and state mandated committees are excluded.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.