HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 813

BYRepresentatives Leonard, Ebersole, Armstrong, Brekke, Allen, Locke, May, Jacobsen, Lux, K. Wilson, Cole, Nutley, Cooper, Rayburn, Moyer, Unsoeld, Schoon, Hine, Taylor, Scott, Winsley, Meyers, Bumgarner, Belcher, Walker, O'Brien, R. King, Dellwo, P. King, Wineberry, Fisch, Rasmussen and Todd

Creating a governor's commission on children.

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, Padden, Sutherland, Wang and Winsley.

House Staff:Jean Wessman (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (12)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grimm, Hine, McMullen, Peery, Sayan, H. Sommers and Sprenkle.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives Fuhrman, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Niemi, Silver and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Sandi Gray (786-7154)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Information about the needs of our state's children is often received piecemeal from agencies and providers who may only deal with discrete areas of need.  In addition, there is concern that data from only the Department of Social and Health Services or advocacy groups may not go beyond the data required to address immediate specific concerns, frequently of a financial nature.  It is felt that the problems faced by today's children and youth are of such a serious and complex nature that an appropriate high-level, visible and coordinated effort is required to identify those needs and plan for providing the services necessary to meet them.  A long-range plan is needed to provide prevention and intervention strategies and a coordinated continuum of care system of programs.  Public and private support and involvement is necessary in this commitment to the children of our state.

SUMMARY:

SECOND SUBSTITUTE:  A Governor's Commission on Children is established to create a long-term plan for the coordinated delivery of services to the state's children.  The commission is made up of legislators, industry representatives, service providers, and private citizens including a service recipient. Specified public officials are included as ex-officio members.  The terms and conditions of office are specified.

The plan developed by the commission shall include:  1) needs assessment;  2) identification of current services;  3) recommendations for effective methods for implementation of a coordinated system;  4) development of a management system;  5) reduction of overlaps and gaps in services; and, 6) expansion of system coordination and funding prioritization.  The first report on the plan is due January 10, 1988 and a final report is due October 1, 1988.

The responsibilities of the commission in acquiring the information necessary for the plan are listed.  An allowance for staff and such services as are needed is made.  The chapter is to be implemented within available funds.  The commission shall expire November 1, 1988

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The size of the commission is reduced to a maximum of 20.  Geographical balance is specified for the membership of the commission.  The specific dates for naming the members and holding the first meeting are deleted.  The objectives of the plan are modified to allow recognition and utilization of existing service needs assessments.  The dates for submitting the plan to the appropriate committees of the legislature are moved up.  A duplicative reference to both a plan and a report is deleted.  The commission is to recommend funding priorities instead of naming a specific funding source.  The duties of the commission are amended to utilize existing program evaluations.  The expiration date of the commission is moved up to January 15, 1989.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  The intent section is deleted.  Membership of the commission is limited to 20 and references to specific organizations are deleted.  Reference to the four-year length of terms is deleted and authority of the commission to employ staff is removed. The commission is dissolved November 1, 1988, and the appropriation is removed.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Second substitute proposed.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Human Services)  Representative June Leonard, Bill Sponsor; Jerry Wasson, Department of Social and Health Services; Robert Ott, Citizen; Robert Hunner, Northwest Resource Associates; Kip Tokuda, Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Ron Wagner, Washington State Medical Association;  Margie Kranz, Juvenile Code Education Project, Department of Social and Health Services;  Jackie Stenger, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; and John LeVeque, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.

Substitute:  (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  T.K. Bentler, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Human Services)  None Presented.

Substitute:  (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Human Services)  The state has long needed a comprehensive long-term strategy for addressing the needs of children and families.  A mandated plan compiled by a highly visible commission on children located in the Governor's Office will lay the foundation for the state to address these needs.  A nonpartisan needs assessment is very necessary to correctly identify the size and scope of many of the problems facing the state's children and families.  There are many gaps and overlapping areas among services currently provided.  Coordination is lacking.  The commission will be able to address these areas and propose recommendations for reducing duplicative functions, filling the gaps and system coordination.

Substitute:  (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as testimony from Committee on Human Services.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Human Services)  None Presented.

Substitute:  (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.