HOUSE BILL REPORT
E2SHB 586
BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Lewis, Brekke, Winsley, Leonard, Brough, Betrozoff, R. King, Doty, P. King, Todd, Unsoeld and May)
Providing for comprehensive child protective services.
House Committe on Human Services
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (8)
Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, H. Sommers, Sutherland, Wang and Winsley.
House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7132)
Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations
Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. (23)
Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle and B. Williams.
House Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146)
AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 19, 1987
BACKGROUND:
An internal review of Child Protective Services (CPS) was completed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in late 1985. Numerous suggestions were included for improving the functioning of CPS. Due to changes in the Department of Social and Health administration and the timing of the report in comparison to the 1986 legislative session, this review was not acted upon. Following a highly publicized incident whereby a fatal injury was allegedly caused by child abuse, several groups of legislators and service providers met to formulate recommendations for both implementing the suggestions in the internal review and other areas not included in the review. One group consisting of members of the House of Representatives, professionals representing law enforcement, academia, day care, medical fields, social services and corrections unanimously concluded that certain specific services needed to be strengthened and expanded. These included such community resources as the multi-disciplinary teams, therapeutic day care, foster parent support services, visiting public health nurses, parenting education and counseling services. In addition, the group felt that the improved performance of department staff required additional staff, implementation of the risk assessment tool for case prioritization and screening, and higher levels of training and required experience to become and remain a caseworker.
SUMMARY:
Training standards for caseworkers are strengthened by requiring that training be completed before a caseworker can perform his/her tasks unsupervised.
Training is established for additional personnel involved in handling cases of child abuse and neglect including juvenile court judges, prosecutors, public defenders, administrative law judges, and law enforcement through the Office of Administrator for the Courts, Office of Administrative Hearings, and Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Community multi-disciplinary teams are mandated and defined. The Department of Social and Health Services shall provide information on and referral to available counseling services for victims of child abuse and neglect.
A risk assessment tool is to be used when investigating child abuse and neglect referrals within appropriated funds. The tool shall be piloted in four local office service areas. A report on the use of the tool is required by December 1, 1988. In addition, within appropriated funds, the department shall provide foster parent training and supportive services, provide therapeutic day care, hire 21 clerical support staff, utilize electronic support equipment, hire 45 public health nurses, establish a Title IV B and E eligibility determination program to ensure maximum utilization of federal funds, and hire 6 assistant attorneys general.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): A children's services pilot project is created in Kent, Spokane and Chehalis providing a complete continuum of care from early intervention through foster care and permanency planning. A risk assessment tool to prioritize child abuse and neglect cases is to be implemented in each of the three pilot sites. A management information system for collecting baseline children's services data and evaluating the projects is established. The pilots will begin on January 1, 1988 and end December 31, 1989. An independent evaluation contracted out by the Legislative Budget Committee is authorized. The Joint Select Committee on Children and Family Service is established to oversee the pilots. In addition, the committee will develop a long-range strategy for coordinated delivery of services to children, and examine the necessity for a statewide data base clearinghouse through the Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
The crime witness statute on criminal penalties for failure to report is expanded to include sexual offenses against a adult or child and assault likely to include bodily harm against a child or adult dependent person.
The Department of Social and Health Services is required to develop a plan for implementation of a children's services training academy. They are also required to hire homemakers in addition to the other mandated hirings.
Fiscal Note: Requested March 9, 1987.
Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1987.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: (Human Services) Myrna Struchen, Citizen, Snohomish County; Ardis Morrow, Citizen, Kingston, Washington; Chris Ingersoll, Childrens Home Society of Washington, Seattle; Candas Robinson, Foster Parent; Karil Klingbeil, Harborview Medical Center, Ken Steely, Bill of Rights Legal Foundation (spoke in support of risk assessment); Sister Sharon Park, Catholic Conference (supports concept); Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington State Chapter of National Organization for Women; Gary Moore, Washington Federation of State Employees; Bailey deIongh, Office of the Public Defender, Seattle; Dr. Shirley Anderson, Sexual Assault Center, Harborview Medical Center; Patrick Gogerty, Childhaven, Seattle; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; and Jerry Wasson and Bob Dahlstrom, Department of Social and Health Services (testifiers took a neutral position).
(Ways & Means Appropriations) Jon LeVeque, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Jerome Wasson, Department of Social and Health Services; Pam Bryan and Karil Kleinbeil, Harborview Hospital; and Pat Thibadeau, Child Haven.
House Committee - Testified Against: (Human Services) Marilyn Gunther, Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Ken Steely, Bill of Rights Legal Foundation (opposition to Section 5 only of the bill).
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: (Human Services) In order to have a more successfully functioning Child Protective Services system, the changes recommended in this bill are necessary, especially increased caseworkers, increased training for caseworkers, training for juvenile court personnel and implementation of the risk assessment model for case prioritization. Increased funding for the specified services is desperately needed to provide adequate community resources to protect children from abuse and neglect.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) Additional legislative direction to the Department of Social and Health Services regarding child protective services is needed. Training for case work staff and foster parents is needed. Additional support to the child protective services program is indicated.
House Committee - Testimony Against: (Human Services) All caseworkers should have an advanced degree and be held more accountable for their action. The risk assessment model should be piloted. Training for juvenile court personnel cannot be mandated. Increased caseworker training is necessary, but not competency tests. Outside child-placing agencies need additional funding. Decisions of multi-disciplinary teams should be final. Grandparents should be allowed greater responsibility in determining the course of action Child Protective Services takes.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.
VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:
Yeas 96; Excused 2
Excused: Representatives Moyer and Pruitt